Small businesses in the Humber鈥檚 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 海角视频鈥檚 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 海角视频 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: 鈥淲e 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.
鈥淭he best candidates will be chosen to go forward and receive support from the Launch Academy partners.鈥
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.聽聽聽
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鈥檚 network of investors with the aim of securing investment and a route to market for their products.
Andrew Tipping, ORE Catapult鈥檚 commercialisation manager, said: 鈥淭his 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.
鈥淎lmost half of start-ups fail in their first four years of operation, and it鈥檚 rarely from the lack of a good idea. Very few have the combined industry, business growth and productivity knowledge to succeed, and that鈥檚 where initiatives such as the Launch Academy play a vital role.
鈥淥ur programme is designed to accelerate innovations that will reduce costs, increase 海角视频 content, create jobs, and help build the wind farms of the future.鈥
Companies will be asked to submit solutions to a series of technology innovation challenges set by Siemens Gamesa.聽
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聽 .
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