ORE Catapult marked its 2016/17 financial year with over 500 collaborations with industry and academia, a 10% increase from the previous year, including support to 134 small and medium-sized companies and participation in 35 international projects.
ORE Catapult, which operates GBP 250 million of test and demonstration facilities, said that every pound invested by the UK Government in ORE Catapult funds GBP 21 of research and technology development activity.
“Working directly with more of the industry’s largest companies to reduce risk and cost is enabling us to support more businesses to grow and deliver extensive research programmes in key areas of technology and operations. The offshore wind sector in particular has taken huge steps in reducing costs. The Catapult is at the heart of this key industry, ensuring that progress continues and is deeply rooted in our regions, often those with the greatest need for jobs and development,” said Colin Hood, Chairman of ORE Catapult.
ORE Catapult’s key activities and successes in 2016/17 include, among others: the launch of the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub; turbine assembly and deployment for the world’s first tidal stream array; further investment in full-scale testing facilities; and significant engineering and technical support to some of the UK’s most agile innovators.
This is according to ORE Catapult’s latest annual impact report , published on 30 November.
Commenting on the report, Andrew Jamieson , ORE Catapult Chief Executive, said: “By working more closely than ever with partners from across industry and academia, and using and investing in our world-leading test and demonstration facilities, we have delivered significant impact across our expanding portfolio of projects and services. We will continue to focus on driving innovation and building a strong UK supply chain, which is essential for continued job creation, cost reduction, and powering the UK economy.”