Concretene extends graphene partnership in Manchester

Graphene-enhanced concrete firm Concretene has signed a new three-year partnership with the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) at The University of Manchester, reinforcing its commitment to scaling up sustainable construction technologies.

The Tier 1 partnership will give Concretene continued access to laboratory space and specialist equipment for testing raw materials, formulations, and concrete performance. It also allows the company to remain embedded in Manchester’s growing Sister Innovation District, where it has expanded its production and testing operations in the adjacent Pariser Building.

Developed with the university’s support since 2019, Concretene is a graphene-based admixture designed to improve compressive strength and durability while cutting cement use. The company aims to offer a scalable decarbonisation solution for both precast and ready-mix concrete applications.

Since its incorporation in late 2022, Concretene has attracted £1.9 million in UK government grants and £6 million in venture capital funding. It now employs 20 staff and is leading a series of Innovate UK–funded projects, including:

• GraphEnhance – scaling the graphene and graphene oxide supply chain
• SMART – applying graphene concrete to precast piling foundations with Roger Bullivant
• GCRE – testing low-carbon railway sleepers with Cemex Rail

Independent trials by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) suggest that Concretene formulations improve shrinkage resistance—a key challenge for low-carbon concretes—and deliver compressive strength increases of up to 50% in ready-mix applications.

Concretene is working with global consultancy Arup, an equity partner, and several material suppliers to refine product specifications and secure data for formal certification.

Mike Harrison, CEO of Concretene, said: “Having a dedicated development facility and technical support at the GEIC has been invaluable. We’re excited to commission our pilot plant and continue supporting the construction sector’s drive to decarbonise.”

James Baker, CEO of Graphene@Manchester, added: “Concretene is a prime example of how our innovation model can translate nanomaterials research into real-world impact. This partnership showcases the potential of graphene to support both environmental and economic progress in construction.”