Two-day Cambridge graphene event gets underway
Cambridge Graphene Days 2015 kicks off today in Cambridge, UK.
The two-day event, of which Pan European Networks and Horizon 2020 Projects are media communication partners, will showcase the adoption and use of graphene in real products, with the aim of accelerating the value network growth for all those looking to discover, understand, develop, market, implement and use graphene and graphene-related materials (GRM).
It begins today at the New Cambridge Graphene Building at Cambridge University with a technology showcase, tours of the new labs, and an address by university vice-chancellor Professor Leszek Borysiewicz FRS FRCP FMedSci FLSW.
Friday’s event is split into four themes, starting with ‘science, manufacturing and innovation’. This session will begin with an introduction to the Graphene Value Network by Dr Justin Hayward, of Cambridge Investment Research (CIR), and an address from the conference chairman and director of the Cambridge Graphene Centre (CGC), Professor Andrea Ferrari.
This will be followed by remarks from the Rt Hon Lord Broers, CGC board member and former Cambridge University vice-chancellor; Andrew Houghton, of the Graphene Flagship, one of two Future and Emerging Technologies flagships to receive funding from Horizon 2020; and Professor William O’Neill of the Institute for Manufacturing. Airbus Defence & Space is meanwhile expected to discuss the challenges for graphene in space.
Representatives of companies Graphenea, Cambridge Nanosystems, and Thomas Swan, amongst others, will discuss ‘industrial processes in GRM functional materials’, followed by a session on ‘applications: electronics and displays and energy storage’ featuring addresses from the CEO of FlexEnable and Haydale plc’s Dr Chris Stirling, as well as others.
The event concludes with a session on ‘global markets & economics’, which will include speeches from BP on the challenges for graphene in oil and gas, and Nick Coutts MA, a senior consultant at CIR and Genesys Capital, who will outline how to address the barriers to adoption and use of GRMs.
Commenting, Hayward, co-director of the event, said he is looking forward to an inspiring couple of days: “The organisers of this set of events over two days are focused on maximising the value for every single participant.
“It is well known that graphene and related functional materials could add high value to businesses, products and services across a wide range of industrial sectors, but there is far more to this than known science and available technology. We know from other innovation markets that those are just the tip of the value iceberg.”
Cambridge Graphene Days is delivered by CIR in collaboration with the University of Cambridge Graphene Centre. FlexEnable and Haydale plc are co-lead sponsors.
