India Innovation Centre For Graphene: Kerala's 2022 Push Toward A Knowledge Economy - IMPRI Impact And Policy Research Institute

Policy Update
Ayana N K

Background

Graphene is an extremely thin material made from carbon, just one atom thick, yet around a hundred times stronger than steel. It is also flexible, transparent, and an excellent conductor of electricity and heat. Because of these properties, scientists often call it a “wonder material,” expected to shape future electronics, batteries, medical devices, and smart sensors. Countries that build graphene research and manufacturing capacity early are likely to gain an advantage as these technologies mature over the next decade.

Kerala first introduced this idea in its 2022 to 2023 State Budget. Soon after, in January 2022, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) approved the India Innovation Centre for Graphene (IICG) with a budget of ₹86.41 crore, planned as India’s first dedicated facility for graphene research, testing, and business incubation. Three organisations came together for the project: Digital University Kerala (DUK), the Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET) in Thrissur, and Tata Steel Limited as industry partner. The project is led by Dr A. P. James of DUK and Dr A. Seema of C-MET, working with experts from the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester.

The centre was also meant to address a larger problem in India: the difficulty of turning research into marketable products, an issue that became clearer during COVID-19 supply chain disruptions. For Kerala, it also fits into a wider goal of becoming a knowledge-based economy, a vision reflected in the Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission, run by the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC), which aims to connect the state’s educated population with better employment opportunities.

Usage of Graphene

Electronics: Faster, smaller, and flexible electronic devices.

Batteries & Energy Storage: Faster charging and improved battery life and capacity.

Solar Energy: Improves the efficiency of solar cells.

Medical Technology: Used in biosensors and drug delivery.

Water Purification: Filters salts, pollutants, and other impurities.

Sensors: Highly sensitive detection of chemicals, gases, and biological substances.

Aerospace & Automobiles: Lightweight and stronger materials.

Construction: Improves the strength and durability of concrete and coatings.

Functioning

Different partners play different roles. MeitY and the Kerala government provide funding and set the overall direction. DUK focuses on moving graphene research from the lab to practical products, and supports PhD, master’s, and postdoctoral training through scholarships. C-MET studies and tests graphene materials. Tata Steel, the industry partner, connects research with manufacturing, building on its earlier graphene partnership with IIT Madras in 2016.

An agreement to formally establish the centre was signed in June 2022 in the presence of Kerala’s Chief Minister, with the centre set up at KINFRA High Tech Park in Kalamassery, near Kochi. However, the project took longer than expected to become operational. MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan formally launched IICG only in January 2024, alongside a Centre of Excellence for smart sensors and the annual “Hardtech” industry event. Approval of the original ₹86.4 crore funding was completed only in Kerala’s 2026 to 2027 budget, with the state agreeing to contribute ₹6.5 crore — a gap of almost four years between the initial announcement and full operational approval.

Kerala’s graphene plan unfolds in three stages, summarised below:

Stage	Name	Objective	Key method
1	IICG (International and Interuniversity Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology / Graphene)	Research, innovation, and development of early-stage prototypesFoundational R&D	Foundational R&D
2	Graphene Pilot Plant, supported by the “Graphene Aurora” scheme	Move prototypes toward commercialization by converting them into actual, market-ready products	Pilot Plant provides physical manufacturing infrastructure; Aurora is the accompanying scheme that enables and funds this transition
3	Graphene Industrial Park	Scale up production to industrial volumes at lower cost	Uses chemical vapour deposition (CVD) to produce graphene at scale

To bring these efforts together, the Kerala Cabinet approved the Kerala Graphene Policy on 13 February 2026. It is the first policy of its kind by an Indian state and is set to come into effect from April 2026. IICG also conducts “Grand Challenges”, where startups are invited to develop graphene-based products for areas such as energy, electronics, and transportation.

Performance

So far, the project has received significant financial support, though the scale of what is confirmed varies by stage. IICG’s original budget was ₹86.41 crore; the 2026–27 State Budget confirms administrative sanction, with the state contributing ₹6.50 crore of the ₹86.40 crore cost. A higher figure of ₹94.85 crore appears in later documents but likely reflects conflation with the separate Graphene Aurora scheme rather than a revision to IICG’s own budget. The ₹237 crore (sometimes reported as ₹234 crore) Graphene Pilot Plant remains an earmarked, not yet disbursed, allocation for a facility to be built through a public-private partnership, with DUK as nodal agency and KINFRA handling infrastructure.

Land allocation shows a similar split between sanctioned and aspirational plans. In October 2023, KINFRA formally approved three acres at its Palakkad industrial park, a completed allotment, not a projection. The twenty-acre expansion and the fifteen-to-fifty-acre range for future activity remain stated intentions, not allotments. Additional land has also been designated at KINFRA Defence Park in Ottappalam for the Pilot Plant, though its development status is not yet documented.

Policy recognition is concrete: graphene is one of twenty-two priority sectors under the Kerala Industrial Policy 2023, and the graphene subsectoral policy takes effect from April 2026, giving qualifying companies access to state incentives. The 2026–27 Budget introduced Graphene Aurora, valued at ₹94.85 crore and jointly implemented by DUK and IGEIC, with Kerala committing ₹3.80 crore of state funds this financial year, a confirmed disbursement, distinct from the larger scheme value. General Graphene’s planned pilot units remain an expectation, without a confirmed MoU or start date.

On research capacity, DUK’s two Centres of Excellence and its graphene-linked MTech scholarships are institutionally confirmed, though enrollment or output figures are not yet public. MeitY’s 48% budget rise, as noted, is not graphene-specific and should not be counted as project funding. Overall, none of the indicators that would show real commercial traction, patents filed, startups incubated, research papers published, students trained and placed, industry collaborations signed, or graphene actually produced and sold, are yet tracked or reported publicly. A public dashboard covering these would let the project be judged on results, not just on allocations.

Impact

Over the past four years, Kerala has moved beyond simply announcing a graphene research centre and has started building a wider ecosystem: a research and incubation centre, a pilot production plant currently being developed, plans for a larger industrial park, and a state-level graphene policy approved in February 2026. The government describes the state as a potential national gateway for graphene and other advanced materials.

The project has also created opportunities for skills and research. IICG, through DUK, supports the training of PhD, master’s, and postdoctoral students, and its connection with graphene experts at Manchester gives students and researchers access to international knowledge. This fits closely with Kerala’s wider Knowledge Economy Mission. The new Kerala Graphene Policy also aims to introduce graphene into traditional industries such as rubber, coir, plastics, and wood, helping these industries develop new products while creating employment.

However, it is important to look at results realistically. There is still limited public information on the project’s actual commercial achievements, and the outcome indicators noted above (patents, startups, research output, production volumes) remain largely unreported. The project also took several years to move from its 2022 announcement to its 2024 launch and its 2026 state policy. Because of this, its impact so far can mainly be seen in the creation of research institutions, infrastructure, skills, and government policy, rather than in graphene products already reaching the market.

Emerging Issues

1. Slow pace: Almost four years passed between MeitY’s approval in January 2022 and the final administrative sanction in the 2026 to 2027 State Budget, raising questions about the speed of a project presented as a flagship initiative.

2. Safety and environmental concerns: Producing graphene oxide often involves strong acids and energy-intensive chemical processes that create hazardous waste. Some studies have also raised concerns about possible lung irritation from long-term exposure to graphene particles and their effects on aquatic life. These risks vary by production method: chemical vapour deposition (CVD), the method proposed for the Industrial Park, generally uses fewer harsh chemicals than oxide-based routes used elsewhere in the value chain. Because Kerala’s plan spans multiple production methods across its three stages, the policy would benefit from method-specific safety and environmental standards, enforced through independent monitoring, rather than one uniform rule for all stages.

3. Too many organisations involved: The project now involves central and state funding, KIIFB loans, and several organisations including DUK, C-MET, KINFRA, Tata Steel, IGEIC, and private companies. Managing all these partners and keeping responsibilities clear could become a challenge.

4. High production cost: Graphene is still expensive to produce, which limits its use in India. It is currently used mainly in areas such as batteries, rubber, paints, and lubricants. For Kerala’s pilot plant and future industrial park to succeed, production costs will need to come down significantly.

5. Limited commercial use: Despite the research and infrastructure being developed, graphene is still not widely used in everyday industries. Kerala will need to focus on turning research into affordable products that can actually be used and sold in the market.

Way Forward

Make safety compulsory: Include clear rules for worker safety, hazardous waste, and environmental protection, with independent checks.

Improve transparency: Create a public dashboard showing money spent, land allocated in Kalamassery, Palakkad and Ottappalam, and project progress.

Set clear targets: Measure Graphene Aurora and IGEIC by startups supported, patents filed, and graphene produced—not just money allocated.

Link with the Knowledge Economy Mission: Include students trained at DUK in Kerala’s wider employment and skill-development goals.

Start small: Use graphene in industries like rubber and coir early, so Kerala can see economic benefits before the larger projects are completed.

References

K-DISC. (n.d.). Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission (KKEM). Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council. kdisc.kerala.gov.in
KNN India. (2023). Kerala govt approves land for graphene incubation centre at Palakkad Kinfra Park. knnindia.co.in
Krishna, A. (2022, July 26). Kerala Digital University made itself self-sustaining: VC Saji Gopinath. Careers360. news.careers360.com
Kumar, D. V. (2026, February 21). Kerala’s graphene dream: High-tech leap with hard questions attached. The South First. thesouthfirst.com
Press Information Bureau. (2024). MeitY Secretary launches India’s first Graphene Centre and IoT CoE in Kerala. Government of India. pib.gov.in
Agreement for setting up graphene research centre in Kochi to be signed. (2022). Careers360/PTI. news.careers360.com
Driving Kerala’s industrial growth. (2025). Kerala Calling, Government of Kerala. keralacalling.kerala.gov.in
India Innovation Centre for Graphene (IICG). (n.d.). graphenecentre.in
Invest Kerala: Graphene sector overview. (n.d.). Government of Kerala. invest.kerala.gov.in

About the Contributor

Ayana N K is a Political Science graduate from the University of Calicut. With a keen interest in public policy, international relations, and development studies.