BUFFALO, N.Y., April 18, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new non-profit organization was launched this month to promote the responsible development and commercialization of graphene and graphene-enabled products. The Graphene Stakeholders Association (GSA) is a 501(c)6 enterprise headquartered in Buffalo, NY. The GSA's founders include Keith Blakely, a 35 year veteran of the advanced materials and nanotechnology community, Dr. Alan Rae, CEO of the Nano Materials Innovation Center, Vincent Caprio, Executive Director of the NanoBusiness Commercialization Association, and Stephen Waite, Managing Partner of SoundView Technology Group. Mr. Waite and Mr. Blakely will serve as co-Executive Directors of the GSA.
The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded in 2010 to Dr. Andre Geim and Dr. Konstantin Novoselov for their discovery of graphene. Since that time, graphene has emerged as one of the most promising materials ever discovered – one that has the potential to play a vital role in the development of advanced technologies in key industry segments, including computing, electronics, energy, defense, health care, telecommunications, and transportation. The GSA was created to foster graphene-based education, technical collaboration, scientific exchange, and value and job creation through successful commercialization. It is envisioned that GSA members will be part of a premier network that joins all major graphene stakeholders – researchers, government agencies, producer, and user companies – around the world.
The GSA seeks broad membership that includes graphene researchers, universities, government labs and agencies, emerging and established corporations engaged in exploring this unique material and its commercialization. "We are excited about the launch of the GSA and look forward to creating a diverse and dynamic organization that can help develop graphene and graphene-enabled products in the months and years ahead," stated GSA co-founder, Stephen Waite. Mr. Waite notes that the GSA is the process of assembling a world-class advisory board that includes thought leaders from academia, corporations and various government agencies. "We have received great feedback thus far and recruited some talented members to our Advisory Board," says Waite.
GSA Advisory Board member, Jon Myers, CEO and Founder of Graphene Technologies™, welcomed the creation of the association and stated: "The GSA is exactly what I have been saying in recent speeches that our industry needs. As an industry, we have the opportunity to rise together and the risk that we underperform if we fail to collaborate."
The GSA is actively seeking members from around the world to build a strong foundation that will serve to facilitate the responsible development of graphene and graphene-enabled products through collaboration and participation.
About the Graphene Stakeholders Association
The Graphene Stakeholders Association (GSA) was created to promote the responsible development of graphene products by supporting standards activities and fostering education and information exchange in an open-innovation forum. The GSA seeks to develop common and accepted nomenclature, definitions, standard metrology and testing methods, along with health, safety, and environmental standards by working collaboratively with international, national and industry-based organizations. The GSA also seeks to facilitate and promote developmental efforts and highlight successful commercialization activities through networking and partnerships, to monitor progress and develop action plans through regular web conferences and meetings, and to communicate the benefits and progress of the industry as a whole to public and private thought leaders and influencers including, where appropriate, governmental agencies and regulatory bodies. For more information, please visit the GSA's website: www.graphenestakeholders.org.