The research will be focused on driving indigenisation of the LGD manufacturing process.
Presenting the Budget 2023-24 in the Parliament on Wednesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, said "The LGD is a technology and innovation-driven emerging sector with high employment potential."
"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," the Finance Minister added.
As per a recommendation made by the Department of Commerce, the research grant of Rs 242 crore over a period of five years to IIT-M has been approved, the statement said.
"This is indeed the right time to set up a diamond factory in India, given that diamonds have thermal and electrical properties making them superior to contemporary technologies like silicon, silicon carbide and gallium nitride. IIT-Madras will work towards producing diamond wafers suitable for electronic applications," Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT-M, said.
Chennai, Feb 2
The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) will receive Rs 242 crore as research grant for research and development of lab grown diamonds (LGDs), the institute said on Thursday.
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