Kochi, March 9 The first edition of GraphIN 2026, an international conference and expo on graphene and two-dimensional (2D) materials, began here on Monday, bringing together scientists, technology innovators, and industry representatives from around the world to discuss advancements in next-generation materials.
The conference is jointly organized by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, through the Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET), in collaboration with the PHANTOM Foundation, Spain, and the University of Manchester, UK, a pioneer in graphene research.
A statement by the organizers said that the event is being held in India for the first time as part of the Graphene Conference series, a major European event on graphene and 2D materials.
Nobel laureate Prof. Kostya Novoselov, Director of the Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials at the National University of Singapore, inaugurated the conference.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Novoselov said that even after nearly two decades of research, graphene continues to generate remarkable scientific discoveries and technological possibilities.
He said the material has evolved from a laboratory curiosity into a versatile platform with applications across multiple sectors.
He noted that while research in graphene and other two-dimensional materials is expanding rapidly, the challenge now lies in identifying the most promising directions among the growing range of applications. He also said India is well-positioned to play a significant role in advancing both the science and practical applications of graphene.
Delivering the keynote address, Amitesh Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary, MeitY, said the country is steadily positioning itself as a global hub for electronics system design and manufacturing through policy support and investments aimed at strengthening the semiconductor and electronics ecosystem.
He said the electronics sector is among the fastest-growing industries globally and a key pillar of initiatives such as 'Make in India' and Digital India.
Under the India Semiconductor Mission, ten semiconductor manufacturing proposals with investments of about Rs 1.6 lakh crore have already been approved, while more than 100 start-ups and MSMEs have received support under the Design Linked Incentive scheme, he said.
Dr. R Ratheesh, Director General of C-MET, said that graphene and other two-dimensional materials are emerging as key enablers of next-generation technologies because of their exceptional electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties.
He said the conference provides an important platform for collaboration between researchers, industry, and policymakers to advance applications ranging from energy storage and flexible electronics to sensing and biomedical devices.
The four-day conference features keynote lectures, technical sessions, and industry forums focusing on emerging applications of graphene and related materials.