The North of Scotland Knowledge Transfer Partnership Centre has reached a major milestone by obtaining its 100th grant award.
Founded by the University of Aberdeen and The Robert Gordon University in 1996, the Centre has benefited companies and academics in the North East to the tune of £23M.
An Aberdeen Engineering company is the successful recipient of the 100th KTP award. CD Limited is receiving the award for its novel project which involves developing a laser-based solution to the problem of detecting and locating free-spans in subsea pipeline installations. This is where a pipeline has become suspended over the sea floor for some unintended reason such as from seabed erosion.
The project is of strategic importance to the development of CDL, which has a long history of innovative product development. The Company produces market leading products for broad application within the subsea sector. It has strong application knowledge of subsea technology, but is looking to the University of Aberdeen's School of Engineering to provide its expertise in laser technology. This knowledge will be applied to design and build an advanced laser based system to rapidly inspect subsea pipelines for free spans.
The KTP programme, a Government funded mechanism, provides companies with access to expertise within research institutions to work collaboratively on strategic business development programmes.
The 100th milestone will be marked with a special awards ceremony which is being held this evening (Monday, November 12) at the University. The event is being held in Elphinstone Hall and is being hosted by both universities to celebrate the past achievements as well as promote the vibrant future of KTPs at both institutions.
The University of Aberdeen and RGU plan to increase this number considerably by gaining further KTP grant awards in both current and new academic sectors.
Dr Debbie Buckley-Golder, KTP Programme Director, Alan Hendry, KTP Scotland Development Manager and Mr Neil Duncan, Regional KTP Adviser will be attending the event along with a number of members of staff from the North of Scotland KTP Centre. In total around 80 invited guests will be attending the Dinner.
CDL's project involves academic support from the School of Engineering at the University of Aberdeen - Dr Thanga Thevar, will manage the project on a daily basis, and will be supported by Professor John Watson and Dr David Hendry.
Colin Crichton CEO of CD Limited will be presented with a traditional Quaich at the awards ceremony for its second KTP project and Dr Thevar will also receive an award for being the lead academic involved in the project.
Professor Dominic Houlihan, Vice-Principal for Research & Commercialisation at the University of Aberdeen is pleased at the milestone being reached with the 100th KTP award. He said: "To reach our 100th Knowledge Transfer Partnership is a significant achievement for both the University of Aberdeen and The Robert Gordon University.
"Knowledge Transfer Partnerships are a fantastic way to help companies find the expertise they need to take projects of strategic importance forward. This is done by matching their needs directly with the knowledge available in universities and a high-flying recently qualified graduate will then be on-hand to manage the project on a day-to-day basis."
Professor Peter Robertson, Vice-Principal for Research & Commercialisation at The Robert Gordon University, said: "RGU's research strategy is very much focused on working in partnership with business to find solutions to real problems. The Knowledge Transfer Partnership fits in very well with this ethos in that it gives companies access to the expertise at both Aberdeen universities with the aim of bringing new products to market."
Dr Thevar added: "I am delighted to be involved in the 100th KTP award and look forward to working with CD Limited on developing our new technology. The Optical Engineering group within the School of Engineering at the University of Aberdeen has a proven pedigree in applying optics to problems in subsea technology and we warmly welcome industrial collaborations.
"I see KTP as an important enabling vehicle for the transfer of specialised academic knowledge to active and forward looking companies like CDL."