Innovative companies based in Scotland can now apply to join the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s award-winning Launch Academy programme.

Launch Academy is an industry-backed tech accelerator programme created to support the commercialisation of new technologies that will enhance the UK’s offshore wind supply chain, enabling greater local content while supporting cost reduction.

The Academy was established in 2020, and this will be the inaugural Scotland-wide programme, providing 10 early-stage firms with technology development to help them accelerate the commercialisation of products and services targeting the UK and global offshore wind markets.

Since its inception, the Academy has supported 57 companies, raised £26.7 million 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.

The Scottish Launch Academy is sponsored by Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, global renewable energy developers BlueFloat Energy | Nadara Partnership and Ocean Winds, as well as Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm. The 10 most promising solutions will be selected by a panel of experts to join the Launch Academy Cohort.

Industry experts from the sponsoring organisations will engage and support the cohort companies throughout their seven-month Launch Academy journey. 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.

Applications are open from tomorrow, 19 July 2024, and can be submitted until the closing deadline of 16 August 2024. A Launch Academy Scotland briefing webinar will also take place on Monday 29 July, 2024.

Dr Stephen Wyatt, director of strategy and emerging technologies at ORE Catapult, said: “Our Launch Academy was established in 2020 to accelerate early stage disruptive innovations which can address the challenges facing the offshore renewables sector. I’m delighted that we have this dedicated programme for Scotland linking so closely to the biggest offshore wind projects in our waters.

“Scotland has forged an enviable reputation for excellence and specialist expertise within the energy sector and we are delighted to welcome the support of Scotland’s enterprise agencies, Inch Cape, BlueFloat Energy | Nadara Partnership, and Ocean Winds as we launch this latest programme.

“Launch Academy Scotland will mentor 10 promising companies, providing them with technical and business growth support, as well as industry insights and market connectivity, positioning them to thrive in the UK offshore wind supply chain.”

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Adam Swainbank, offshore wind supply chain specialist at Scottish Enterprise, also commented: “Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise are delighted to take part in this Scottish iteration of the UK flagship offshore wind technology accelerator programme – Launch Academy.

“This is a great example of the 3 economic development agencies in Scotland working in collaboration with ORE Catapult and industry to address the offshore wind challenges before us, helping accelerating, de-risk and commercialise innovative technology from the Scottish supply chain with a goal of ensuring we maximise local content and reducing costs and risks for offshore wind developers.”