Two Robert Gordon University (RGU) graduates have set up their own company specialising in developing innovative underwater products for the energy industry.
Ben Grant, 30, who studied electrical and electronic engineering and Alastair McLennan-Murray, 31, an artificial intelligence and robotics graduate, set up Impact Subsea in February, around the time that oil prices hit rock bottom prior to what turned out to be a small and temporary partial recovery.
Impact Subsea offers products and solutions to oil & gas, offshore renewables and scientific markets. Its products are used on remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles and in “stand-alone” applications.
Given the nature of what they offer, the hope is that they can exploit the current crisis.
A new centre that was created to speed up the development of technologies for the oil and gas industry has completed its first collaborative project, a year after receiving approval for start-up funding.
The Oil & Gas Innovation Centre (Ogic) acts as a matchmaker between Scottish Universities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who are looking to cut costs using innovative technology.
A year ago the Scottish Funding Council approved funding of £10.6million for Ogic, which formally opened for business in Aberdeen in November.
One hundred technology firms have asked Ogic for support since then — 18 projects are now being discussed, while four have been approved.
The chief executive of the newly launched Oil and Gas Innovation Centre (OGIC) said the organisation will have to brave “industry skepticism” as it looks to encourage more collaboration between universities and oil companies.
Ian Phillips said the OGIC could be seen as simply “another initiative”, but he believes its creation has come about from a growing demand amongst companies to meet the challenges within the industry.
Mr Phillips, who has 30 years’ experience in the industry, said there would also need to be a culture change in academia to think more flexibly and quickly.
