INDIRES is a 3-year collaborative research project which has received funding from the European Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS). The project addresses the crucial issue of rapidly acquiring and providing information, which is a key necessity in the effective response to a serious mining incident. Numerous new initiatives in mines rescue will be addressed, and these are expected to bring major benefits in the safety and welfare of affected miners and the mine’s ongoing operations and profitability. Two novel communication technologies will be researched, sensors capable of withstanding explosions and fires will be produced and small unmanned vehicles will be developed for initial information gathering. Compact yet highly efficient mechanical aids will be designed for drilling exploratory tunnels and supporting these excavations, and tools for software simulation will be developed.