Now into its ninth year, the Eli and Britt Harari Enterprise Award competition, in association with Professor Sir Andre Geim, is now open to all students, postdoctoral researchers, and recent graduates of The University of Manchester. This annual competition, managed by the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC), encourages new ideas for enterprises involving graphene and other 2D based materials.
Graphene, a two-dimensional carbon material, is a game-changing UK discovery and its properties make it one of the most important breakthroughs in recent memory. Graphene is a wonder material, with incredible electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties.
Prizes of £50,000 and £20,000 will be awarded to the individuals or teams who can best demonstrate how their technology relating to graphene or other 2D materials could be applied to a viable commercial opportunity. This year will also see the inclusion of an additional prize that celebrates the University's position leading the world on sustainable development, more to follow!
Applications will be judged on the strength of their business plan to develop a new graphene-related business. The award then becomes seed funding to allow the candidate to take the first steps towards realising this plan. It recognises the role that high-level, flexible early-stage financial support can play in the successful development of a business targeting the full commercialisation of a product or technology related to research in graphene.
Express your interest early in the Eli and Britt Harari Enterprise Award competition and connect with the MEC team to discuss potential ideas, and most importantly secure development support, advice, and guidance ahead of the application deadline.
Tell us about yourself and your idea. Upon completion of this survey, individuals will be added to our competition mailing list ensuring all interested applicants are made aware of any key information, guidance, resources and workshops that are relevant to the development of their entries.
The final deadline for completed competition entries is midday on Friday, 10 June 2022.
Key dates (timings may vary)
- Monday, 14 February - competition opens for expressions of interest
- Tuesday, 10 May - information session for competition entrants
- Week of 23 May - meet with application experts from GEIC
- Week of 30 May - meet with commercialisation experts
- Friday, 10 June - entry deadline, 12 pm
- Wednesday, 15 June – Finalists notified
- Monday, 27 June - Finalists invited to pitch to a mock panel
- Thursday, 30 June - Finalists invited to pitch in the final judging panel
- Monday, 4 July - Final judging panel
- Friday, 9 July - Winners awards event
