Masdar, the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, will be sponsoring a new research center at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. The new facility called Graphene Engineering Innovation Center (GEIC) would be named The Masdar Building.
The new research center will be examining and experiment with a ”wonder nanomaterial” called Graphene. As it is highly flexible and super durable, it could be used in any field, including energy storage solutions, water purification, lightweight airplanes, mobile communication, clothing, and more.
As the CEO of Masdar, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi commented, GEIC would ensure the smooth transition of the graphene applications from the lab to the real world. He also highlighted that sponsoring science is entirely in line with the corporate strategy of Masdar to actively participate in advanced clean technologies and develop their commercial potential.
The President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester, Prof. Nancy Rothwell expressed her gratitude for the investment and promised to take advantage of all the opportunities the new research center would offer.
The GEIC would actively collaborate with peer universities in the field of graphene and related 2D material research. Among the first partners would be the Khalifa University of Science and Technology.
The researchers would examine graphene in three main areas. The first one includes developing 3D-printed foams to use in the aerospace industry and robotics. The second one is about incorporating graphene sheets with ion exchange membranes to improve the quality of water treatment and desalination technologies. The third one includes manufacturing of graphene-based inks as micro-sensors for various energy and defense-related applications.
The world famous Uruguayan architect Rafael Vinoly designed the Masdar Building located on a land of 8,400 square meters in the University of Manchester’s North Campus. It would host production facilities for other innovative materials next to graphene as well.
The European Regional Development Fund, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the Higher Education Funding Council for England, and Innovate UK are among the other sponsor of the new research facility.