India has the potential to emerge as a leader in the semiconductor industry by focusing on research and development in 2D materials, according to NITI Aayog. NITI Aayog, in its fourth edition of the "Future Front Quarterly Insights" series, developed in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, calls for a dedicated national program for 2D materials with a 10-year strategic roadmap to build end-to-end capabilities along the value chain. This push aims to leverage the unique properties of these materials to drive innovation in semiconductors, quantum computing, energy, and electronics.
What are 2D Materials?
2D materials are crystalline substances with a thickness of only one or a few atomic layers, typically less than 1 nanometer. To put that in perspective, they are about 8 lakh times thinner than the tip of a pencil. These materials possess exceptional electronic, optical, and mechanical properties compared to their 3D counterparts. For instance, they are 200 times stronger than steel and conduct electricity more efficiently than copper.
Some examples of 2D materials include graphene, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). Graphene, the most well-known 2D material, is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice.
Why are 2D Materials Important for Semiconductors?
2D materials have the potential to replace silicon in semiconductor manufacturing, enabling the creation of smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient devices. Chips made from 2D materials could be up to 10 times smaller than current chips. Their superior conductivity and structural strength support energy-saving and high-performance computing. NITI Aayog believes that 2D materials represent a pathway for India to capture a share of a multi-trillion-dollar global industry while strengthening defense, AI, and energy security.
India's Opportunity
NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam emphasized that India must aim to lead the semiconductor space by embracing disruptive technologies like 2D materials, rather than merely catching up with global players. He stated that India missed the bus in semiconductors once, and now has a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to lead.
However, India's efforts in 2D materials-based technology development are still in a nascent stage. Research is largely focused on materials synthesis and basic device characterization, with limited work on wafer-scale integration, heterostructure engineering, and deployable device prototypes. Countries like the U.S., South Korea, and China have already started integrating 2D semiconductors into their next-generation chip and quantum computing roadmaps.
To capitalize on this opportunity, NITI Aayog calls for building a resilient innovation ecosystem, self-reliance in critical material access, and strategic international partnerships. Subrahmanyam highlighted the need to invest in R&D, talent development, supply chains, and manufacturing to establish India as a leader in 2D materials. He stressed the importance of creating the entire ecosystem, not just assembling chips using licensed tech, to remove dependency and achieve true technological sovereignty.
Government Initiatives
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. This signals the first step toward building this critical future-tech ecosystem. NITI Aayog suggests merging semiconductor policies with 2D material research and building strong partnerships at home and abroad, especially as traditional silicon-based tech starts hitting its limits.
