Tech innovators launching into offshore wind

2023 cohort of ORE Catapult's Launch Academy kicks off

Ten UK companies ready to make their mark on the offshore wind industry started their journey with Launch Academy, an award-winning technology acceleration programme, this week.

Supported through Sofia by RWE, and other offshore wind developers, Launch Academy, run by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, kicked off its latest national nine-month programme in Edinburgh with companies from across the UK that are developing technology solutions to address prevalent challenges within offshore wind.

The technologies represented include innovative radar coupled with AI to identify marine life, solar-powered airships, a subsea energy storage system and a mechanical alternative to grout.

Alex Louden, Senior Technology Acceleration Manager at ORE Catapult, said: “We are excited to be starting this journey with 10 new companies aiming to accelerate their technology and make a dynamic impact on the offshore wind industry.

“Innovation in the UK supply chain is essential if we are to meet the UK Government target of 50GW of offshore wind by 2030, and industry focused solutions, such as those pursued by these companies, are crucial to success. In the last three years of Launch Academy, we have demonstrated what can be achieved when innovation and collaboration is championed, and we will continue working with our companies and expert partners to drive the industry forward.”

Launch Academy has been running since 2019 to enhance the UK’s offshore wind supply chain, enable greater UK content, and reduce costs through innovation. In that time, 28 companies have progressed through the regional and national programmes, over £15 million has been raised in investment, and participating companies have taken on 50 new staff.

The latest national Launch Academy programme will run from now until December 2023.

Aquatec Group and Wildcat Films, both selected by RWE, were two of the 10 companies that won a place on the Launch Academy programme.

David Baillie, Director at Wildcat Films said: “We are very excited that participation in Launch Academy will provide the opportunity and support to develop a new and disruptive combination of radar technology and AI for ornithological surveying. We are especially grateful for ORE Catapult ’s recognition that although our main business is outside the offshore renewable energy sector, our fresh perspective and access to alternative technologies has resulted in a genuinely innovative proposition. ”

The nine-month programme will deliver bespoke support through a series of modules delivered by ORE Catapult and expert partners. These include legal, marketing, export, accountancy, intellectual property (IP), investor readiness, technology assessment, and business case reviews – worth around £25,000 per company. At the end of the programme, companies have the chance to pitch to ORE Catapult’s network of private investors.

To find out more about Launch Academy, please click here

The ten companies selected were: