With the goal of achieving Viksit Bharat@2047, India has established the Graphene Engineering and Innovation Center (IGEIC).
According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, IGEIC is a unique not-for-profit section 8 company. It has been established to develop a center of excellence for the commercialization of graphene technology.
Graphene’s applications are diverse, spanning electronics, energy storage, healthcare, material coating, conveyance systems, and sustainable material development across various industries.
Graphene, a single carbon atom monolayer, can enhance pollution removal and monitoring technologies by improving performance in removing pollutants like nitrogen oxides from the atmosphere.
As per Science Direct environmental applications of graphene include water treatment, gas sensing, heavy metal detection, chemo-/biosensor applications, DNA sensing, electrocatalysis, bio culturing, and flexible electronics.
IIDEIC is being described as India’s effort to become a leader in the commercialization of graphene technology. It’s corporate and business development hub are in Bengaluru. The , research and development setup is in Trivandrum, Kerala. The manufacturing facility, which is funded by the Kerala government, is located in Palakkad, Kerala. It forms a complete ecosystem for the advancement and marketing of graphene technology.
Opportunities for start-ups, industry and economic growth
This program, involving start-ups, SMEs, academia, industry, government, and bi-lateral partnerships, aims to establish a national graphene ecosystem as part of a global initiative.
During the launch, Mr S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, GoI, emphasized the potential of graphene to bring about transformations and the role of IGEIC in positioning India at the forefront of this global movement.
He said, “The establishment of IGEIC under the Graphene Aurora program reflects our commitment to developing cutting-edge solutions and creating a robust industrial base for advanced materials. This center will not only drive innovation but also create significant opportunities for startups and industry and economic growth.”
Other dignitaries present at the event include Ms Sunita Verma, Group Coordinator, MeitY, GoI, Mr. Madhavan Nambiar, Chairman IGEIC, Mr Asad Pathan, Ex-Chairman, IOCL, Mr. Surendra Gotherwal, Scientist, MeitY, GoI , Prof. Alex James and Mr Kamesh Gupta, Board Members, IGEIC.