Graphene Leaders Canada (GLC) Supports Students with NAIT to Advance Graphene Material Innovation and Student Training

Edmonton, AB – October 10, 2025 – Graphene Leaders Canada (GLC) Inc. is pleased to announce a new collaboration with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), working closely with the Chair of the Nanosystems Engineering Technology Diploma Program and program instructors, to provide hands-on research and training opportunities for students in nanotechnology.

This project enables a team of NAIT students to work directly with GLC’s technical research team to gain practical experience in an industrial environment, including working with graphite processing techniques, and graphene characterization according to relevant industry standards. Students will contribute to applied research that supports GLC’s mission to commercialize graphene-related 2D products that improve material performance, while improving the efficiency of our production processes.

GLC employs solution-based methods to produce graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) dispersions for use in coatings, lubricants and inks, among other target applications. Using liquid-phase exfoliation techniques with flake graphite as a starting material, the company is exploring new methods to streamline graphene production for industrial scalability by focusing on modifying the starting material.

As part of this research initiative, GLC and NAIT students will investigate graphite preprocessing techniques to improve the efficiency of graphene exfoliation using GLC’s proprietary homogenization processes. The goal is to reduce the cost of production while maintaining nanomaterial and dispersion quality. Through this collaboration, GLC researchers are aiming to work with the University of Alberta’s NanoFAB, to develop a characterization program that is suitable for the project, and consistent with industry standards. Using this approach, we ensure that we will have access to local facilities to monitor the quality of the project outputs and perform continued product analysis.

This project, taking place over the 4-month winter term in 2026, represents a significant step in bridging academic innovation and industry commercialization. By combining GLC’s decade-long expertise in graphene dispersion technologies with NAIT’s applied research capabilities, the collaboration supports Alberta’s vision of a sustainable, low-carbon economy built on advanced materials and manufacturing.

“This opportunity strengthens our commitment to innovation and education,” said Dr. Leah Coumont, Director of Research of GLC. “Hosting this Capstone project will give students an opportunity to participate in real-world R&D and bring new perspective to solving an interesting technical problem, while helping us address a real challenge in achieving our production targets.”