Manchester Uni launches company to commercialise ‘wonder material’ graphene

The University of Manchester is looking to develop and commercialise graphene with the launch of a new company.

The firm, Graphene Enabled Systems Limited, will aim to create profitable spin-out enterprises based on the university’s graphene patent portfolio, potentially boosting the local economy with the creation of new jobs.

Operating from the Innovation Centre (UMIC) on Grafton Street in Manchester, Graphene Enabled has been tasked with identifying new markets for graphene-based products and developing prototypes to showcase the technology to potential customers and industry partners.

The first raft of product demonstrators will be delivered within the next 12 months.

Dubbed a ‘wonder material’ by the scientific community, graphene comprises a single layer of carbon atoms tightly packed and bonded in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice. The material was discovered in 2004 by a team of researchers at the University of Manchester.

In 2010, academics Sir Andre Geim and Sir Kostya Novoselov were handed the Nobel prize for their experiments.

Graphene Enabled is led by CEO Andrew Wilkinson, who commented: “The University of Manchester has been at the forefront of this scientific breakthrough and, based on this, we are now in a unique position to harness the full potential of Graphene and other 2D materials.

“At Graphene Enabled, we plan to create a huge range of exciting new products such as stronger, lighter composite materials; new flexible conductive inks; super-tough abrasion resistant coatings; special filters designed only to let selected materials pass through them and a huge array of new high-performance electronic components and energy storage devices such as batteries and capacitors.”

He continued: “All of these potential new products are made possible by the work that is being carried out at the University and our job, at Graphene Enabled is to work with industrial partners, investors and entrepreneurs to turn this innovative science into real products.”

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