NINE companies across East Anglia - including one in Harwich - have celebrated successfully completing an award-winning technology accelerator programme.
From the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, the first East of England Launch Academy is aimed at “revolutionising the UK’s offshore renewable energy sector”.
Harwich’s Haven Dredging, a subsidiary of Harwich Haven Authority, is among the graduates.
It joined the Launch Academy with a Tiamat dredging device to pump silt back into the water column, utilising tide and currents to displace sediment and promote self-replenishment of the estuarine system
The graduation celebrated the progress achieved by the companies following six months of specialised training and tailored support modules provided by ORE Catapult and its expert partners.
These include legal, marketing, export, accountancy, intellectual property, investor readiness, technology assessment, and business case reviews.
Launch Academy East of England was developed following the success of previous national and regional Launch Academy programmes.
Stephen Wyatt, director of strategy and emerging technologies at ORE Catapult, said: "Strengthening the UK's offshore supply chain is crucial for a smooth transition towards our net zero targets and represents a huge opportunity for businesses across the UK.
“For the first time, Launch Academy East of England has equipped companies in the East Anglia region with the necessary tools and knowledge to thrive in the offshore renewable energy sector – tapping into the wind industry in the region.
“The impressive growth and innovation within the 2023 cohort demonstrates that these companies have the potential to bring groundbreaking advancements to the offshore energy sector, promising an exciting future."
Jake Storey, executive director of Haven Dredging, added: “We recognised that Launch Academy East of England was a unique opportunity for our business, and we were keen to leverage the chance to delve deeper into the offshore renewable industry, and better understand its dynamics and fine-tune our value proposition accordingly.
“By maximising ORE Catapult’s resources and expertise, we will now be able to position ourselves strategically in the market, gain a competitive edge and achieve sustainable success.
“With the support and guidance gained from Launch Academy East of England, we’re aiming to achieve significant growth and secure potential investors. The modules offered invaluable tools and knowledge that will help us to reach these objectives.”
Funding for the programme was provided by ORE Catapult, leading offshore wind developer RWE and Essex County Council, among others.
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