Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre Announces First Partners

The University of Manchester’s recently completed £60m Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) has agreed the first in a series of industrial partnerships to accelerate the commercialization of graphene in Manchester. First Graphene Ltd, Haydale Graphene Industries Plc, and Versarien Plc have each agreed to partner with the GEIC in order to exploit opportunities to develop and commercialize graphene products and applications.

The GEIC, which is housed in the Masdar building near Manchester city center, was recently handed over to University ownership from contractors ahead of an official opening later this year. Along with the National Graphene Institute (NGI) and the Henry Royce Institute (set to be completed in 2019) the GEIC will be crucial in maintaining the UK’s world leading position in advanced materials.

James Baker, CEO of Graphene@Manchester said: “The GEIC is a key component of the University’s strategy for Graphene@Manchester. Our aim is to accelerate the commercialization of real-world applications and transition graphene and other 2D materials from the lab to the marketplace. The GEIC will bring in an additional 30 staff in addition to academics to grow community to over 300 graphene-related staff at the University. First Graphene, Haydale and Versarien are the first companies to sign-up with the GEIC as a ‘Tier One’ partners. We anticipate that Tier One partners are likely to be larger SMEs and multinationals with interests that span multiple application domains.” Tier One partnership benefits include access to world-leading expertise and experience along with specialist equipment within the GEIC to aid projects which will accelerate product and process development and market entry.

The GEIC will focus on industry-led application development in partnership with academics. It will fill a critical gap in the graphene and 2D materials ecosystem by providing facilities which focus on pilot production, characterization, together with application development in composites, energy, solution formulations and coatings, electronics and membranes.

First Graphene Ltd. is known for the manufacture of bulk scale graphene by electrochemical exfoliation of graphite. Previously, First Graphene has successfully developed a number of applications for graphene through collaboration with Australian universities, including FireStop™ fire retardant and BEST™ supercapacitors. This agreement initiates its first major collaboration within the UK. First Graphene Ltd. Chairman, Warwick Grigor said “First Graphene is very pleased to join with The University of Manchester team at GEIC, establishing a presence in the UK for the first time. The strong focus of GEIC on industry collaboration is an important step in taking graphene applications into manufacturing, thereby accelerating the commercialization path.”

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Haydale have partnered with the GEIC following-on from previous work with the NGI. Based in Loughborough, the company focuses on enabling technology for the commercialization of graphene and other nanomaterials. In addition to becoming a Tier One partner Haydale have also committed to sponsoring a graphene PhD student for four years as part of a growing strategic relationship.
Haydale CEO Ray Gibbs said: “We are really delighted to be a part of the applications developments focus for graphene products in the iconic GEIC. We are housing our patented HT60 plasma reactor in the building to functionalize a range of graphene and other 2D materials where correct chemical bonding is a key part of the dispersion techniques we employ. Complete dispersion is the key to performance improvement in key industrial areas such as composite structures, elastomers and conductive inks. This initiative is attracting national and international collaboration partners to a world-renowned Graphene and nanomaterials research and development facility. We are looking forward to adding real value to potential and existing business partners looking for application specific uplifts in improving performance across a range of products.”

Versarien have also continued their partnership with The University of Manchester and have agreed to partner with the GEIC as part of the company’s increasing production capabilities of graphene. Neil Ricketts, CEO of Versarien said: “I am delighted that Versarien has joined the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre as a Tier One partner. Through the GEIC we will be able to access a world class facility and be at the heart of graphene developments. We will also benefit from working alongside other GEIC partners, enabling us to further advance the commercialization of graphene.”

The University of Manchester is also in discussions with a number of other companies for both Tier One and Tier Two partnerships. The Tier Two has been developed in particular for engagement with smaller businesses as well as those businesses who wish to explore how graphene can really make a benefit for their business or product range. By creating a critical mass of scientists, manufacturers, engineers, innovators and industrialists the advanced materials innovation ecosystem in Manchester will be able to take a graphene application from basic research to finished product.