Lucknow

Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday met Nobel laureate Konstantin Novoselov to discuss possibilities of developing Uttar Pradesh into a major hub for advanced material research and engineering, officials said.

Rajat Verma, chief executive officer of Lohum, and the company’s Chief of Staff Ayush Sabat were also present during the meeting.

According to an official statement, the visiting delegation appreciated the state’s positive investment environment, while the chief minister welcomed Novoselov and Lohum representatives to Uttar Pradesh.

During the discussions, the participants explored opportunities to establish the state as a leading national hub for advanced material research and engineering.

Officials said talks also covered Lohum’s proposal to set up India’s first “Rare Earth to Magnet” integrated facility in the state, which is expected to promote high-tech manufacturing in the country.

Novoselov, who is globally known for isolating Graphene, is currently working with Lohum as a strategic advisor and collaborator to help apply advanced material science at an industrial scale in battery technology and the energy sector.

The collaboration between Lohum and Novoselov focuses on two key areas — the use of two-dimensional materials such as graphene to enhance the capacity, safety and lifespan of next-generation lithium-ion batteries, and the development of advanced recycling systems for batteries and permanent magnets to improve the recovery of critical minerals.

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Officials said the initiative could support the government’s Make in India programme and contribute to India’s green energy goals by strengthening the circular economy for critical minerals.