Builder sought for graphene hub
THE University of Manchester has started its search for a construction group to build the National Graphene Institute.
The aim is for the building to become a hub for the commercialisation of graphene – the super-light, super-strong material discovered by Manchester’s Nobel prize winning scientists Professors Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov.
The £61m building is set to open by 2014 and has been funded with cash from the government via the Engineering and Physical Skills Research Council (EPSRC).
Now the university is seeking bids for a £31.5m contract to build the centre which is planned for Booth Street East, near the Aquatics Centre.
According to a tender document building should start in the first quarter of 2013 and be completed by the third quarter 2014.
The facility will be available to both researchers and businesses. It will contain highly serviced nano-technology laboratories and clean room environments with access to specialist facilities and equipment which enable the simulation of manufacturing processes. It will also include space for start-up businesses looking to exploit graphene.
The facility has already attracted interest from around 40 companies worldwide, including IBM, BAE Systems, Samsung and Siemens.
EC Harris was appointed as the lead consultant in May.
The deadline for expressions of interest is October 1.
