Scottish Enterprise welcomes official launch of Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
Scottish Enterprise has welcomed the official opening of the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult in Glasgow today (Thursday 13th March 2014) which marks a significant step forward on Scotland’s journey towards being a major player in the global renewables sector.
Seonaid Vass, director of renewables & low carbon technologies at Scottish Enterprise said:
“Offshore wind has huge potential for Scotland, and the new Catapult comes at a critical time in the industry’s development. By bringing together the public and private sector in partnership with academia, its work will help address key issues such as cost reduction, and further develop a globally competitive renewable energy business environment.”
The Catapult is based in Scottish Enterprise’s inovo building, part of the International Renewable Energy Zone in Glasgow.
Seonaid Vass added:
“Inovo, together with the University of Strathclyde’s Technology Innovation Centre will help bridge the gap between industry and academia by offering co-location opportunities and creating the right environment for industry to harness cutting edge research and the industry in the future.
“The building is already home to a number of companies operating in the sector, and Catapult’s decision to be based here will help foster key links across the industry.”
To hear more about inovo and its ambition to support Scotland's offshore renewable energy sector, view our short video clip here.
Background on ITREZ
ITREZ, Scotland’s International Technology and Renewable Energy Zone, is an alliance of the public, private and academic sectors that aims to stimulate co-location, innovation, investment and job creation in the offshore renewable energy (offshore wind, wave and tidal) and associated enabling technologies sectors.
Centred in Glasgow ITREZ has at its core the University of Strathclyde’s Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC) together with Scottish Enterprise’s industry engagement building, inovo, acting as a hub location.
Launched in 2011, ITREZ is anticipated to create around 700 new jobs and £100 million of GVA for Scotland’s economy.