A new partnership between Opportunity North East (ONE) and CodeBase is bringing a new entrepreneurial hub to Aberdeen and North East of Scotland.

The new partnership will support growth in the commercial digital sectors, by creating businesses which can scale internationally, working with industry sectors including energy, food & drink and agriculture and life sciences.

The initiative marks the start of ONE’s investment to strengthen and diversify the economy of the North East of Scotland by building digital capacity and capability, as part of a wider regional economic regeneration strategy.

New Technology Hub

The ONE CodeBase initiative, led by the ONE Digital & Entrepreneurship (ONE D&E) sector board, is CodeBase’s first move north of its existing central belt locations in Edinburgh and Stirling.

ONE D&E plans to invest up to £1.5 million this year in digital company growth in the region including the creation of a hub for technology business incubation, acceleration and entrepreneurial growth.

Up to £1 million will then be available annually until 2026, to support its digital and entrepreneurship development agenda, with the aim of securing match-funding from both private and public sectors.

Introductory Meet-Ups

ONE CodeBase will host a series of introductory meet-ups in Aberdeen over the coming months in advance of the permanent hub for digital and entrepreneurship activity opening later in the year. Companies can register for updates online.

CodeBase is the UK’s largest early-stage digital technology incubator. The incubator has raised more than $550 million investment since 2014 and is home to more than 100 of the country’s leading technology companies.

Sir Ian Wood GBE, Chair of ONE D&E, said:

“The ONE CodeBase partnership will deliver the specialist support required for digital company creation and growth, provide crucial access to experienced digital entrepreneurs, and increase the number of entrepreneurial businesses with scale and international reach. ONE is investing to drive this agenda at pace.

“Bringing CodeBase’s proven digital incubation expertise and network into the heart of the region is the first step towards building a significant cluster of digital tech companies. Most importantly, the CodeBase team shares our vision for the North East of Scotland to be a leading player in corporate industrial transformation.”

Stephen Coleman, CEO and co-founder at CodeBase, said:

“There is a fantastic opportunity to build significant digital businesses in the Aberdeen area, which will have a transformative effect on the economy.

“The wealth of talent in Aberdeen and the unrivalled access to global corporates is a key driver for CodeBase in our quest to create jobs and wealth for the next generation of digital entrepreneurs.”

The new action and investment to realise the digital opportunity for the region was welcomed by industry.

Dave Lynch, Vice President Reservoir Development BP North Sea and digital lead on the industry Technology Leadership Board, said:

“ONE’s investment in North East of Scotland’s digital environment is welcomed. The influence and impact digital technology is beginning to have on the North Sea oil and gas industry cannot be understated, particularly as we seek to explore in, and produce from, the technically-challenging corners of our basin and deliver the Maximising Economic Recovery (MER UK) strategy.

“Accelerating innovative thinking and developing game-changing, disruptive digital solutions will help us achieve that and help the sector realise the full remaining resource potential of the North Sea.”