Eli and Britt Harari Enterprise Award

This annual award aims to help students, postdoctoral researchers, and recent graduates at The University of Manchester establish new companies involving graphene or other 2D materials.

Help and Support

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 continues with the inclusion of an additional £10,000 prize for the most sustainable idea, celebrating the University's world leading position on sustainable development.

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.

Eli Harari Graphene Enterprise Award 2023: introduction and overview

Join us on Tuesday 9 May and hear from Tony Walker, Deputy Director of the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, who will give an overview of the competition, and share with you hints and tips as to what the judges will be looking for in your application.

You will learn about the support available to support you with your application and how to access this.

We're also pleased to welcome and introduce you to a previous winner of the competition, who can share with you their experience and how they have progressed with their idea since being involved with the Harari programme.

Register now >>

Key Dates*

  • Monday 13 February - competition opens for expressions of interest
  • Tuesday 9 May - information session for competition entrants
  • Week of 29 May - meet with application experts from GEIC
  • Week of 5 June - meet with commercialisation experts
  • Friday 16 June - entry deadline, 12pm.
  • Wednesday 21 June – Finalists notified
  • Monday, 26 June - Finalists invited to pitch to Mock Panel
  • Monday 3 July – Mock Panel pitch
  • Tuesday 4 July- Finalists invited to pitch in the Final Judging Panel
  • Friday 7 July - Final Judging Panel 1-4pm.
  • Friday 14 July - Winners Awards Event 3.30-5pm.

Eligibility

Applications are welcomed from students, postdoctoral researchers and recent graduates of The University of Manchester.

For further information please contact entrepreneurship@manchester.ac.uk .

This competition is funded by the North American Foundation for The University of Manchester, through the generous support of one of the University’s former students, Dr. Eli Harari, and his wife Britt.