The Subsea UK Business Awards celebrated another announcement with the news that a subsea research institute is to be created in Aberdeen.
In late 2007, Subsea UK, as part of its 2020 vision, produced and distributed a glossy prospectus calling for a subsea Centre of Excellence here in the UK.
In response to the prospectus, three of Scotland’s leading universities revealed that they wish to create a Subsea Research Institute, as part of their overall agreement to establish a Northern Research Partnership (NRP) in engineering and related disciplines.
Millions of pounds are to be invested in the NRP, which is a joint venture involving Aberdeen, Dundee and the Robert Gordon Universities.
The Subsea Research Institute is expected to be based at Aberdeen University where laboratory space for subsea research and development will be created at their main engineering building.
Research interests and activities which already exist in support of the Subsea industry will be enhanced and expanded. Academics and industrialists have warmly welcomed the approach which should ensure that cutting edge, applied research is well informed by the needs and drivers of the industry itself.
The universities investment in subsea technologies was made clear late last year when both Robert Gordon University and Aberdeen University announced their new MSc courses in Subsea Engineering and there are also talks of introducing a degree programme focused on the subsea industry.