The UK based 2-DTech, maker and supplier of 2D materials and University of Manchester spun off start-up has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to become a project partner of the National Graphene Institute (NGI).

The agreement will allow 2-DTech to work from the NGI facility upon its completion in March 2015, and is hoped to push forward graphene applications development and commercialization and help cultivate this relationship into a strategic partnership in the future.

James Baker, business director at the National Graphene Institute (NGI) in the UK said a technology company (that remained unnamed) is about to open a LED light factory in Manchester.

The factory will produce LED lighting in which graphene will be used to dissipate heat, thanks to its superior heat conductivity trait. 

Towards the end of 2011, the University of Manchester announced its £61 million National Graphene Institute (NGI), which is nearly complete and will be one of the leading graphene research centers in the world. Now there are reports that the UK Chancellor, George Osborne, will unveil plans for a second £60 million graphene center in Manchester.

The National Graphene Center plan

The new center will be called the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre. Apparently it will be aimed towards development of graphene-based products with an eye on commercialization. The UK hopes that the new center, together with the NGI, will make Manchester and the UK in a position to lead the world in graphene technology.

Bluestone Global Tech decided to open a new European graphene production plant at the University of Manchester. Bluestone will also partner with the University on several projects. Those projects (detailed below) and the pilot production facility are estimated at £5 million ($7.8 million) which will be funded wholly by BGT.

The National Graphene Center plan

This new deal signs the first strategic partnership of the £61 million National Graphene Institute (NGI) established at Manchester and Bluestone is the first company (except University Spin-Offs Graphene Industries and 2-D Tech) to work at the NGI. Specifically Bluestone will open a pre-production facility and will offer graphene material to the University of Manchester's 100+ scientists and engineers working on graphene and other 2D materials. Later on BGT will setup a larger headquarters and a pilot production line at the NGI and will also work towards partnership with other consumer companies.

The University of Manchester is building the UK's National Graphene Institute (NGI) with help from the UK government's £50 million graphene drive. Today the University announced that it appointed the NGI's business development and strategy director.

The National Graphene Center plan

Nathan Hill (a physicist turned business manager) will focus on strategy and business development for the NGI. Nathan's first goal will be to set up a graphene industry club and a number of strategic partnerships with major companies. The University hopes Nathan will help them ensure that they remain the "home of graphene research".

The MI5 has warned UK Universities that their research is the target of cyber attacks (apparently by Russia and China) and they should defend it. It especially says that graphene and Quantum computing technologies research are possible targets.

National Graphene Centre (simulated)

UK's Manchester University, where graphene was first isolated and researched is now building the national graphene institute (NGI) with an estimated cost of about £38 million. The University of Cambridge also announced plans to establish a new center for graphene research, which will be called The Cambridge Graphene Centre (CGC).

Bruker announced today that the National Graphene Institute (NGI) at the University of Manchester will use their Dimension FastScan Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) for research into the nanofabrication and nanoscale properties of graphene.

NGI researchers hope to get new insights into nanoscale variations of graphene conductivity and work function, and they will use Bruker's unique technologies to achieve that. Bruker's AFM will enable simultaneous quantitative mapping of mechanical properties, which will hopefully help the scientists optimize new graphene based materials and devices performance.

Manchester's City Council, MIDAS, the University of Manchester and the ERDF (who just funded £23 million towards the National graphene Institute in Manchester ) funded and published a new short film that presents graphene, its discovery in Manchester and its possible applications:

Back in February 2012 the UK government announced a £50 million graphene drive, which included £38 million for the national graphene institute (NGI) at the University of Manchester. This world-class facility is set to open in 2015, and today we hear that European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) awarded £23 million towards the NGI, in one of their largest awards ever.

Manchester University also has interest in two graphene companies, 2-DTech (wholly owned) and Graphene Industries.

The University of Manchester posted an interesting interview with Clive Rowland (CEO of the University’s Innovation Group) regarding the university's approach towards graphene commercialization, patent issues.

The University has interest in two graphene companies, 2-DTech (wholly owned) and Graphene Industries. They are currently building the £38 million the National Graphene Institute (NGI).