ITF, the industry technology facilitator for the global oil and gas business, said yesterday it was increasing its international footprint.
The Aberdeen-based organisation is opening two offices in the Asia-Pacific region to drive new technology solutions to tackle global oil and gas challenges.
It is targeting Perth and Kuala Lumpur to unite technology developers with its membership of major oil and gas operators and has revealed plans to invest £5.7million in groundbreaking solutions there by 2015.
Peter Brazier has been appointed as regional manager for Australia, and will head up the Perth office.
He said: “ITF currently has a good position with major companies such as Woodside and Chevron already signed up as members, who see the benefits of collaborating on funding new technologies.
“There is a growing demand for next-generation technologies that will recover hydrocarbons from increasingly challenging environments and I want to make sure that local companies benefit from the funding being offered.
“I’m looking forward to building strong relationships with oil and gas operators, innovative technology companies and academic institutions.”
Mr Brazier joins ITF following eight years at the Commonwealth Science and Industry Research Organisation.
ITF’s regional director for the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, Ryan McPherson, will oversee the Kuala Lumpur base with plans to appoint a full-time technology analyst there next year. He said: “There is definitely an appetite for concerted technology development in Australia and Malaysia.”