A new report detailing the impact of the £9 million Technology, Innovation and Green Growth for Offshore Renewables (TIGGOR) programme across the North Tyne region over the past six years has been published by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult.
TIGGOR, delivered by ORE Catapult, funded by the North East Mayor, and sponsored by offshore wind project developers EDF Power Solutions and Equinor, delivered the following to a region spanning Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle from 2020-2026:
- £7.6m for research and development
- £20-£24m Gross Value Added to the UK economy
- 88 organisations supported
- 36 jobs created
- 25 apprenticeships and traineeships created
- 23 new to market products launched
- 17 projects funded
- 4 new businesses created
Graham Smith, Head of New Ventures at ORE Catapult, said: “By offering structured support, expert guidance and targeted funding, TIGGOR enabled companies to advance solutions in areas including smart digital services, autonomous robotics, port operations and floating offshore wind. The support ensured that innovations progressed more rapidly, overcame early-stage development risks, and were better positioned to secure future investment.
“By building an ecosystem where innovative businesses could scale, commercialise and secure funding, TIGGOR played a significant role in shaping the future of offshore renewable energy. It demonstrates the power of targeted innovation support – unlocking growth, accelerating technology deployment, and building long lasting economic and environmental value for the North East of England and the wider UK.”
The programme supported companies within the North East offshore renewable energy supply chain to develop, de-risk and accelerate new offshore renewable technologies and innovations, intended to solve real world industry challenges.
Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor, added: “Offshore wind is at the heart of our green energy revolution in the North East as we double green energy jobs in the region to 50,000 by 2035. We already have global organisations who know the North East is the place to invest with ORE Catapult in Blyth at the forefront of technology innovation and critical to the future growth of offshore wind in our region. We’ve worked with them to deliver TIGGOR, our nationally leading innovation programme, so we can lead the sector while creating high quality jobs and apprenticeships for local people.”
Kinewell, based in Newcastle, specialises in software solutions to accelerate and reduce the cost of offshore wind, and credits the TIGGOR programme as pivotal in enabling the product development that led to export sales and a 2025 King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.
Dr Henna Bains, Chief Technology Officer at Kinewell said: “The TIGGOR programme has been transformational for Kinewell. It has helped us de-risk innovations, move them forward, and reach end users successfully. The programme has enabled us to develop new products, create green jobs in the region, and expand our reach into international markets. There are still many challenges within the offshore wind industry, and we are looking at how we address these challenges, what optimisation software solutions are required, and how can we add value to the sector.”
Since 2020, TIGGOR has been supported by industry sponsors EDF Power Solutions (formerly EDF Renewables) and Equinor. Both play significant roles in North East England offshore developments, including EDF’s Blyth Demonstrator and Equinor’s involvement in the Dogger Bank Offshore Wind Farm
Andrew Saunders, Prepare for Operations (PFO) Manager, Dogger Bank Offshore Wind Farm at Equinor, said: “We are proud to have played our part in the success of the programme and the successes of the funded projects and organisations. The programme has delivered exciting innovations for the offshore renewables space, alongside fantastic job creation, supply chain ripple effects and new businesses in the North East of England.”
Justina Giles, Innovation Business Partner at EDF power solutions added: “We are incredibly proud to have supported the TIGGOR programme and to see the tangible impact it has had on the North East region. We understand the critical role innovation plays in driving down costs and enhancing efficiency. The programme’s success is also directly creating local jobs and launching new products to strengthen the UK’s offshore wind supply chain.”