OrbisEnergy, an innovation and incubation center in Lowestoft, Suffolk, in the U.K., says it has launched the SCORE program, a grant funding opportunity totaling 6 million British pounds intended to help small and midsize businesses develop new technologies – particularly oil and gas companies looking to diversify into offshore renewables.
The SCORE program is partially funded by the European Regional Development Fund and is available to companies in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk that have fewer than 250 employees and an annual turnover of less than EUR 50 million, according to OrbisEnergy.
Moreover, the company says grants are available for up to 40% of eligible costs, or 50,000 British pounds, whichever is the lower, with a minimum grant of 2,500 British pounds.
The funding opportunity is designed to help companies with research and development, collaboration with universities and research bodies, securing patents, acquiring specialist equipment or services, and investigating the commercial viability of processes and technologies, OrbisEnergy asserts.
According to the center’s Johnathan Reynolds, “This is more than double the amount of money in the previous SCORE programme, which supported over 50 companies, invested in 40 projects and created 70 new jobs. This time, we’re confident we can help over 200 businesses to develop their bright ideas and, in the process, create 100 additional jobs for the region.”
“With some of the biggest wind farms in the world being built off the east coast, our region has firmly established itself as the U.K.’s principal hub for offshore renewable energy with an experienced and highly inventive supply chain,” he adds.
The SCORE program is being delivered by OrbisEnergy in partnership with enterprise specialists Nwes, energy industry experts Nautilus Associates, and the national Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult center.