TACC Limited, an LNJ Bhilwara Group company and wholly owned subsidiary of HEG Limited, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials (I-FIM) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) to advance research, development, and commercialization of next-generation materials technologies.
The partnership brings together TACC’s industrial expertise and commercialization capabilities with NUS I-FIM’s globally recognized scientific research strengths. Together, the two organizations aim to accelerate innovation in advanced materials science, graphene technologies, nanotechnology, and other emerging functional materials.
Driving the Future of Advanced Materials
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to transforming breakthrough scientific discoveries into commercially viable technologies. By combining academic research excellence with industrial-scale implementation, both organizations seek to shorten the pathway from laboratory innovation to real-world applications. In particular, the partnership will focus on developing advanced functional materials capable of addressing future challenges across multiple industries, including energy, electronics, mobility, infrastructure, and manufacturing.
Key Focus Areas of the Collaboration
Under the MoU, TACC and NUS I-FIM will explore cooperation across several strategic areas designed to advance technology readiness and commercialization. The collaboration will focus on advancing research and innovation in graphene and advanced functional materials, converting laboratory discoveries into scalable industrial applications, developing, testing, validating, and commercializing emerging technologies, accelerating Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) through applied research and pilot-scale projects, exploring commercialization opportunities through licensing agreements, startups, and joint ventures, building talent through researcher exchange programs, interdisciplinary learning initiatives, and industry-focused training, strengthening innovation links between the Singapore and Indian technology ecosystems and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), data-driven research, and laboratory automation to develop novel advanced materials.
Strengthening India’s Advanced Materials Ecosystem
Ankur Khaitan, Managing Director and CEO of TACC Limited, emphasized the growing importance of carbon-based advanced materials in shaping future industries. “Carbon-based advanced materials are redefining industries, and TACC sits at the intersection of this transformation. Our MoU with NUS represents a deliberate step toward accelerating technology maturity, creating meaningful commercialization pathways, and strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem by bringing together world-class research and industrial-scale ambition,” he said. His remarks underscore TACC’s commitment to building a robust advanced materials ecosystem capable of supporting high-value manufacturing and technology-driven growth.
Unlocking the Commercial Potential of Graphene
Professor Sir Konstantin Novoselov, Director of NUS I-FIM and Nobel Laureate recognized for the discovery and characterization of graphene, highlighted the importance of industry-academia collaboration in advancing real-world applications of breakthrough materials. “Graphene’s potential has never been in doubt. The real challenge lies in successfully integrating it into practical applications. This partnership combines the scientific depth of NUS with the manufacturing expertise and industrial scale of a company that understands how to operate at the technological frontier. Strong collaboration between academia and industry is essential to accelerate innovation and translate scientific discoveries into scalable technologies,” he said.
Creating a Cross-Border Innovation Platform
Beyond research, the partnership aims to establish a powerful cross-border innovation platform connecting Singapore’s advanced research ecosystem with India’s growing manufacturing and technology landscape. By fostering collaboration among scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders, the initiative is expected to accelerate the development of commercially viable advanced materials solutions while supporting the emergence of new technology ventures and intellectual property.
Advancing Commercialization of Next-Generation Materials
As global demand grows for high-performance, sustainable, and intelligent materials, collaborations such as this will play a critical role in bridging the gap between research and industry. Through this strategic alliance, TACC Limited and NUS I-FIM aim to accelerate the commercialization of graphene and advanced functional materials, creating new opportunities for innovation, industrial competitiveness, and economic growth. As per the press release, the partnership also reinforces the increasing importance of international collaboration in driving breakthroughs in advanced materials science and next-generation manufacturing technologies.
