Functions are actually open for progressive firms based mostly in Scotland to affix the Offshore Renewable Vitality (ORE) Catapult’s award-winning Launch Academy programme. Launch Academy is an industry-backed expertise accelerator programme designed to assist the commercialisation of new applied sciences that may improve the UK’s offshore wind provide chain, enabling higher native content material whereas supporting value discount.
The celebrated Launch Academy was established in 2020, and this would be the inaugural Scotland-wide programme which can present 10 early-stage companies with expertise improvement and enterprise development assist to assist them to speed up the commercialisation of services and products concentrating on the UK and world offshore wind markets.
Since 2020, Launch Academy has supported 57 firms, raised £26.7m in personal funding, £8.4m in grant funding and had 150 patents filed by means of each the nationwide and regional Launch Academy programmes throughout the UK.
Launch Academy Scotland is sponsored by Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, world renewable vitality builders BlueFloat Vitality | Nadara Partnership and Ocean Winds, in addition to Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm. The 10 most promising options can be chosen by a panel of specialists to affix the Launch Academy Scotland cohort.
Business specialists from the sponsoring organisations will interact and assist the cohort firms all through their seven-month Launch Academy journey. On the finish of the programme, the innovators will pitch to {industry} companions and ORE Catapult’s community of buyers with the intention of securing funding and a path to marketplace for their merchandise.
Dr Stephen Wyatt, Director of Technique and Rising Applied sciences at ORE Catapult, mentioned: “Our Launch Academy was established in 2020 to speed up early stage disruptive improvements which may handle the challenges dealing with the offshore renewables sector. I’m delighted that we’ve got this devoted programme for Scotland linking so intently to the most important offshore wind tasks in our waters.
“Scotland has forged an enviable reputation for excellence and specialist expertise within the energy sector and we are delighted to welcome the support of Scotland’s enterprise agencies, Inch Cape, BlueFloat Energy | Nadara Partnership, and Ocean Winds as we launch this latest programme. Launch Academy Scotland will mentor 10 promising companies, providing them with technical and business growth support, as well as industry insights and market connectivity, positioning them to thrive in the UK offshore wind supply chain.”
Shane Macken, Inch Cape’s Innovation Champion and Interface Supervisor mentioned: “Inch Cape is a showcase for quite a few progressive applied sciences and functions, from the UK’s largest AC offshore transformer and use of Vestas’ 15MW generators to the set up of 110m lengthy XXL monopile foundations.
“However we still see huge potential for innovation, not just for our project but for the wider offshore wind industry, with Scotland at the forefront of that potential thanks to its energy heritage combined with future development pipeline. This is why we are dedicated in our support of the inaugural Launch Academy Scotland in partnership with innovation-drivers ORE Catapult.”
David Robertson, Portfolio Director (Scotland), BlueFloat Vitality | Nadara Partnership mentioned: “We are delighted to sponsor the first ever Scottish cohort of ORE Catapult’s successful Launch Academy programme. With a pipeline of over 3 GW of floating offshore wind in Scottish waters, we recognise the importance of stimulating innovation through our project designs and SMEs based in Scotland are well-positioned to help with this thanks to our rich history of innovation and invention. We look forward to working with successful candidates to tackle some of the technical challenges the industry is facing, in a bid to accelerate delivery and improve efficiency.”
Mark Baxter, Caledonia Undertaking Director, mentioned: “Ocean Winds is proud to sponsor the ORE Catapult Launch Academy programme, shaping Scotland’s vitality future. Our Moray Firth tasks have showcased the distinctive expertise inside Scotland’s provide chain, and this initiative represents a big funding in each provide chain and innovation.
“Funding for the Launch Academy has been dedicated by Caledonia – a 2GW offshore wind farm that can be Ocean Winds’ third within the Moray Firth. Caledonia is eager to see Scottish firms and innovators focussed on decarbonisation and manufacturing excellence, furthering the event, development and operation of offshore wind, and accelerating Scotland’s inexperienced vitality transition.
“Caledonia is committed to spend £46m in early support for the UK supply chain and will lead to potential investment of £3.5bn in the UK across all its stages. Ocean Winds has proven its commitment to supply chain development through its existing projects in the Moray Firth, and Caledonia – across its development lifecycle and through support for initiatives like the Launch Academy – will further enhance opportunities for growth.”
Adam Swainbank – Offshore Wind Provide Chain Specialist – Scottish Enterprise mentioned: “Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise are delighted to take part in this Scottish iteration of the UK flagship offshore wind technology accelerator programme – Launch Academy. This is a great example of the 3 economic development agencies in Scotland working in collaboration with ORE Catapult and industry to address the offshore wind challenges before us, helping accelerating, de-risk and commercialise innovative technology from the Scottish supply chain with a goal of ensuring we maximise local content and reducing costs and risks for offshore wind developers.”
Functions are open from tomorrow, 19 July 2024 and will be submitted till the closing deadline of 16 August 2024.
A Launch Academy Scotland briefing webinar will happen on Monday 29 July, 2024. Click on here for extra data and to enroll.
