Manchester Graphene signs $1bn UAE deal | Employees Network

April 11, 2023

Manchester spin-off signs $1 billion game-changing deal to help address global sustainability challenges

a family from Graphene The University of Manchester’s innovation ecosystem has formed an international partnership to spearhead the scale-up of graphene-based technology aimed at “making a significant impact on global CO2₂ emission”.

Graphene Innovations Ltd (GIM), Manchester, UK, founded by university graduate Dr Vivek Koncherry, has partnered with Quazar Investments Creation of a new company in the UAE.

This exciting UK-UAE partnership – which highlights potential opportunities for UK innovators to access global investment and international markets and supply chains – will be one of the most ambitious graphene commercialization projects to date as it Fast-track cutting-edge R&D to large-scale manufacturing—a vision for a total investment worth $1 billion.

The new venture will develop and produce high-quality, environmentally-friendly products using advanced 2-D materials, including breakthrough graphene-enhanced concrete that doesn’t require cement or water and can be made from recycled materials.

Waleed Al Ali, CEO of Quazar, who will actively help the new company achieve large-scale commercialization, said: “The new graphene company will be a global leader in the manufacture of environmentally friendly concrete and other products. We are delighted that Quazar can help realize Taking an active role in the support of His Highness Sheikh Saeed bin Hamdan bin Mohammad Al Nahyan for the UAE Vision 2030”.

James Baker, CEO of Graphene@Manchester added: “This agreement with our GEIC partners Graphene Innovations Manchester and Quazar is a seminal moment for the commercialization of graphene as it demonstrates the potential of this advanced material. With confidence, help lead us through the transition to a net-zero world.

“This is also a very proud moment for the Graphene@Manchester community, as it confirms that our innovation ecosystem is providing just the right platform to foster pioneering research and development into graphene and other world-class 2D materials.

“Manchester is known as the ‘home of graphene’ – but it is also increasingly recognized as the birthplace of its commercialization potential. We are therefore able to build on this reputation for international partnerships, such as in the UAE Partnership; from this vantage point we can place our city region and the UK more broadly in the global economy of graphene.

“As Greater Manchester further develops its innovation and manufacturing potential – all supported by the University’s leadership in advanced materials – the city-region will have access to international supply chains, foreign investment and global markets.”

As part of this ambition, multi-million pound pounds will be created for a new “Translational Research Center for Sustainable Materials” Greater Manchester Innovation Accelerator Program. The new center is a partnership with the University Graphene Engineering Innovation Centerthis Henry Royce Institutethe High Value Manufacturing Catapult and the Rochdale Development Authority, which aims to link local businesses with national opportunities, all underpinned by excellent materials research.

The program is linked to Atomic Valley Mayor Development district and a sky news special report Saying “…the University of Manchester’s expertise in materials science” might bolster the economic powerhouses of the North.

Furthermore, the University of Manchester’s graphene innovation ecosystem has recently been cited as a model for attracting inward investment into the local regional economy – thus helping to drive the UK’s ‘upgrade’ agenda. The spotlight came on a report titled, The role of universities in driving overseas investment into UK R&D Published by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), a university think tank.

The strategic partnerships highlighted are ambitious agreement Between the university and the Abu Dhabi-based Khalifa University of Science and Technology, the aim is to provide financial support for graphene innovations to develop new sustainable technologies. Attracting international funding to the North West would also help the UK government increase the level of R&D spending across the country.