US graphene firm chooses Manchester for European HQ
BLUESTONE Global Tech, a New York-based graphene manufacturer is to open a European base at The University of Manchester as part of a £5m collaborative research partnership.
The partnership will allow the University of Manchester’s academics to work closely on research projects with Bluestone, with the aim of producing the next generation of graphene applications.
As well as providing graphene for research projects, Bluestone said it will also open a pre-production facility and offices at the university to work with “leading consumer companies”, before setting up larger European headquarters and a pilot production plant in Manchester.
Graphene was first isolated at The University of Manchester by Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov in 2004, earning them the Nobel prize for Physics in 2010.
Work has now begun on the £61m National Graphene Institute (NGI) which will provide a centre for industry and academics to work on emerging graphene applications. The deal with Bluestone marks the first strategic partnership of the NGI.
The university said Bluestone, which has labs in New York and Taiwan, was leading the emerging graphene market, providing mass production of high-quality 2D materials to enable the commercialisation of graphene-enhanced applications such as advanced displays, flexible electronics, energy storage materials, and cosmetics.
Bluestone joins Graphene Industries and 2D-Tech, the university spin-out companies supplying graphene and other 2D materials around the world.
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Prof Colin Bailey said: “It’s clear that their decision is based on the wealth of knowledge we have at the university, with more than 100 scientists and engineers working on graphene and 2D materials. This partnership will help in the commercialisation of graphene creating further jobs in Manchester which will be of benefit to the UK economy.”
Bluestone’s chief executive Dr Chung Ping Lai said: “Bluestone has led the production of large area graphene since the establishment of its North American operation in New York. The increasing demand for our materials and expertise in Europe has prompted our decision to establish the Bluestone Global Tech brand in Europe with the setting of its operation in the UK.
“The link with The University of Manchester and the National Graphene Institute is integral to our strategy of working with our customers to bring products and processes from the lab to the workplace. With our long term commitment and cooperation with The University of Manchester, BGT will have access to a critical mass of world-class research talent, facilities and resources and we are very excited to be located at the home of graphene.”
