Hindustan Zinc Celebrates National Startup Day by Honoring Tech Startups Driving Innovation Across Its Value Chain

Udaipur, January 15, 2025: Hindustan Zinc Limited (NSE: HINDZINC), India’s largest and the world’s second-largest integrated zinc producer, celebrated National Startup Day with a felicitation ceremony honoring startups collaborating with the company to drive digital innovation. Focused on technological excellence, the company has incorporated cutting-edge technologies such as AI, robotics, blockchain, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) across its operations to enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability.

The event, led by CEO Arun Misra, showcased the impact of these collaborations and announced a startup mentoring program aimed at furthering innovation in the manufacturing sector.

Key Highlights:

• Extensive Startup Engagement: Hindustan Zinc is working with 40+ tech startups on over 60 projects while engaging with 50+ startups through Vedanta Spark, Vedanta’s global corporate accelerator program.
• Recognized Startups: The event felicitated eight startups, including Infinite Uptime, Ripik.AI, Machine Max, Maximl Labs, Flux Auto, Detect Technologies, and Jarsh Safety (a Shark Tank India participant).

Transformative Technologies Driving Efficiency

• Artificial Intelligence & Advanced Analytics:
  Hindustan Zinc leverages AI-driven analytics through Ripik.AI to optimize smelting processes, reduce energy consumption, and improve emissions control. Pinak Dattatray, Founder of Ripik.AI, highlighted their vision AI model, which has helped increase production and reduce environmental impact across 10+ units and 100+ users.
• Smart Safety Wearables:
  Jarsh Safety has developed air-conditioned helmets and AI-enabled safety cameras to combat heat stress and enhance worker safety. Kausthub Kaundinya, co-founder of Jarsh Safety, emphasized the alignment of their innovations with Hindustan Zinc’s safety priorities.
• Industrial Diagnostics and IoT Sensors:
  Startups like Infinite Uptime and Machine Max utilize real-time diagnostics, IoT sensors, and machine learning to provide actionable insights, enhancing asset reliability and operational performance.

Fostering a Startup Ecosystem Internally and Externally

• Innovation Cafés:
  Hindustan Zinc nurtures innovation within the organization through dedicated Innovation Cafés, enabling employees to develop cutting-edge solutions.
• Support for Micro-Enterprises:
  Through the Sakhi initiative, rural women in Rajasthan are empowered to sell their products via Upaya, an e-commerce platform leveraging technological interventions. Hindustan Zinc has also supported numerous MSMEs in supply chain, mine development, and production.

Commitment to Sustainability

Hindustan Zinc’s dedication to innovation is complemented by its commitment to sustainability:

• Certified 2.41 times Water-Positive company
• Recognized as the world’s most sustainable company in the metals and mining category by S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024
• Committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050

CEO’s Vision

Speaking at the event, Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc, said,
“India’s startup ecosystem is the driving force behind today’s innovations. Engaging with new-age startups allows us to pioneer solutions that enhance operational efficiencies and sustainability. Together, we are shaping the future of the metal economy while addressing critical global challenges.”

With its forward-thinking initiatives, Hindustan Zinc continues to lead in technological innovation and sustainability, setting benchmarks for the global metals and mining industry.