The chief executive of the newly launched Oil and Gas Innovation Centre (OGIC) said the organisation will have to brave “industry scepticism” 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.
The OGIC has been set up to work with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to deliver innovative answers to the main challenges currently facing energy businesses working in the region.
The first OGIC project has also been approved with research already underway while three projects are in the final stages of approval.
The Scottish funding council provided the initial capital for OGIC and has welcomed OGIC’s transformation from concept through to delivery body in a matter of months.
OGIC’s launch and early-stage engagement within the industry innovation space have been strongly backed by leading oil and gas bodies.
The new centre links around 2,300 oil and gas operators and service companies to universities and research institutes.
It has access to more than 450 academic staff and researchers around Scotland, working not only in oil and gas-related fields but also in areas as diverse as gaming technologies and new materials.
