4 min readA project aiming to generate £250m of investment into a research and innovation hub in Greater Manchester, has been unveiled by the UK Government as part of a partnership with Saudi Arabia.
Graphene Innovation Manchester (GIM) will announce the launch of the world’s first commercial production of graphene-enriched carbon fibre, with Saudi Arabia’s NEOM Giga-Project – a ground-breaking step forward in environmentally sustainable advanced materials.
The plans were announced as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer heads to the Gulf to pursue closer ties with United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia this week.
The North of England is expected to reap the immediate benefits from the closer cooperation, building on the close ties between Newcastle and Saudi Arabia.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "Every region and nation in the United Kingdom should feel the impact of our Plan for Change, which is why I am in the Gulf forging closer ties and strengthening relationships that support our growth mission in every corner of the country.
"I am determined to ensure international diplomacy drives local results, whether that is discussing how we can support regeneration in the UK or supporting business deals that create jobs – my international agenda starts at home.
The project will deliver hydrogen buses, trucks, critical components and other elements of hydrogen production and distribution, while removing more than 25 million tons of transport-related CO2 over the lifetime of the project.
The UK and Saudi Arabia are working together to establish a new Joint International Institute for Clean Hydrogen.
The Institute will be backed by a consortium of Saudi and British universities, including a prominent role for Newcastle University, and develop state of the art expertise and skills in clean energy.
North East mayor, Kim McGuinness, will join the Prime Minister in Saudi Arabia to progress talks on further green energy investment and opportunities between Saudi Arabia and the North East.
A delegation from the universities is set to travel to Saudi in the coming months to progress the project.
Joe Manning, Managing Director at MIDAS, said: "This partnership represents a significant milestone for Greater Manchester. With £250 million of investment, we're reinforcing our city-region's reputation as a hub for advanced materials and manufacturing, and innovative research.
“We look forward to seeing the project take shape, as Graphene Innovation Manchester provides our city-region with a transformative moment to cement our position as a global leader in the sector.”
Energy secretary Ed Miliband said: "Today’s agreements show how the UK is working with countries in the Gulf and elsewhere around the world to bring investment and jobs to Britain.
"Clean energy can be the source of the jobs of the future and these new investments and partnerships will deliver new jobs in new industries, boosting our country’s energy independence, and our economic growth."
UK based Sustainable Cement Company, Next Generation SCM and Saudi-based City Cement Company have also partnered to supply sustainable concrete, to produce 2.5 million tonnes a year of sustainable cement and concrete materials. The pioneering process is expected to drive £200 million of investment over the next five years and create more than 200 jobs in Saudi Arabia and the UK.
"As a proud alumnus with a PhD from the University of Manchester, I am honoured to champion the city’s unparalleled legacy of innovation. Leading the development of the world’s first graphene-enriched carbon fibre facility not only celebrates Manchester’s historic role as a cradle of innovation but also secures its future as a global leader in advanced materials. This ground-breaking partnership with Saudi Arabia strengthens international ties while creating thousands of skilled jobs, driving regeneration across the North of England, and unlocking the transformative potential of sustainable innovation. Together, we are cementing Manchester’s reputation as a hub for cutting-edge technology and economic growth."
– Vivek Koncherry, CEO & Chairman of GIM (Graphene Innovation Manchester) and GIM GrapheneFibre.
Greater Manchester is also benefitting from Saudi investment in housing, with International Investment Gate injecting £41m into the regeneration of Brunswick Mill in Stockport, creating 277 flats and 24 commercial outlets, thereby supporting the Prime Minister’s milestone to build 1.5 million homes by the end of this Parliament.
