Applications open tomorrow (19 July) for the inaugural Scottish chapter of Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s award-winning Launch Academy programme, proudly sponsored and supported by Inch Cape.
Launch Academy Scotland is an industry-backed technology accelerator programme for Scottish-based companies that aims to support the commercialisation of new technologies to enhance the local offshore wind supply chain, enable more local content and facilitate cost reduction.
This first Scotland-wide programme will provide 10 early-stage businesses with technology development and business growth support to help them to accelerate the commercialisation of their innovative products and services.
Alongside Inch Cape, the programme will be supported by Scottish Enterprise, and renewable energy developers BlueFloat Energy | Nadara Partnership and Ocean Winds.
Applications are open from 19 July until 16 August, when the most promising innovative solutions will be selected by a panel of experts including Inch Cape’s Innovation Champion and Interface Manager Shane Macken who said:
“Inch Cape is a showcase for numerous innovative technologies and applications, from the UK’s largest AC offshore transformer and use of Vestas’ 15MW turbines to the installation of 110m long 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 Scottish Launch Academy Scotland in partnership with innovation-drivers ORE Catapult.”
Once selected for the first Launch Academy Scotland cohort, the companies will be guided and supported through their seven-month Launch Academy journey by representatives from the sponsor organisations, industry leaders and specialists from key business areas such as finance and legal.
At the end of the programme, the innovators will pitch to industry partners and ORE Catapult’s network of investors with the aim of securing investment and a route to market for their products.
More information about the programme and how to apply can be found on the ORE Catapult Launch Academy Scotland website and there will be a Launch Academy Scotland briefing webinar on Monday 29 July, 2024. Click here for more information and to sign up.
Since 2020, Launch Academy has supported 57 companies, raised £26.7m in private investment, £8.4m in grant funding and had 150 patents filed through both the national and regional Launch Academy programmes across the United Kingdom.
