Scotland launches industry, academia initiative

Offshore staff

ABERDEEN, UK – Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond has pledged £10.6 million ($17.7 million) in funding for a new Oil and Gas Innovation Centre (OGIC), to be based in Aberdeen.

This will bring together academic and private sector groups to collaborate on new technologies to increase production and reduce costs, also addressing the industry’s longer-term challenges.

OGIC will link more than 2,300 oil and gas operator and service companies to 12 Scottish universities with more than 450 academic staff and researchers.

The new body aims to attract more than £26 million ($43.3 million) of investments from other sources, including industry external funding agencies, within its first five years.

Academic partners include Heriot-Watt University, University of Aberdeen, University of Strathclyde, University of Abertay, University of Dundee, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, University of the Highlands and Islands, Robert Gordon University, University of St Andrews, Glasgow Caledonian University, and University of the West of Scotland.

02/25/2014