Graphene Hub puts Manchester at heart of European & Global research revolution

North West Euro MP, Arlene McCarthy welcomed a £23 million cash injection from EU Regional Funds for a cutting edge Graphene research Hub at the University of Manchester.

Arlene said: “The Graphene Hub is an excellent example of how EU funds provide the lynch pin to vital projects in our region, projects which translate into jobs and growth for our local economy.”

“The Graphene Hub at the University of Manchester is exactly the kind of project the EU should be investing in. In the short term it will bring 100 additional jobs to the City but with the expectation that many 1,000s more jobs will be created as the myriad of commercial applications of graphene are exploited and developed by the hub.”

The Graphene Hub has also received £850 million over 10 years in FET (Future Emerging Technologies) funding, as part of the EU led consortium of 126 research groups from 17 countries, to develop the commercial applications of graphene.

Arlene added: “EU membership delivers benefits, not just in funds but by being part of a powerful Europe-wide Research & Development consortium which puts Manchester at the heart of graphene development.”

The UK and Europe have been falling behind in the race to commercialise graphene. The UK holds only 54 of the 5,172 graphene patents. By contrast China and the USA hold 2,204 and 1,754 respectively.