Digital University Kerala, Center for Materials for Electronics Technologies (C-MET) and Tata Steel are the implementation partners that have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on research and innovation. According to the institutes, as part of the partnership, the center will undertake research and development, product innovation and capacity-building activities in graphene and 2D materials ecosystems.
Graphene is often referred to as the wonder material because of its extraordinary electrical and electronic properties. It is the thinnest and strongest material in the world ever known and has good chemical stability, high electrical conductivity and large surface area, while being transparent and lightweight. It is a 2D material, that is, it is a solid crystal with only a single layer of atoms arranged in ordered patterns. The emerging 2D materials will have a wide range of commercial and industrial applications in the future in biomedical, defense, electronics, energy and sensors, the institutes claim.
According to the latest studies, graphene could replace indium and thereby reduce the cost of OLED (organic light-emitting diode) displays in smartphones. The center will act as an anchor point to promote startups and commercial research. Currently, there are very few graphene research centers worldwide, the institute added.
Digital University Vice Chancellor Dr. Saji Gopinath, C-MET Director Dr. N Raghu and Tata Steel Vice President (Technology and New Materials) signed the MoU in the presence of Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal and Industries Minister P Rajeeve in Thiruvananthapuram.
Finance Minister KN Balagopal said the establishment of a graphene innovation center will boost the industry in the state as new startups and SMEs can take advantage of graphene’s extraordinary structural, thermal and electrical properties to develop new products. and innovate services.
He added that the existing industry organizations can also improve the quality of their products and services by exploring the possibilities of graphene.
The finance minister also said it was heartening to see that the implementation partners have developed a unique model in which a university, a research organization and a leading industrial house came together to develop a high-tech industrial ecosystem.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Group Head Sunita Verama, Chief Secretary VP Joy, Additional Chief Secretary Biswanath Sinha, Tata Steel Senior Vice President Kamesh Gupta, Digital University Kerala Dean (Academic) Alex P James and C-MET Scientist Dr. A Seema were present.
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