Clive Rowland, UMI³ CEO, said: “with the positive news of the Government’s invitation for the University to be the sole bidder for the National Graphene Institute, we are keen to complement the amazing range of fundamental research and experimental activity carried out here by making additional funding available for those colleagues across the campus who are interested in technology transfer and keen to take the next steps beyond their research results. For example by scale-up of lab work, making devices, exploring routes to manufacture, applications, and market opportunities, registering intellectual property rights and ultimately commercialising their outcomes. Personal commitment to entrepreneurship is very much integral to this process and we will include enterprise training and mentoring as part of those projects which are successful submissions. We look forward to receiving innovative, thought-provoking proposals from all categories of staff and PhD students.” Richard Henderson, Managing Partner of MTI, the UPF’s manager, said: ”MTI is delighted to continue to support the ground-breaking and innovative work in the commercialisation of graphene with The University of Manchester at the leading edge.” Note: The details of the call for proposals will be issued in early September with a short closing date. There will be a quick evaluation process with a view to successful proposals starting in Dec 2012/Jan 2013. Please check the UMIP website (www.umip.com ) for further details at the end of August.

Impression of a corrugated graphene sheet. Jannick Meyer