Indian government grants IIT Madras Rs 242 crore for lab grown diamond research

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Feb 14, 2023

The Indian government has pledged to grant the Indian Institute of Technology Madras Rs 242 crore to research indigenising lab grown diamonds. The investment will be made over a period of five years and has been approved by the government. 

“Lab grown diamonds is a technology and innovation-driven emerging sector with high employment potential,” said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the budget presentation, the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council reported on its website. “These environment-friendly diamonds have optically and chemically the same properties as natural diamonds. To encourage indigenous production of LGD seeds and machines and to reduce import dependency, a research and development grant will be provided to one of the IITs for five years.”
 
Researching lab grown diamonds will also aid developments in 5G and 6G, magnetometry, thermal management, sensors, and quantum technologies. As demand for lab grown diamonds continues to rise in India, manufacturing the diamonds domestically will boost in-country manufacturing and reduce the dependence on imports.  

“This is indeed the right time to set up a diamond factory in India, given that diamonds have thermal and electrical properties making it superior to contemporary technologies like silicon, silicon carbide and gallium nitride,” said IIT Madras’ director V Kamakoti, the GJEPC reported. “IIT Madras will work towards producing diamond wafers suitable for electronic applications. It is a historic moment for IIT Madras for being selected for implementation of such an important project, output of which will be a crucial component of Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
 
“The India Centre for Lab Grown Diamonds at IIT Madras was identified for this prestigious project based on our nearly two decades of work experience in diamond research wherein we have developed many technologies for industry, space and defence sectors,” said IIT Madras’ M S Ramachandra Rao, who will work as principal investigator for the initiative. “We are honoured to contribute to the initiatives of the Government of India to boost research and development efforts in diamond growth to make India #1 country in producing good quality diamond crystals.”