Graphene
has been subject to a scientific explosion since the groundbreaking
experiments on the novel material less than ten years ago, recognized by
the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010 to Professor Andre Geim and
Professor Kostya Novoselov, at The University of Manchester. Graphene’s
unique combination of superior properties makes it a credible starting
point for new disruptive technologies in a wide range of fields.
With today’s announcement Europe is launching a new form of joint, coordinated research initiative of unprecedented scale. The Graphene Flagship
brings together an academic-industrial consortium aiming at a
breakthrough for technological innovation. The research effort will
cover the entire value chain from materials production to components and
system integration, and targets a number of specific goals that exploit
the unique properties of graphene.
Key
applications are for instance fast electronic and optical devices,
flexible electronics, functional lightweight components and advanced
batteries. Examples of new products enabled by graphene technologies
include fast, flexible and strong consumer electronics such as
electronic paper and bendable personal communication devices, and
lighter and more energy efficient airplanes. On the longer term,
graphene is expected to give rise to new computational paradigms and
revolutionary medical applications such as artificial retinas.
From the start in 2013 the Graphene Flagship
will coordinate 126 academic and industrial research groups in 17
European countries with an initial 30-month-budget of 54 million euro.
The consortium will be extended with another 20-30 groups through an
open call, issued soon after the start of the initiative, which will
further strengthen the engineering aspects of the flagship. The flagship
will be coordinated by Chalmers University of Technology based in
Gothenburg, Sweden. Director is Professor Jari Kinaret who will lead the
research activities together with the leaders of the 15 work packages.
The management team is supported by a Strategic Advisory Council that
includes the European Nobel Laureates Andre Geim (chairman), Albert
Fert, Klaus von Klitzing and Kostya Novoselov, industrial
representatives from Nokia and Airbus, and two representatives of the
global graphene research community.
“Although the flagship
is extremely extensive, it cannot cover all areas. For example, we don’t
intend to compete with Korea on graphene screens”, says the Professor
Jari Kinaret at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, Flagship
Director. ”Graphene production, however, is obviously central to our
project.”
During the 30 month
ramp-up phase, the Graphene Flagship will focus on the area of
communications, concentrating on ICT and on the physical transport
sector, and supporting applications in the fields of energy technology
and sensors. After the ramp-up phase, the flagship will grow to full
size and include many new groups and activities. The details of flagship
implementation after the ramp-up phase are still open and form a part
of the discussions on the Horizon 2020 research program of the European
Union.
Text: Christian Borg
Photo: Oscar Mattsson
For more information, please contact:
Jari Kinaret, Graphene Flagship Director, jari.kinaret@chalmers.se
Christian Borg, Media Relations, +46 766 314235, christian.borg@chalmers.se
A full press kit is available at www.graphene-flagship.eu.
A press conference will
take place in Brussels, on Monday 28th January at 11.15 CET, at the
European Commission's Press Room in the Berlaymont Building. The Graphene Flagship will give more in-depth presentations at the Residence Palace International Press Centre, immediately following the Commission's press conference and technical briefing.
Delegates:
Prof. Jari Kinaret, Graphene Flagship Director, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
Prof. Karin Markides, President of Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
Prof. Andrea Ferrari, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Prof. Sir Konstantin Novoselov, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
Dr. Tapani Ryhanen, Nokia Research Center, Espoo, Finland
Interviews by phone may be given after 13.00. Please, send requests via sms or e-mail to:
Christian Borg, Media Relations, +46-766-314235, christian.borg@chalmers.se.
More information on the EU Future Emerging Technology Flagship Initiative:
http://goo.gl/Q2pBr
http://goo.gl/24b0E