IIT Madras Leads India's Charge in Diamond-Based Innovation
In a landmark moment for Indian higher education and technology, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has propelled the nation's research on diamond-based technologies onto the global stage. The recently concluded International Conference on Diamond and Emergent Materials – Science and Technology (iCDEM 2026), held from March 11 to 13, 2026, on the IIT Madras campus, brought together over 250 researchers, scientists, and industry leaders from around the world. This event, organized by the India Centre for Lab Grown Diamond (InCent-LGD) at IIT Madras in collaboration with the University of Arizona and the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), marked India's first global forum dedicated exclusively to diamond and emergent materials technologies. It highlighted cutting-edge advancements in quantum technologies, photonics, sensing, and high-performance electronics, positioning IIT Madras as a pivotal player in this transformative field.
Diamonds, long celebrated for their beauty, are now recognized for their exceptional properties—unmatched thermal conductivity, hardness, radiation resistance, and optical clarity. Lab-grown diamonds (LGD), synthesized using methods like Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) or High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT), offer identical chemical and physical properties to natural diamonds but at a fraction of the cost and environmental impact. At IIT Madras, researchers are harnessing these properties for applications far beyond jewelry, including semiconductors, quantum computing, space exploration, and fusion energy.
The Genesis of InCent-LGD: Building Self-Reliance
The India Centre for Lab Grown Diamond (InCent-LGD) was established in February 2023 at IIT Madras with a substantial five-year grant of Rs 242.96 crore from the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, announced in Budget 2023-24. This funding underscores the government's commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in strategic materials. The centre's mission is to develop indigenous technologies for producing gem-quality and electronic-grade LGD, reducing import dependence and fostering a sustainable ecosystem for research-industry collaboration.
Under the leadership of Prof. M.S. Ramachandra Rao, Principal Investigator and Chair of iCDEM 2026, and Prof. Sathyan Subbiah, Co-Principal Investigator from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, InCent-LGD has rapidly progressed. Key milestones include the development of diamond marking technology—a first-of-its-kind innovation that identifies LGD without damaging quality—and prototypes for indigenous CVD and HPHT systems. In CVD, which involves depositing carbon atoms layer by layer in a plasma chamber to grow diamonds on a substrate, IIT Madras teams are nearing commercialization within 6-8 months. HPHT, mimicking Earth's natural diamond formation under extreme pressure and temperature, has seen prototype success with full-scale systems expected in 1-1.5 years.
QuCenDiEM: Pioneering Quantum Frontiers with Diamonds
Complementing InCent-LGD is the Quantum Centre of Excellence for Diamond and Emergent Materials (QuCenDiEM), also at IIT Madras, which delves into quantum applications. Diamonds' lattice structure allows precise control of defects like nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers—atomic-scale flaws where a nitrogen atom replaces carbon next to a vacancy. These act as qubits or sensors due to their spin properties, detectable optically even at room temperature.
A breakthrough is the boron-doped diamond (BDD) granular superconductor, where boron doping induces superconductivity at higher temperatures, potentially revolutionizing quantum devices. QuCenDiEM has published extensively, including in Nature Communications and Physical Review Letters, on NV-based magnetometry, quantum spin liquids, and topological insulators. Facilities include microwave plasma CVD reactors, cryogenic confocal microscopes, and femtosecond lasers for defect engineering. Collaborations span Harvard, Oxford, and ISRO, aligning with India's National Quantum Mission.
Highlights from iCDEM 2026: A Global Showcase
iCDEM 2026 featured keynote lectures, 25+ invited talks, 60 poster presentations, and an exhibition with 25 companies displaying laser systems and processing tech. Themes spanned diamond synthesis via CVD/HPHT, doping/characterization, ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors, quantum photonics, energy/space/fusion apps, and AI/ML for growth optimization. Outcomes included strengthened global ties, indigenous tech advancement, and academia-industry synergy. Prof. Rao announced iCDEM 2027 for January 27-29, 2027.
"Global conferences like iCDEM are critical for Indian researchers to learn from the best and boost our technologies," said Prof. Rao. The event underscored diamonds' role in high-power electronics for extreme environments, like space radiation-hardened components.Learn more about iCDEM
Versatile Applications: From Quantum to Space
Diamond-based tech spans multiple domains:
- Quantum Computing & Sensing: NV centers enable room-temperature qubits and nanoscale MRI via optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR).
- Semiconductors: Superior to silicon in power electronics; BDD for high-frequency devices.
- Energy & Fusion: Thermal management in reactors; coatings for tribology.
- Space: Radiation-resistant electronics; ISRO collaborations.
- Biomedical: Biosensors, neural interfaces.
Boosting India's Economy and Higher Education
India's LGD market, valued at ~Rs 3,452 crore ($400M) in 2025, is projected to reach Rs 5,179 crore ($600M) soon, with exports growing six-fold to $1.2B in FY2025. InCent-LGD will drive exports to $3B by 2050, create jobs, and reduce imports. Recent MoUs, like with IIGJ for certification/diploma programs, signal skill-building.PIB on economic impact
In higher education, IIT Madras exemplifies research translation, inspiring universities like IIT Kharagpur and IISc.
Overcoming Challenges: Purity, Scalability, and Certification
Challenges include achieving ultra-high purity for electronic/quantum grades, scaling production, and consumer trust amid price drops from overproduction. IIT Madras addresses these via AI-optimized growth, indigenous machines, and certification SOPs. "Purity is the key barrier; once overcome, opportunities explode," per Prof. Rao.
- Purity: NV control via precise doping.
- Scalability: CVD/HPHT prototypes.
- Market: Focus on value-added tech apps.
Global Collaborations and Indian Leadership
Partnerships with University of Arizona, GJEPC, Harvard, and startups like Kapindra Precision enhance knowledge transfer. VAIRAM 2026 workshop bridged research-commercialization.
Future Outlook: Training, Commercialization, and Beyond
InCent-LGD plans courses for LGD workforce, quantum-grade diamonds, and devices. By 2027, expect commercial indigenous systems, boosting India's deep-tech stature. This positions IIT Madras—and India—as leaders in the materials revolution, blending academia, industry, and policy for sustainable growth.Explore InCent-LGD
As Prof. Rao envisions, "India can lead electronic-grade and quantum-grade diamond production." With iCDEM's success, the trajectory is set for exponential impact.
