Govt launches centre for developing, commercialising graphene technology

Government of India has launched an engineering and innovation center to facilitate commercialisation of graphene technology.

Graphene is new material, which is found to have a host of applications ranging from electronics and energy storage to material coating and conveyance systems to healthcare.

Ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) on Wednesday announced the launch of the India Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre (IGEIC), a key initiative under the Viksit Bharat vision. 

Incorporated as a not-for-profit, section 8 company with the sole aim of establishing a center of excellence for developing and commercializing graphene technology, IGEIC will focus on development of sustainable applications for the material.

The Centre was launched by Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, GoI in the august presence of Smt. Sunita Verma, Group Coordinator, MeitY, GoI, Shri Madhavan Nambiar, Chairman IGEIC, Shri Asad Pathan, Ex-Chairman, IOCL, Shri. Surendra Gotherwal, Scientist, MeitY, GoI , Prof. Alex James and Shri Kamesh Gupta, Board Member – IGEIC.

IGEIC, with its R&D base in Thiruvananthapuram, a manufacturing unit in Palakkad, in Kerala and a corporate and business development hub in Bengaluru, articulates India's push for the creation of an ecosystem for development and commercialisation of graphene technology.

Graphene has a potential to transform and disrupt current technologies and will open up new and emerging opportunities for industry, including startups, fuelling economic growth.

Speaking at the launch, S Krishnan, secretary, MeitY, expressed the hope that the setting up of IGEIC under the Graphene Aurora programme will help in the development of cutting-edge solutions and create a robust industrial base for advanced materials. 

The center will also help create a graphene ecosystem in the country with startups, SMEs, academia, industry and government having a role to play.