We work with Research Institutions and Academia, collaborating on research and development and operating as a strategic partner with extensive industry knowledge, access, and world-leading test and demonstration facilities – supporting the journey from applied research to products and services for the offshore renewables sector.
Our multi-disciplined team of highly qualified engineers and technical specialists have in-depth experience in renewable energy technologies. As a leader in technology and sector development, the Catapult provides support and guidance to Government departments such as the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Innovation and Skills (BIS) and has a formal technology advisory role to The Crown Estate for offshore wind, wave and tidal energy.
A number of employees also sit of on industry steering groups and advisory boards, such as IEA Wind, TPWind, IECRE, EERA, EUREC, TPOcean, academic institutions, SuperGen Wind and SuperGen Marine as well as International Standards Committees such as the IEC and BSI. Our industrial and research advisory groups, as well as our industry-led Board of Directors, provide strategy and support around collaborative developments with industry, as well as working with Government and key stakeholders to support the growth of offshore renewable energy in the UK.
We bring innovation opportunities to other layers in the supply chain, right down to SMEs, all of which is supported by the UKs academic research base.
And we do the reverse: we identify and support applied research and novel innovation all the way to commercialisation.
The UK has a world-leading academic community in offshore renewable energy, representing a vital part of the UK knowledge base. Universities not only carry out fundamental research, they are also at the centre of important skills provision, producing the engineers and managers of the future.
Universities also possess many of the best test and demonstration facilities available in the UK – important tools for fundamental research and vital in the development and de-risking of new technologies for offshore renewables.
Our work with academia includes:
To help us engage with academia at a strategic level, we have established the Research Advisory Group, comprising key academics from 10 leading universities in our field. The Research Advisory Group will provide clear, consistent and representative academic and specialist research advice into ORE Catapult, and work in partnership with the Industry Advisory Group to help define, refine and adapt R&D objectives and facilitate access to expertise and capability within the UK and beyond.
Anna Southall
Test Engineer - Blades
+44 (0) 1670 357670
Anna is an Academic Engagement Manager in the Applied Research Team. She is responsible for managing the university research collaborations including ORE Catapult’s Research Hubs programme. We aim to deliver research programmes that address key industrial challenges.
Anna is a Chartered Engineer who has been working in the Energy industry since 2008. Previous experience includes working as a Turbine Engineer delivering mechanical and performance support for a fleet of thermal power stations, as an research engineer undertaking aerodynamic and thermodynamic analysis, and most recently performance testing wave and tidal energy converters at the European Marine Energy Centre. This involved developing bespoke test programmes for international clients with novel machines and contributing as a UK expert in IEC standards committees for the marine energy sector. Throughout her roles Anna has focused on quantifying and articulating how technology can make power generation more efficient and sustainable.
Anna has two master’s degrees, an MEng in Aerospace and Aerothermal Engineering from University of Cambridge, and an MSc in Sustainable Energy Systems from the University of Edinburgh. Anna joined ORE Catapult in January 2020 and is strengthening the critical link between industry and academia to maximise the outcomes from UK research. These collaborations drive innovation and focus research talent in critical areas.