New Delhi: In a significant push for future-ready technologies, NITI Aayog has called for immediate investment and ecosystem development for two-dimensional (2D) materials, positioning them as the foundation of the next revolution in semiconductors, quantum computing, energy, and electronics.
Unveiling the 4th edition of the “Future Front Quarterly Insights” series, NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam stressed that India must aim to lead the semiconductor space by embracing disruptive technologies like 2D materials — rather than merely catching up with global players.
“We missed the bus in semiconductors once. The choice now is: Do we catch up, or do we lead?” said Subrahmanyam. “2D materials present a once-in-a-generation opportunity. If we act now, we can lead.“
What Are 2D Materials and Why Are They Game-Changing?
The report explains that 2D materials are incredibly thin — about 8 lakh times thinner than the tip of a pencil — yet are 200 times stronger than steel and conduct electricity better than copper. These unique properties make them potential successors to silicon, the current standard for semiconductor manufacturing.
Smaller, faster chips: 2D materials can enable chips up to 10 times smaller than those produced today.
Energy-efficient: Their superior conductivity and structural strength support energy-saving and high-performance computing.
India Must Build the Entire 2D Materials Ecosystem
Subrahmanyam highlighted the need to invest in R&D, talent development, supply chains, and manufacturing to establish India as a leader in 2D materials.
“We need to create the entire ecosystem — not just assemble chips using licensed tech. That’s the only way to remove dependency and achieve true technological sovereignty,” he said.
Global Players Already Investing—India Must Move Fast
Countries like the USA, China, Japan, and South Korea are already investing heavily in 2D materials research and commercialisation. If India doesn’t act quickly, the country risks falling behind again in this critical technology frontier.
Tech Leadership Is Now About Controlling Supply Chains and Standards
Debjani Ghosh, Chief Architect of the NITI Frontier Tech Hub, emphasized that “tech choke points” are reshaping global geopolitics.
“If you set the standards, you lead. If not, you follow,” said Ghosh. “Control over supply chains, standards, and alliances defines who wins in tech.”
She added that 2D materials offer a clean slate to define the semiconductor future — a chance India cannot afford to miss.
Indian Scientists Call for Independence from Licensed Tech
Professor Mayank Shrivastava, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), warned that current manufacturing approaches based on licensed technologies leave India vulnerable to strategic manipulation.
“Licensed tech comes with an umbilical cord. It can be pulled back or twisted. The only way to cut that cord is to build using our own IPs and future technologies like 2D materials,” he said.
Government Begins Action: MEITY & DST Invite Research Proposals
Responding to the urgency, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) have already started inviting proposals for research and product development using 2D materials — signalling the first step toward building this critical future-tech ecosystem.
