National Graphene Institute (NGI)

The key to realising the potential of graphene is partnership.

At 7,825 square metres and with £13m of state-of-the-art equipment, the National Graphene Institute (NGI) is the home of this collaboration. The facilities enable academics and their industrial partners to work side-by-side on new and exciting applications.

Industry has a vital role to play in how the world's first 2D material will be utilised. Research is nothing without development.

A big space for big ideas

The NGI is equipped with 1,500m² of class 100 and 1000 cleanrooms - which have an atmosphere more than a million times purer than air - and the latest technology for nanoscale and characterisation projects.

Collaboration

Collaboration is key at the National Graphene Institute. Over 80 companies are already partnered with The University of Manchester, working on graphene applications.

These collaborations offer our industrial partners the opportunity to work alongside our world-leading academics and over 300 people working on graphene and 2D materials.

Examples of NGI collaborative projects:

• Demonstrations of new concepts, applications and fundamental studies.
• Demonstrating graphene's potential by producing new concept products and processes.
• Development of low-cost scalable manufacturing methods for high-quality graphene.
• Process stabilisation, achieving reproducible quality, high manufacturing yields.
• Graphene standardisation, quality control and health and safety.

World leading research

Ultra-high specification facilities

The 7,825 square metre, five-storey building has been designed using pioneering techniques to incorporate ultra-high specification facilities throughout to create a world-leading research hub.

Dedicated space for graphene research

The NGI boasts 1,500 square metres of class 100 and 1000 cleanrooms - the world’s largest academic space of its kind dedicated to graphene research.

High quality modern equipment

The Institute also houses £11m worth of equipment to enable academics and industry partners to conduct groundbreaking research.

Investment in graphene

Funding for the NGI includes £38m from the UK Government, as part of £50m allocated for graphene research. The remaining £23m was awarded to the University by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The NGI operates as a 'hub and spoke' model, working with other UK institutions involved in graphene research.

Individual research projects are funded by a number of organisations, including EPSRC, the Leverhulme Trust, BBSRC, the European Commission (EC) and its European Research Council (ERC), and The Royal Society.