Small businesses in the Humber’s renewables sector could benefit from a new programme aimed at bringing new technologies to the market.
The new accelerator scheme, launched by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, hopes to nurture innovations which could boost the UK’s offshore wind supply chain.
Hull renewables giant Siemens Gamesa has got behind the new programme, as it prepares to lend its expertise and resources to promising SMEs in the industry.
It comes as the UK pushes ahead with its target to become net-zero for carbon emissions by 2050, with offshore wind at the heart of the ambition.
Chris Briggs, regional innovation manager at Siemens Gamesa, said: “We will be setting a number of technology innovation challenges that equipment manufacturers and developers are faced with in the real-world and asking applicants to come forward with ideas and solutions.
“The best candidates will be chosen to go forward and receive support from the Launch Academy partners.”
The new initiative will focus on near-to-market solutions, and is supported by eight industrial and business support specialists including Siemens Gamesa, Barclays Eagle Labs, accountancy firm BDO and ScottishPower Renewables.
The national programme will be supported by a number of regional feeder programmes, with the first of those in the North East of England.
A bespoke nine-month programme will see a cohort of eight promising companies given access to a unique package of support from the delivery partners.
At the end of each cohort, innovators will pitch to the strategic partners and the Catapult’s network of investors with the aim of securing investment and a route to market for their products.
Andrew Tipping, ORE Catapult’s commercialisation manager, said: “This transformative programme is designed to enable offshore wind developers and equipment manufacturers to identify winning innovations in a complex landscape and act as a launch pad for companies to get their technology noticed and unleashed into the market.
“Almost half of start-ups fail in their first four years of operation, and it’s rarely from the lack of a good idea. Very few have the combined industry, business growth and productivity knowledge to succeed, and that’s where initiatives such as the Launch Academy play a vital role.
“Our programme is designed to accelerate innovations that will reduce costs, increase UK content, create jobs, and help build the wind farms of the future.”
Companies will be asked to submit solutions to a series of technology innovation challenges set by Siemens Gamesa.
The eight most promising solutions will be selected by a panel of experts to join the Launch Academy cohort. Potential applicants can find out more and apply at https://ore.catapult.org.uk/launch-academy .
