Its partnership with ORE Catapult is designed to support northeast England’s ambitions to grow its renewable energy sector.
Through a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Durham University and ORE Catapult will be working even more closely together in areas including research and innovation, skills development, and enterprise/business engagement.
A Decade of Joint Working
Durham University has worked with ORE Catapult for more than a decade through initiatives such as a match-funding for Ph.D. students and numerous offshore wind research projects.
This new agreement will enable increased collaboration and outputs in applied research.
It will also provide the platform to deliver on our shared ambitions relating to social values, transformative education, net zero research and economic growth through enterprise support.
Regional Focus
The partnership aligns with key strategic priorities for northeast England, as well as areas of strength and focus for Durham University.
The recently created North East Combined Authority has prioritized offshore wind as a key opportunity for the region.
Meanwhile, Durham University has recently joined the board of the Energy Central Campus (ECC), based in Northumberland, a training center focused on developing the skills and talent to expand the clean energy sector.
Leading Center for Energy Research
Durham University is a leading center for energy research. The Durham Energy Institute brings together a wealth of multidisciplinary research to tackle pressing energy challenges and support inclusive energy transitions.
“Durham University is committed to helping train the next generation of energy experts with transformative, research-led education and support for initiatives including the Energy Central Campus. The formalization of our collaborative work with ORE through this Memorandum of Understanding is the natural next step for two organizations dedicated to furthering the development of the offshore renewable energy sources to aid energy transition,” said Dr. Shaid Mahmood, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion).