VIP business leaders and academics gathered to hear the University of Manchester’s Nobel Prize winning physicist Professor Sir Andre Geim and Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell talk about graphene and the amazing opportunities it offers the world.

Prof. Sir Andre Geim, who won a Nobel Prize for isolating graphene and demonstrating its remarkable properties, and Prof Dame Nancy Rothwell (President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester) gave a fascinating talk in the HSBC building in the city centre. They discussed how Manchester University is leading innovations and research about graphene that will have an impact on many aspects of our lives. A question and answer session followed.

Vikas Shah, who organised the event in his capacity as President of the entrepreneurs group TiE UK North, and Chairman of the science and academia festival, FuturEverything, said:‘It was a rare chance for over 100 business leaders to hear the story of graphene, and understand how the region’s businesses can be part of the incredible science journey at the University of Manchester.

‘The audience heard how Sir Andre went from being an aspiring scientist to making one of the most important breakthroughs in over a century of science. Dame Nancy encouraged entrepreneurs in the room to get involved, and to take the good work scientists are doing and turn it into businesses.’