A Strathclyde University research and innovation project aimed at creating jobs within the renewable energy sector has been awarded £5million.
A cross-border finding initiative with lead partner South West College in Northern Ireland, the scheme will look to help SMEs in the renewables sector take their innovations from the research and development stage out into the commercial market.
The project announced this week that it has received the funding from the EU’s INTERREG VA Programme.
Four PhD students at the university say they are currently working on renewables projects with cross-border co-operation.
Simon Leslie, who’s part of the collaboration, said: : “SMEs can find it difficult to find the resource to carry out research and innovation. The Renewable Engine Project is primarily targeted to support SMEs by providing fully-funded researchers working on industry projects with support from academia.
“Renewable Engine encourages academic institutions to work together and share knowledge, and promotes research and development, specifically in renewable energy.
“It’s helping students take industrially linked projects from the academic and research stage through pre-production and out into commercial use.”
Gina McIntyre, CEO of the SEUPB, said: “This EU-funded initiative will provide excellent development opportunities for PhD students and generate high quality industry-relevant research for use in the renewable energy sector.
“It also represents a unique cross-border collaboration between educational institutions based in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland that will led to tangible economic benefits for all three regions.”
Beginning in in January 2017 the project will run until July 2021.
