3 min readMore than 700 graphene industry and academic professionals descended on Manchester to exhibit and celebrate revolutionary graphene technologies at Graphene 2023, the 13th edition of the Graphene Conference series - the largest European event in Graphene and 2-dimensional materials.
The event took place at The University of Manchester 27-30 June 2023. The conference featured workshop sessions and lectures from over 200 experts from academia and industry. A two-day industrial forum focussed on the latest developments in graphene production methods and commercialisation, future investment opportunities, and updates on the application of graphene in energy storage, aerospace and more.
The conference was held in the newly opened Manchester Engineering Campus, the new home of Engineering and Materials at the University. Unrivalled in scale as a hub of engineering and materials expertise here in the UK, it combines Manchester's industrial heritage with new, purpose-built facilities, ideal for discovery and solving some of the world's most pressing issues. Delegates were also offered tours of the National Graphene Institute (NGI) and the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC), the flagship facilities for graphene and 2D materials research and development.
Professor Aravind Vijayaraghavan, the lead local organiser and Manchester Conference Ambassador commented, “We are placing special emphasis on attracting industrial and academic partnerships from around the world to invest and collaborate with the University, and this conference is the ideal opportunity for us to showcase our world-leading facilities and expertise in advanced materials and manufacturing which is key to a green, equitable and healthy future for us all.”
Professor Vladimir Falko, the Director of the NGI, said, “Manchester’s National Graphene Institute and Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre stay at the forefront of graphene and 2D materials research and commercialisation, and we are glad that a major pan-European graphene conference is coming to the UK, despite all the uncertainties created by Brexit.”
The conference marks 20 years since the first isolation of graphene at the University, by Professor Sir Andre Geim and Professor Sir Kostya Novoselov, who were awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics for their ground-breaking experiments regarding the two-dimensional material graphene.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester said “We’re proud to welcome businesses and researchers from across the world to Greater Manchester for Graphene 2023. Our city-region has been the driving force behind cultural and scientific innovations for over 200 years, and it’s fitting that we host the world’s 2D materials community as we approach 20 years since graphene was first discovered. I hope delegates get a sense of the exciting work happening right here in Greater Manchester to commercialise advanced materials.”
The home of academic experts
Of course, it’s right that all of these delegates and advanced materials professionals should descend on the home of Graphene for their annual meeting. Hosting the conference at the University of Manchester meant that delegates and speakers had the opportunity to collaborate and engage with highly-skilled academics, world-renowned researchers and leading industry professionals. The conference also benefitted from having some of the most advanced research facilities steps away from the action.
The Manchester Convention Bureau can help event organisers connect with experts from across the region’s leading universities and more. Manchester’s Conference Ambassador Programme inspires and supports local experts, who are passionate about Manchester, to host prestigious national and international conferences in their field.
