Graphene Innovations Manchester (GIM), a UK-based deep-tech company, has launched GIM WildCat, a new commercial development and investor engagement center at Sharjah Research, Technology & Innovation Park (SRTI Park), aimed at accelerating the commercialization of graphene-based technologies in the Middle East.
GIM said its goal is to showcase advanced graphene-based products, build investor and partner networks, expand across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Asia, and drive joint research and development within the park’s innovation ecosystem.
With operations in the UK, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Asia, and the US, GIM said it is advancing industrial applications in sectors such as construction, composites, AI-powered cooling, hydrogen, and space through its various divisions, including GIM GrapheneFibre, GIM Concrete, and GIM StarLight Miami.
GIM CEO Vivek Koncherry said Sharjah is the ideal base for global growth, citing SRTI Park’s supportive environment for scientific and commercial success.
The deal marks a major step in the commercialization of graphene, giving UK innovators access to global markets and investment.
In April 2023, GIM signed a $1 billion joint venture with the UAE-based Quazar Investment Company to launch a new company focused on scaling eco-friendly technologies using advanced 2D materials. The partnership aimed to center on developing sustainable products, including a pioneering cement- and water-free graphene-enhanced concrete made from recycled materials. GIM said this concrete is expected to significantly cut carbon emissions and support global net-zero goals.
In December 2024, GIM entered into a deal for the commercial production of carbon fiber enriched with graphene in Saudi Arabia. Graphene Innovations Manchester agreed to construct a factory in the Gulf state to manufacture the material for use in the kingdom's plans to build futurist eco-cities in the desert.
