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: “First Graphene, Haydale and Versarien are the first companies to sign-up with the GEIC as ‘Tier One’ partners. We anticipate that Tier One partners are likely to be larger SMEs and multinationals with interests that span multiple application domains.”
The GEIC will focus on industry-led application development in partnership with academics. It will fill a gap in the graphene and 2D materials ecosystem by providing facilities which focus on pilot production and characterisation, together with application development in composites, energy, solution formulations and coatings, electronics and membranes.
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 for engagement with smaller businesses as well as businesses that wish to explore how graphene can benefit 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.
