Despite creation of graphene institute, UK falls behind in commercialization

Nature : Construction of the National Graphene Institute (NGI) at the University of Manchester in the UK was completed last year, but already questions have been raised concerning its viability. The NGI is considered the “home of graphene” because of the work of Nobel Prize–winning Manchester physicists Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov, who first isolated the atom-thin carbon material. However, after some issues were raised by the Sunday Times newspaper in March, a parliamentary inquiry revealed that since its initial investment in the building of the NGI, the UK has failed to provide adequate funding to fully exploit graphene’s commercial potential. Among the reasons is that the UK lacks the necessary industrial base and holds less than 1% of the world’s graphene patents. Although the UK plans to add a second graphene center at the university, critics say it must do more to boost commercial investment and development.