GEIC have added another Tier one partner, Tunghsu

Interesting that Tunghsu already have a collaboration agreement with Versarien, 

Can we assume that they are not progressing well with Nanene and have joined GEIC to see what else is on offer.

30

January

2019

Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre announces new Tier-One partnership

The Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) has welcomed Tunghsu Optoelectronic as its fourth Tier-One partner of the recently opened commercially-focused graphene facility in the heart of Manchester.

Tunghsu Optoelectronic is one of the earliest enterprises established to work with graphene in China. The company now join First Graphene, Haydale and Versarien as Tier-One GEIC partners following it’s official opening in December 2018.

The new collaboration will see cooperation of high-quality graphene materials, the development of new energy materials, improved graphene coatings and inks and composite materials. Once mature the partnership will explore and incubate new prospects and product applications based on the unique knowledge and capabilities of the GEIC and Tunghsu Optoelectronic combined.

Along with the National Graphene Institute (NGI) and the Henry Royce Institute the GEIC will be crucial in maintaining the UK’s world leading position in advanced materials.

James Baker, CEO of Graphene@Manchester said: “This latest GEIC Tier-One partnership will enable both sides to work together to create a new global opportunies for graphene development. Tunghsu Optoelectronic’s graphene industry strategy and technology layout are all around the industrial application of graphene which is consistent with our own intentions for GEIC.

“The GEIC was always intended to act as an accelerator for graphene commercialisation and market penetration, the response we’ve had from varied global industry since we opened just over a month ago has been fantastic.

“We are pleased to see that the GEIC model has been overwhelmingly received by industry and we welcome the news of further partnerships in the coming months.”

Tier One partnership benefits include access to world-leading expertise and experience along with specialist equipment within the GEIC to aid projects which will accelerate product and process development and market entry.

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We are pleased to see that the GEIC model has been overwhelmingly received by industry and we welcome the news of further partnerships in the coming months

James Baker, CEO Graphene@Manchester

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The GEIC will focus on industry-led application development in partnership with academics. It will fill a critical gap in the graphene and 2D materials ecosystem by providing facilities which focus on pilot production, characterisation, together with application development in composites, energy, solution formulations and coatings, electronics and membranes.

Wang Lipeng, Chairman of Tunghsu Optoelectronic said: “Tunghsu Optoelectronic will become the newest Tier-one member of GEIC, marking a strong alliance between China's leading graphene industry and the birthplace of graphene. The GEIC is the world's top research institute specialising in graphene engineering, Tunghsu Optoelectronic is the leader of China's graphene industry.

“The strong cooperation between the two sides will help to promote the industrialisation of new graphene materials, solve the ‘pain point’ of the current development of the graphene industry, and open a window for Tunghsu Optoelectronic graphene business to face the global market.”

Speaking about the new collaboration, Ronald Kong, Vice President of The University of Manchester Chinese Alumni Association and Director of UG2M, stated that China has been developing rapidly in graphene industrialization, but there are also some problems such as insufficient production and lack of engineering section, while the advantages of GEIC have just filled the gap. “Tunghsu Optoelectronic has a solid technological foundation and pioneering spirit in the field of graphene. Its cooperation with Manchester promotes the process of graphene cooperation between China and Britain.” he said.

Advanced materials is one of The University of Manchester’s research beacons - examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships that are tackling some of the biggest questions facing the planet. #ResearchBeacons

Versarien plc

("Versarien" or the "Company")

MOU with Tunghsu Optoelectronic Technology Ltd

Versarien plc (AIM: VRS), the advanced materials engineering group, is pleased to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Tunghsu Optoelectronic Technology Ltd. ("Tunghsu Optoelectronic"), covering cooperation between the parties, particularly focused on graphene industrialisation.

Tunghsu Optoelectronic is one of the world's leading suppliers of optoelectronic display materials.  It is currently the largest LCD glass substrate manufacturer in China and the fourth largest LCD glass substrate manufacturer in the world.  In addition, Tunghsu Optoelectronic is engaged in other areas, including the manufacturing of new energy vehicles, the industrialisation and applications of graphene, as well as high-end equipment manufacturing.  It is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and is part of the wider Tunghsu Group, which has over 200 wholly-owned or controlled subsidiaries, including three listed companies; Tunghsu Optoelectronic, Tunghsu Sky and Tungshu Challenge.

The MOU with Tunghsu Optoelectronic covers the intended areas of cooperation between the parties, which include:

 

·   Jointly developing graphene-related projects including their operation and execution, industrialisation and promotion, leading to sales in Chinaand global markets and exploring more widely products utilising graphene;

 

·  Together with governmental agencies, academic institutions, and other relevant organisations, to set up a "Graphene Industry Research Institute" in China, to fund, accelerate and invest in the productisation and commercialisation of graphene application projects;

 

·    To jointly establish a "Graphene Industry Fund" to promote and support the operation and execution of graphene industrialisation projects;

 

·    To discuss mutual strategic investments for graphene-based projects, the forms of which will be agreed in future discussions.  It is envisaged that Tunghsu will provide financial support as well as strategic support and in return Versarien will provide the required intellectual property to enable the industrialisation of graphene-based projects; and

 

·    Focus technical collaboration on projects closely related to both parties' current areas of activity, such as high quality graphene manufacturing, photoelectric display materials, new energy vehicles, energy storage technologies, LED lighting systems, graphene thermal management materials, and flexible batteries.

 

The MOU is not exclusive and will allow Versarien to enter into further agreements with parties in China.

 

Lipeng Wang, Chairman and CEO of Tunghsu Optoelectronic, commented: "Versarien is a leading company and operator in the graphene field in the UK.  China has a huge market potential for graphene industrialisation and commercialisation.  As the leading enterprise in the graphene field in China, we are very pleased to work with Versarien to promote valuable collaboration and innovation, and ultimately achieve mutual sucess."

 

Neill Ricketts, CEO of Versarien, commented: "We are delighted to have entered into a formal collaboration with Tunghsu Optoelectronic.  As one of the pioneers of China's graphene industry, Tunghsu Optoelectronic has strong industrial influence and execution ability in China and in Asia more widely.  We look forward to working with them to progress the commercialisation of our graphene products.

"The relationship with Tunghsu Optoelectronic is complimentary to the others we have already entered into in China and those that are under discussion.  We look forward to providing updates as the relationship progresses and announcing further agreements with both industrial and governmental parties in China."

This announcement includes inside information as defined in Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation No. 596/2014 and is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of those Regulations.