A £50 million
Global Research and Technology Hub is announced today by the
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The Hub will
connect UK researchers and businesses working to commercialise the
Nobel Prize winning super strong material graphene.
Universities and Science Minister David Willetts said:
“One year ago scientists working in Manchester won the Nobel
Prize for their discovery of graphene - the Global Hub will ensure
we win the race to develop commercial uses for it as well. The Hub
will keep world-beating research into graphene in this country. It
brings researchers and the companies seeking to exploit its
incredible commercial potential together.
“This is an excellent example of leading-edge British science
being harnessed to drive economic growth and the creation of
high-tech jobs.”
Graphene, discovered by Manchester University scientists
Professor Andre Geim and Dr Konstantin Novoselov, is an
exceptionally good conductor and the strongest and thinnest
material ever measured. Its potential uses include flexible
touchscreens, pollution sensors and biomedical sensors.
The UK has particular strength in graphene research with centres
of excellence at leading universities. UK researchers are in a
worldwide race to develop commercial uses for graphene. The Hub
will ensure leading researchers stay in Britain, leverage private
sector investment and help develop a home grown high-tech industry.
The Government, through the Engineering and Physical Sciences
Research Council (EPSRC), has supported the early research which
led to the discovery of graphene.
Notes to editors:
1. The Government has today, in addition to the ring-fenced
science budget, ‘earmarked’ capital funding of £50m for the
Graphene Global Research and Technology Hub subject to approval of
the full business case being developed by the EPSRC and the
Technology Strategy Board (TSB).
2. Additional resource cost will be determined during the
development of the business case.
3. A competition to establish and operate the graphene hub will
be launched by the EPSRC/TSB subject to the approval of the
business case.
4. There are Graphene centres of research excellence at
Manchester, Cambridge, Lancaster, Exeter, Bath, Oxford and Durham
universities and Imperial College London.
5. Since the original discovery of graphene at Manchester, EPSRC
has invested over £16 million into research funding for the area.
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BIS Press Office
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