Graphene institute to open in UK
2 Oct 2013
Science & Universities minister David Willetts has this week visited the future site of the National Graphene Institute (NGI) at The University of Manchester.
David Willetts visited the site on Monday which will be home to a £61 million facility designed so that academics and industry professionals can research graphene-based applications.
“It’s heartening to hear the government state its aim to make Britain the best place to do science
Professor Brian Cox
The project, which is set to open in early 2015, is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
On discussing the discovery of graphene, Willetts addressed delegates at the Conservative Party Conference this week, suggesting: “Scientists here in Manchester used sticky tape to pull thin layers of material off a block of graphite until eventually they discovered graphene, one atom thick and 200 times stronger than steel.”
The announcement of funding for the NGI has drawn praise from the sector with industry leaders such as Prof Brian Cox welcoming the news as a necessary step in the advancement of British scientific discovery.
“What we’ve lacked over the last few decades is sufficient ambition and vision to build on those foundations. It’s very heartening to hear the government state that its aim is to make Britain the best place in the world to do science,” Prof Cox said.
