Kerala govt signs MoU with UK universities for cooperation in graphene sector

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 13 (KNN) The Kerala government has signed an agreement with Universities of Manchester, Oxford and Edinburgh for cooperation in the field of graphene.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and state industry minister P Rajeeve in UK on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Vijayan said that the MoU signed with the UK universities is expected to streamline the research oriented activities and enhance the knowledge economy of the state.

“Our attempt is to build a global graphene based ecosystem. The state government will extend help to such organisations which are into the development of Nanotechnology as well as the enhancement of innovative areas like graphene,” he said.

The state government is also planning to set up a science park annexed to the university system to provide back-up to the proliferation of the knowledge based industry borne out of digital technology. The digital University has been entrusted with setting up a digital science park.

The MoU signing witnessed the presence of Professor Andre Geim, the nobel laureate of 2010 for the graphene discovery. Geim appreciated Kerala’s efforts adding that the thrust on graphene would help the state to become a major industrial destination in the future.

Other key persons present at the event were Prof Harish Bhaskaran (Oxford University), Sethu Vijayakumar (Edinburg University), Prof Bhaskar Choubey (Siegen University), Geim’s disciple and Keralite, Prof Rahul Nair, Kerala Chief Secretary V P Joy, state planning board vice chairman V K Ramachandra,  and Kerala digital University vice chancellor Saji Gopinath.  (KNN Bureau)