Kerala has approved India’s first comprehensive graphene policy to position itself as a global hub for research, innovation, and manufacturing of graphene-based technologies.

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• Kerala became the first Indian state to adopt a comprehensive graphene policy aimed at promoting research, development, and industrial production.
• Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice and is known for exceptional strength, electrical conductivity, and thermal stability.
• As part of the initiative, the Union Cabinet approved the establishment of “Grefine Park” to accelerate graphene-based innovation and manufacturing.
• A dedicated graphene industrial park will be set up in Palakkad along with a Digital Innovation Centre with an investment of ₹200 crore.
• The state will provide a 50% subsidy on lease payments for manufacturing units established in government-managed industrial parks.
• The policy seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial application through collaboration with global institutions such as the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester.
• Manchester University researchers first isolated graphene in 2004, marking a major breakthrough in materials science.
• Applications of graphene include electronics, energy storage, composites, semiconductors, and biomedical devices.
• The policy aims to create a seamless value chain from laboratory research to commercial production, boosting start-ups and high-skilled employment.
• The initiative aligns with Kerala’s broader push toward high-technology industries and infrastructure projects such as the proposed K-Rail (Silver Line) corridor.