A new partnership formed in Aberdeen will look to support green energy business growth and climate tech innovation.
The EnergyTech Bridge brings together a consortium of tech development organisations led by Opportunity North East (ONE), supported by Barclays Eagle Labs and CodeBase.
The initiative is designed to support businesses in entering new markets, scaling internationally, innovating new products or services, and contributing to the transition towards cleaner, greener energy through digital technology innovation.
Karen O’Hanlon, digital tech director at ONE, said: “North east Scotland has one of the largest clusters of energy tech businesses in Europe and 42 per cent of the region’s digital sector are EnergyTech businesses.
“With 22 businesses from the region, this showcases the strength, ambition and capability the north east boasts in climate tech innovation. They provide tech products and services and respond to opportunities in emerging high-growth sectors such as ClimateTech, AgriTech, RegTech and renewables.”
She added: “The EnergyTech Bridge programme is important as it takes an integrated approach for digital tech businesses to solve problems for the corporates with potential customers to build on their technology and showcase their innovations. The transition to net zero has a clear requirement for new innovative products and services, and the digital tech companies in the north east are ready and well placed to respond, to increase their international competitiveness, respond global demand and thereby contribute to grow the regional economy.”
The programme brings together ambitious innovators: 27 digital tech businesses, including 22 north east companies – a record number for the programme. In addition, seven corporate international companies including NOV, Oceaneering, Global E&C, EDF Energy, Scottish and Southern Energy Networks (SSEN), Xodus and Seallfield Nuclear join the programme, with the aim to explore new innovative products and services to help them achieve their net zero goals.
Glen McLellan, general manager UK, NOV, said: “It’s exciting to be in a room full of innovative people hearing what they’ve got to say and learning from SMEs. I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am now in my career without mentoring, and I feel passionate about sharing knowledge and experience with others.
“Energy transition is a big part of what we are focussed on as a business. It’s exciting to see what new tech is out there and what we can learn from the SMEs who are right at the start of their journey, who are a group of very intelligent people with big ideas.”