National Institute for Materials Research and Innovation plan welcomed

Chief scientific adviser Mark Walport has been considering options for the centre in response to the Chancellor's speech in June where he called for action to capitalise on the north's real strengths in scientific innovation and its importance in driving recovery there. Central to his plan is the opportunity to build on the north's expertise in materials science – the development of super lightweight, strong and flexible materials that have applications across a range of industries like healthcare, energy or transport. Osborne said: "Science is at the heart of the economic prospects for the north of England. I asked Mark Walport to develop exciting plans – and this proposal is certainly exciting. "It would put the north of England at the centre of the search for the new materials of the future – and bring new jobs and investment as these materials are developed. That's what the investment in graphene has already proved." The Chancellor also announced that The University of Manchester is to build a £60 million Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre. It will be partially funded by £15 million from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund, £5m from Innovate UK (formerly the Technology Strategy Board) and £30m from Masdar, the Abu Dhabi-based clean technology and renewable energy company. The remainder will be sourced by Manchester University from funding schemes including European Regional Development Fund. The new centre will build on the UK National Graphene Institute, also located at The University of Manchester which is nearing completion following nearly £40m of funding at Budget 2012.