ORE Catapult Points O&M Innovators to InnovateUK Funding

The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult is inviting UK companies to apply for the GBP 19 million InnovateUK funding for novel technologies that can service the offshore renewables sector.

The technology innovation and research center is asking innovators to come forward with solutions addressing autonomous subsea and subsurface inspection techniques and improved condition monitoring systems for offshore wind farms.

According to ORE, successful respondents could benefit from the funding call for emerging and enabling technologies, designed to help UK businesses broaden their innovation activities, disrupt existing markets and find new revenue sources.

The winners will also have access to ORE’s engineering and testing expertise, and support to commercialize their technologies and access new markets, ORE said.

“The Emerging and Enabling Technologies funding from Innovate UK is well suited to the offshore renewables sector.  There is a rapidly growing demand for innovation in sensors, robotics, satellite applications and data analytics in the sector to help reduce the cost of energy,” said Andrew Macdonald, Senior Innovation Manager for ORE Catapult.

“Our Innovation Challenges identify specific industry needs that are within the scope of the InnovateUK funding call.  Having a clear target for technology development will enable UK companies to take an early lead in the global renewables revolution, stealing a march on their competitors.”