Catapult centres are a network of nine organisations set up by Innovate UK in the United Kingdom, to promote research and development (R&D) and to exploit market opportunities. Catapult centres promote R&D and innovation through business-led collaboration between scientists, academics, engineers, entrepreneurs, industry leaders and Government. They receive grants from public funds but are also expected to seek commercial funding. The first tranche of Catapults were established in 2011.
21-612: Narec , since 2014 known as the National Renewable Energy Centre , is a part of the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult , a British technology innovation and research centre for offshore wind power , wave energy , tidal energy and low carbon technologies. ORE Catapult's head office is in Glasgow, Scotland. The centre operates multi-purpose offshore renewable energy test and demonstration facilities. It
42-463: A Compact Resonant Mass (CRM) system. ORE Catapult is working on a technique of blade testing known as "Dual Axis". ORE Catapult is involved in a number of European funded research projects including Tidal EC, Optimus and LIFES50+. Narec staff have written papers which have appeared in journals and international energy conferences. These are mainly in the subjects of photovoltaics, wind, marine, and electrical infrastructure. A short list of some of these
63-642: A five-year period, with a long-term funding split set out through a "thirds" model, to ensure neutrality and independence. The thirds model was recommended to reduce the Catapults' reliance on any part of the innovation ecosystem, with the ambition set out that one-third of funding comes from core grant funding, one-third comes from commercial funding, and one-third comes from collaborative (public and private) research & development funding. The centres operate as nine independent, private, not-for-profit businesses, brought together through collaboration, joint projects. As
84-649: A report following their inquiry, Catapults: bridging the gap between research and industry. The report stated Catapult Network is an integral part of the UK’s innovation system, and the R&;D roadmap envisages a key role for the Catapults in attracting increased private sector R&D investment. and made a series of recommendations to Innovate UK , UKRI and the then Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to reduce barriers to Catapult impact and maximise Catapults' potential to drive private investment. In April 2021,
105-557: A whole, they are referred to as the Catapult network. The Catapult Network appoints a Chair of the Network every year, chosen from one of the Catapult CEOs. The Chair's role is to represent the collective mission of the nine Catapult centres. Recent Chairs have included: The Catapult Network has been subject to various reviews, inquiries and reports since its inception. These have included
126-521: Is given below: Catapult centres In 2010, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills under Lord Mandelson (subsequently formed into the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and then merged into the current Department for Science, Innovation and Technology ) commissioned a report on technical innovation from Hermann Hauser , an entrepreneur who had been active in information technology since 1978. The report recommended
147-495: Is mostly devolved. Reserved and excepted matters are outlined below. Scotland Reserved matters: The Scottish Government Economy and Education Directorates handle devolved economic and further and higher education policy respectively. Northern Ireland Reserved matters: Excepted matter: The department's main counterparts are: Wales Under the Welsh devolution settlement, specific policy areas are transferred to
168-671: Is similar to other centres, such as NREL in the US and National Centre for Renewable Energies [ es ] (CENER) in Spain. The National Renewable Energy Centre is based in Blyth, Northumberland . Originally known as NaREC (New and Renewable Energy Centre), the centre was created in 2002 by One NorthEast , the North East regional development agency , as part of the Strategy for Success programme. In 2010
189-569: The Catapults' impact. They surveyed more than 300 businesses that had previously worked with Catapults and made a series of findings which demonstrated the Catapults' role in helping to drive business growth in the UK. In August 2018, the Government announced funding totalling £780 million to be provided to several of the centres, over the next five years. In November 2022, during the Autumn Statement,
210-740: The Government announced a 35% increase in funding for the nine Catapults, compared to the last 5-year funding cycle, totalling a £1.6 billion investment. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills King Charles III [REDACTED] William, Prince of Wales [REDACTED] Charles III ( King-in-Council ) [REDACTED] Starmer ministry ( L ) Keir Starmer ( L ) Angela Rayner ( L ) ( King-in-Parliament ) [REDACTED] Charles III [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] The Lord Reed The Lord Hodge Andrew Bailey Monetary Policy Committee The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills ( BIS )
231-965: The National Renewable Energy Centre now focuses on helping to de-risk and accelerate the development and commercialisation of the offshore renewable energy industry in the UK. The National Renewable Energy Centre is involved in: Product certification, verification and investigations for the next generation offshore wind turbines. 3MW and 15MW facilities that can perform independent performance and reliability assessments of full systems and components. UKAS accredited laboratories with specialist test and measurement facilities to help develop technologies needed for developing power systems and exploring life extension opportunities for ageing assets. Controlled onshore salt water location for all stages of technology development. Open access facility for testing, calibrating and verifying remote sensor technologies The Clothier Electrical Testing Laboratory
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#1732855357060252-706: The business. Spin-off companies include: Decerna – Working on energy efficiency, solar farm design, preparation of MW-scale battery sites, grid connection, and life-cycle assessment . The company was renamed from Narec Distributed Energy Limited in 2022. Solar Capture Technologies – Specialises on bespoke and novel solar photovoltaic systems, including off-grid systems. Renamed from Narec Solar in 2013. NCL Technology Ventures – A specialist healthcare investor, originally created by Narec and Ashberg Limited. Renamed from Narec Capital in 2013. Renewable Risk Advisers Limited – renamed from Narec Capital Risk Solutions Limited in 2012. Following its merger with ORE Catapult,
273-606: The establishment of a number of Technology and Innovation Centres to help bridge the gap between fundamental research and commercialisation. The UK Government subsequently funded Innovate UK (then the Technology Strategy Board and now part of UK Research and Innovation ) to establish what became known as the Catapult Network, setting up a total of nine centres between 2011 and 2018. The Catapults individually receive core grant funding from Innovate UK, approved for
294-482: The following: In November 2017, Ernst & Young published a report commissioned by the then Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy , following the completion of the first five-year funding cycle of the first centres established. This report made a series of recommendations to encourage Catapult performance and growth. In February 2021, the Science and Technology Committee (House of Lords) published
315-443: The organisation changed its name to Narec (National Renewable Energy Centre). In April 2014, the organisation merged with the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult to focus on the development and cost reduction of offshore wind, wave and tidal energy across the UK. The organisation was originally involved in a wide range of technologies, including: In 2010, due to UK government cutbacks, Narec closed, sold off or separated parts of
336-746: The original lab are now the property of Siemens . Built in 2004, this £5m facility contains a low voltage electrical laboratory for the testing of connecting renewable energy systems to the transmission and distribution grid. Some of the equipment and staff from the closed Narec Clothier Electrical Testing Laboratory were moved to this facility. This is a 27m high tower, for training of offshore wind technicians. Tests marine devices with three modified dry docks. Facilities that can perform independent performance and reliability assessments of full systems and components. The blade testing facilities at National Renewable Energy Centre are designed to test wind turbine blades up to 100m in length. Blades are tested using
357-566: The progress made against the original recommendations. In May 2023, the Enterprise Research Centre and Innovation Caucus (commissioned by Innovate UK) released two reports – Evaluating the medium-term business performance effects of engaging with Catapults and Catapulting Firms into the Innovation System: Analysing Local Knowledge Spillovers from Catapult Centres – based on research into
378-454: The then Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy published a Review of Catapults, confirming that Catapults play an important role in the R&D ecosystem and making 13 recommendations which prioritised greater collaboration between Catapults and an increased role for them in driving equality, diversity and inclusion and skills. This Review was updated in September 2023 to reflect
399-511: Was Sir Martin Donnelly . Some policies apply to England alone due to devolution , while others are not devolved and therefore apply to other nations of the United Kingdom . The department was responsible for UK Government policy in the following areas: Economic policy is mostly devolved but several important policy areas are reserved to Westminster . Further and higher education policy
420-672: Was a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom . It was created by the Gordon Brown premiership on 5 June 2009 by the merger of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform . It was disbanded by the Theresa May premiership on the creation of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 14 July 2016. The Permanent Secretary
441-468: Was opened in 1970 by A. Reyrolle & Company . Narec took over the facility in 2004, to use it to test the robustness of electrical infrastructure offshore locations to onshore sites. Although one of the few high voltage testing facilities in the world, the facility was closed by Narec in 2011 due to a lack of government funding. Many parts of the lab were relocated to Narec's main campus in Blyth. The ruins of
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