Deadline approaches to catapult yourself to the forefront of wind industry
NEXT Friday (13th) is the deadline for applying for the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s new technology commercialisation programme The National Launch Academy – a national technology accelerator programme for the offshore wind industry.
ORE Catapult has brought technology development and business support under one roof, allowing companies to access its own in-house technical capability alongside a range of business growth expertise from our partners.
The Launch Academy initiative will focus on companies with near-tomarket solutions, supported by eight industrial and business support specialists that include Red Rock Power, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE), Barclays Eagle Labs, investment body Green Angel Syndicate, accountancy firm BDO, IP specialists Murgitroyd, law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn 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.
The programme will take one cohort per year from nine companies, offering legal, marketing, accountancy, IP, HR and investor readiness support as well as modules delivered by ORE Catapult such as technology assessment, export market introductions, supply chain readiness and business case review.
Through its key industry partners Siemens Gamesa Red Rock Power Limited, which is developing the Inch Cape offshore wind farm off the Angus coastline and equipment manufacturer Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) ORE
Catapult will provide applicants with unique access to market leading end users and at the end of each cohort, the innovators will pitch to the industry partners and ORE Catapult’s network of investors.
Andrew Tipping, ORE Catapult’s Commercialisation Manager who is leading the project, said: “The bespoke nine-month programme will see nine promising companies being given access to a unique package of support from the delivery partners, including legal, marketing, accountancy, IP, HR and investor readiness support as well as modules delivered by ORE Catapult, such as technology assessment, supply chain readiness and business case review.”
Guy Madgwick, Red Rock’s Chief Executive said: “The Launch Academy will play a key role in helping us to identify innovators and small businesses we can work with and ensure they are supply chain ready to support our future projects.”
Chris Briggs, Regional Innovation Manager from Siemens Gamesa, added: “We will be setting a number of technology innovation challenges that equipment manufacturers and developers are faced with in the realworld 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.”
For more, visit www.ore.catapult.org.uk/launch-academy