A keynote session on Advancing India’s Leadership in Lab-Grown Diamond Science Beyond the 4Cs positioned lab-grown diamonds as a strategic material for electronics, semiconductors and quantum technologies, marking a decisive shift from gemstones to advanced applications. The session was led by Prof. Dr MS Ramachandran Rao, Senior Professor, IIT Madras, Fellow of the Institute of Physics (UK), and a leading figure in India’s deep-tech and diamond science ecosystem.
Prof. Rao outlined the vision and progress of the India Centre for Lab-Grown Diamond (InCent-LGD) at IIT Madras, a government-supported initiative aimed at moving beyond traditional parameters of cut, colour, clarity and carat. He explained how diamonds are now being characterised at wafer scale, enabling applications in electronics, sensing and quantum systems, collectively referred to as diamondtronics.
The presentation highlighted India’s growing capability in developing electronic-grade diamond seeds with ultra-low nitrogen levels in the ppb range, high optical transmission, superior thermal conductivity and extremely low surface roughness. These properties are critical for photonics, high-power electronics and quantum devices, placing India on par with global benchmarks.
Prof. Rao also detailed advanced research on diamond colour centres such as NV, GeV and SnV, created through ion implantation. These enable quantum sensing, radiation detection and high-performance p–i–n diamond junctions. Validation using Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence and ODMR techniques aligns with India’s national quantum technology goals.
A strong focus was placed on indigenous technology development, including Made-in-India systems such as the Retardance Measurement Machine for stress mapping, DiaPattern™ for non-destructive analysis of growth structures, and VajrAnk™ for surface and sub-surface diamond marking. These technologies support traceability, transparency and consumer trust, particularly amid industry concerns around mixing of natural and lab-grown diamonds.
The Centre’s comprehensive analytical services, ranging from FTIR and micro-Raman to SEM cathodoluminescence and nano-indentation, were presented as critical enablers for both industry quality control and advanced R&D. Prof. Rao also emphasised skill development through specialised certification programmes and outlined upcoming global initiatives such as iCDEM 2026 and VAIRAM 2026, aimed at strengthening collaboration between academia, industry and policymakers.
The session underscored a clear message: India’s lab-grown diamond journey is moving decisively beyond jewellery, positioning the country as a serious player in advanced materials, quantum science and next-generation technologies.