Photo ; Prof Sathyan Subbiah, Co-Principal Investigator, InCent-LGD, IIT Madras, felicitates Dr Roy Gat, Founder, Carat systems, USA
CHENNAI, 31st March 2026: IIT Madras Research Group India Centre for Lab Grown Diamond (InCent-LGD) is taking the Nation’s Research on Quantum Technologies, photonics, sensing, and Metrology using Diamond Material to the Global Stage.
Established with the support of the Union Ministry of Commerce, this Research Group works towards making India a global leader in the lab-grown diamond industry by developing indigenous technologies.
The technologies developed by this Centre will be available to Indian start-ups and industry to make India self-reliant (Atma Nirbhar) in producing gem-quality and electronic-grade diamonds. It will enhance technological capabilities, boost exports and generate economic growth through innovation and entrepreneurship
Lab-grown diamonds are produced in a controlled technological process, instead of being mined from the earth. It has the same physical, chemical and optical properties as natural diamond. Lab-grown diamonds are however more suitable for applications other than gems and jewellery.
The Research Group organized International Conference on Diamond and Emergent Materials – Science and Technology (iCDEM 2026), a global forum focusing on advances in diamond science, quantum technologies and next-generation electronic materials from 11th to 13th March 2026 at the Campus. A key thrust area of the Conference included the use of diamond and related carbon materials for energy, space and fusion applications, highlighting diamond’s superior thermal conductivity, radiation hardness and durability.
Around 250 global and Indian researchers, scientists and industry professionals working in materials science, electronics and quantum technology attended the event. Organised in association with University of Arizona, US, and Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), it was first event of its kind in India dedicated exclusively to diamond and emergent materials technologies.
The conference also focused on next-generation technologies such as incorporating modelling, simulation and AI/ML-driven monitoring techniques to optimise the growth processes of diamond and carbonaceous materials (carbon-based substances that can be engineered to deliver a wide range of properties), ensuring precision, scalability and industrial relevance.
Highlighting the need for such conferences, Prof. M S Ramachandra Rao, Principal Investigator, InCent-LGD, IIT Madras, said, “The mission of our Research Group is to establish a National Centre for creation of state-of-the-art facilities for Lab Grown Diamond Technologies that enable process development and optimisation of diamond growth using indigenously-developed technologies. We will also soon be offering courses to train the people needed for Lab-Grown diamond Industry. Global Conferences such as iCDEM 2026 are critical for Indian Researchers to learn from the best scientists in the world and boost Indian Technologies.”
Addressing participants at the closing ceremony, Prof. M. S. Ramachandra Rao, Chair of iCDEM 2026 and Professor at IIT Madras, announced that the next edition of the conference, iCDEM 2027, will be held from 27 to 29 January 2027 at IIT Madras.
Elaborating on the research underway at InCent-LGD, it’s Co-Principal Investigator Prof. Sathyan Subbiah, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras, said, “Our objectives are to innovate and improve the technologies for growing lab-grown diamonds and applying them for gems and showing the possibilities beyond jewellery. We are seeing next-gen entrepreneurs in India taking the leap from gems to other technological applications of diamond. Our centre will connect with these industry members who participated in the conference and through joint collaborations with them build technological capabilities that will take India’s LGD sector to the new heights.”
A five-year research grant of Rs. 242.96 crore was announced in the Union Budget 2023-2024, supported by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, to establish this Centre. The outcomes of this centre would make the technology available for more start-ups, increase employment opportunities, boost exports of LGD, and thus play a significant role in fueling India’s economic growth.
IMPORTANT CONFERENCE OUTCOMES
The important conference outcomes include
- Strengthening of global collaborations in diamond and emergent technologies
- Advancing indigenous technology development and self-reliance in lab-grown diamonds
- Enhancing academia–industry synergy for translation and commercialization
The conference also focused on advancing diamond and carbonaceous materials, covering their synthesis, growth, doping and characterisation, with a strong emphasis on enabling next-generation applications. It will also explore emergent ultra-wide-band gap materials and their device physics, which are critical for high-power, high-frequency and extreme-environment electronics.
CONFERENCE DETAILS
Over the three days, the conference featured keynote lectures, invited talks and technical sessions covering topics such as advances in Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) diamond growth, post-processing, and diamond-based quantum sensing, photonics and advanced semiconductor technologies.
Over 25 distinguished invited speakers from around the world presented lectures covering diverse topics related to diamond and emerging materials.
Keynote speakers included Prof. Mark Newton (University of Warwick, UK), Prof. Oliver Williams (Cardiff University, UK), Prof. Mario Ruben (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany), and Dr.Wuyi Wang (Vice President – R&D, Gemological Institute of America) who spoke on developments in diamond materials and their emerging applications in quantum technologies and advanced electronics. The conference also featured around 60 poster presentations, showcasing research from universities and laboratories on areas ranging from nanodiamond technologies and quantum sensors to advanced coatings and electronic materials.
An industry exhibition held alongside the conference brought together about 25 companies from diamond and advanced materials ecosystem, including manufacturers of laser systems, instrumentation and diamond processing technologies. It concluded with an award ceremony recognising outstanding research contributions and discussions on strengthening collaboration between academia, research institutions and industry in the rapidly evolving field of diamond and carbon-based advanced materials.
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