The Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) to be set up at The University of Manchester is positioned to set the benchmark for developing new applications for graphene and other 2D materials.
An artist's impression of the GEIC from Sackville Street
This cost involved in setting up the GEIC has been estimated at £60,000,000. The purpose of setting up the GEIC is to reduce the time to market of graphene products and to position it as the global standard for research and technology development.
The GEIC, along with the Sir Henry Royce Institute for Materials Research and Innovation, and the National Graphene Institute (NGI), has strengthened the UK’s position as the world leader in the research of graphene and 2D materials.
The NGI was set up in the year 2015 at a cost of £61,000,000, and Sir Henry Royce Institute of Materials Research and Innovation at £235,000,000. While the NGI focuses on academic-driven research in association with the industry, GEIC will strive to develop innovations and applications that are industry-led.
The GEIC is located on the North Campus building of The University of Manchester. The building sprawls over 8,400 m2, and has been designed by the world-famous architect Rafael Vinoly.
Initial research at the GEIC will be focused on the University’s top-class graphene applications, such as composites, energy, electronics, membranes, and formulations and coatings. The GEIC will host facilities for the pilot production phase and characterization phase for industrial large-scale production of graphene. The GEIC is expected to be completed by 2017.
A team of over 230 researchers are involved in graphene research spanning multiple subjects and disciplines at the University. With the GEIC, NGI, and Sir Henry Royce Institute working together, Manchester is all set to become the undisputed leader in graphene research and expertise.
Professor Colin Bailey, Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, said: “The University of Manchester leads the world in graphene research and is one of the most significant centres of commercialisation of the material. The GEIC will be crucial to take graphene to the market and address issues such as scale-up and infrastructure."
“Alongside the University’s existing world-class facilities in graphene and Advanced Materials, the GEIC is essential to maintain the UK’s international leadership position in this area and ensure effective commercialisation of a UK discovery.”
James Baker, Graphene Business Director, added:
This facility will be essential in continuing the world-class research and commercialisation that will start in the National Graphene Institute and mature into the GEIC. Researchers and industry will work together to address the challenges faced in graphene and other 2-D materials research, development and application in the UK.
£15,000,000 from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund has been granted by the Higher Education Funding Council of England towards the funding of the GEIC. In addition to this funding, Innovate UK and Masdar – a Mubadala owned renewable energy company based at Abu Dhabi – have £5,000,000 and £30,000,000 respectively. Contributions from other institutions and research funds will cover the remaining £10,000,000 of the GEIC budget.
The Sir Henry Royce Institute for Materials Research and Innovation will have its base at the University of Manchester, and the facilities will be located at the founding university partners, including Imperial College London, Oxford, Cambridge, Liverpool, Leeds and Sheffield.
The focus of research will be on the development of 14 core areas of materials research, graphene being one of them. The core areas will be divided into four themes, namely Engineering, Functional, Soft Materials and Energy.