Solution Requirements

Functional requirements

We are open to a broad range of solutions that add value to autonomous vessels and the logistics operations that they enable.

Some examples (not exhaustive) include:

• Solutions for safely loading equipment, people and or materials on and off autonomous vessels operating near marine structures. Consider options of ‘vessel to vessel’ and ‘vessel to wind farm infrastructure to vessel’ transfer.
• Options on containerising the cargo to be considered (or other suitable alternatives). Maximum lift 10 Tonnes per container.
• Prioritising solutions by being able to load/unload standard size containers. Typically focussing on activities such as food, standard-sized spares and other commonly used items.
• Solutions that optimise container load and manage vessel journeys to maximise efficiency, reduce carbon footprint and timeliness of transportation.

Please note that this challenge does not include autonomous vessels themselves.

Technical Characteristics

Solutions should:

• Be easy to install as part of a newly built windfarm, and ideally capable of retrofit to an existing windfarm
• Be cost-effective when deployed in volume

Operating conditions

Solutions should:

• Not significantly alter the operating characteristics of the wind farm
• Be reliable and durable
• Be compatible with the offshore environment (salt water, high winds etc)
• Not require significant maintenance
• Not require significantly new skills to operate or maintain
• Be low carbon and maximise reuse and recyclability

Timescales

• Launch of the Competition: 15th November 2021
• Deadline for applications: 15^th December 2021
• Selection and notification of finalists: week commencing 10^th January 2022
• Pitch event: 8th February 2022
• Launch Academy begins end of February 2022

We are open to solutions that are almost ready for prototype testing (e.g. within 6 months of competition win) but we also welcome solutions that are more radical but could take longer (e.g. prototype within 2 years of competition win).

Market opportunity

Any solution which achieves the requirements could become industry best practice and therefore could be adopted across the industry.

Eligibility

Entrants to this competition must be:

• Established businesses, start-ups, SMEs (Small-Medium Enterprises) or individual entrepreneurs
• UK based or have the intention to set up a UK base
• Minimum of TRL (Technology Readiness Level) 4+. See link for further detail on the TRL scale https://enspire.science/trl-scale-horizon-2020-erc-explained/

Assessment

Applications will be assessed on:

• Relevance to the topic
• Innovative nature of the subject
• Feasibility
• Development potential
• Maturity of project/solution
• Ability to launch project quickly/Ease of implementation
• Price/quality ratio
• Suitability for the UK and European market

IP and potential commercial route

• Existing background IP associated with a potential solution will remain with Launch Academy Participant(s). Where any new IP generation is envisaged, it will be subject to the mutual IP agreement of the Launch Academy Participant (s) and Launch Academy Sponsors.
• Any commercial deployment of transferred solution or newly developed solution, through licensing, joint venture, partnership or direct investment, will be subject to the commercial agreement between the Launch Academy Participant(s) and Launch Academy Sponsors.
• Where necessary, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) may be signed to uphold confidentiality in the engagement between the Launch Academy Participant (s) and Launch Academy Sponsors. ORE Catapult does not take any share of IP ownership or enter commercial ventures through the Launch Academy programme.

De-Minimis Disclaimer

Scottish Companies successful in the Launch Academy programme are supported by the De-Minimis funding provided by Scottish Enterprise.

If you have had public sector support, you should have been notified in writing of any de minimis element when the aid was awarded. You should have also been notified of the type of De-Minimis aid that you have received. The most common type of de minis aid is ‘general’ De-Minimis. However, other types of De-Minimis are given for the fishery and aquaculture sector, agricultural sector and services of general economic interest. If applicable, prior to granting De-Minimis aid, [we] must obtain a declaration from you, in written or electronic form, about any other de minimis aid. If selected for the second stage of interview process for the Launch Academy Programme, you are required as part of this application process to declare any such aid previously provided by a public body to your company or any company that you are linked to.

Please note that where De-Minimis funding is awarded under the exception in Article 3.2.4 of Title XI of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement signed on 30 December 2020 (as implemented by section 29 of the European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020) (the “TCA”), any previous amounts awarded to you from a public source in the UK in the last 3 fiscal years under either Article 3.2.4 of Title XI of the TCA or under EC Commission Regulation No 1407/2013 of 18 December 2013 on the application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to De-Minimis aid will be relevant in ensuring any funding provided does not exceed the maximum subsidy limit of 325,000 Special Drawing Rights under Article 3.2.4 of Title XI of the TCA.  Please provide full information on any previous funding you have received under Article 3.2.4 of Title XI the TCA and/or EC De-Minimis Regulation 1407/2013 in the last 3 fiscal years.

Any funding which you have received under the UK COVID-19 Temporary Framework for UK authorities does not need to be included as De-Minimis funding.