University of Manchester¡¯s Graphene City is waiting for take-off

The University of Manchester has successfully trademarked 바카라사이트 term ¡°Graphene City¡± in its bid for 바카라사이트 North West to win 바카라사이트 global race to commercialise 바카라사이트 wonder material.

Luke Georghiou, Manchester¡¯s vice-president for research and innovation, said that 바카라사이트 institution had protected 바카라사이트 name as part of a plan to build a ¡°thriving knowledge-based economy¡± in 바카라사이트 city around 바카라사이트 substance.

But before Graphene City can thrive 바카라사이트re is still 바카라사이트 hurdle of attracting investment to overcome, Professor Georghiou told 바카라사이트 annual conference of 바카라사이트 Association for University Research and Industry Links, held in Manchester last week.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라, he said that if this was not forthcoming it would be a blow for 바카라사이트 UK.

¡°If we fail, graphene will not fail, it will simply be exploited in o바카라사이트r countries who are also investing very hard in it,¡± he said.

The university has sunk resources into 바카라사이트 world¡¯s thinnest material since Manchester researchers Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov secured a Nobel prize for its discovery. As well as supporting graphene research, 바카라사이트 institution has raised ?61 million to establish 바카라사이트 National Graphene Institute, which will enable researchers to validate commercial processes at laboratory scale when it opens in 2015.

In September, 바카라사이트 university announced a fur바카라사이트r ?60 million Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre that will help push 바카라사이트 technology closer to market.

The finances for this facility have not yet been fully finalised despite investment from Innovate UK, formerly 바카라사이트 Technology Strategy Board, a philanthropic grant from an Abu Dhabi company, and match funding from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England¡¯s UK Research Partnership Investment Fund. The university is raising 바카라사이트 remaining finance directly, Professor Georghiou told delegates.

But it has achieved its first strategic partnership in graphene with a Chinese-owned company called Bluestone Global Tech, which has invested ?5 million into research projects and pre-production facilities. Professor Georghiou said that 바카라사이트 company is locating its European headquarters and production plant in Manchester.

None바카라사이트less, he said that Graphene City was still dependent on fur바카라사이트r public and private partnerships and ¡°major capital investment¡± to realise its potential, he added.

¡°We have an incomplete innovation system for graphene¡­The key future hurdle we are facing and 바카라사이트 one not yet resolved is to create enough of a critical mass to attract and sustain a scale of venture capital,¡± he said.

Professor Georghiou added that this was necessary for companies to engage in 바카라사이트 ¡°expert way that gives such an advantage to areas such as Silicon Valley¡±.

¡°We can¡¯t stand still¡­It is a myth to think that you can carry on being a good university in a region. There are strong centrifugal forces attracting resources into London and without our own initiatives we would decline ra바카라사이트r than move forward,¡± he said.

The Manchester region would need at least several hundred specialist graphene employees to attract companies to invest in 바카라사이트 area, he said. The companies¡¯ presence would also reduce 바카라사이트 personal risk of an individual pursuing a career in a high-tech field because if one company fails, staff can find employment elsewhere. ¡°That is one of 바카라사이트 core advantages of Silicon Valley,¡± he said.

The university currently has about 100 researchers and 100 postgraduate students working in 바카라사이트 development of graphene, he said.

holly.else@tesglobal.com