Ian Phillips
Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence
What is an Entrepreneur in Residence?
The Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence programme funds individuals with entrepreneurial experience to encourage and support university staff and researchers and students to consider taking ideas to the market – often by spinning out companies. There are currently about 80 individuals across the UK in this role, of which there are five at the University of Aberdeen – two funded by the Royal Society, two honorary post holders who have stayed on after their Royal Society funding ended and one in the arts and social sciences (an area that the Royal Society doesn’t fund).
What is your background – and what do you plan to do?
I hold an MSc in Petroleum Engineering and an MBA and spent 25 years in the oil and gas industry, rising to the role of Project Director for a large gas field development.
In 1987 I and three colleagues set up the world's first company trying to do carbon capture and storage (CCS). Numerous government changes of heart meant that we had to pay our way by doing a wide range of energy transition consultancy. My final role before I retired was as Project Director of the Acorn CCS project based at St Fergus, north of Aberdeen.
My proposition to the university and the Royal Society was to do three things:
- Help lecturing staff to add energy transition knowledge and information to teaching programmes
- Present the challenges of the energy transition to researchers to help them identify new research opportunities
- Support individual academics, researchers and students to commercialise ideas and technologies – by licencing or by spinning out companies.
What is the best concert you have ever been to?
Bruce Springsteen at Wembley Stadium in 1986 – first time I saw one person have 80,000 people at his fingertips. Everyone singing along then going totally silent at the flick of his wrist - amazing feeling.
What’s your go-to coffee order?
Latte... And more recently decaff latte (for health reasons). Can't see why you’d add big dollops of sugary flavouring, whipped cream or any other contaminants!
What activity do you wish you were good at?
When I was a child I learned to play the cello – but didn’t continue it. I’d love to be able to play an instrument (and to be able to sing along – sadly I’m tone deaf).
What words of advice do you have for others?
The only person who really cares about you and your future is you – so look after yourself, be positive and be happy. And if you hate what you are doing then do something different.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Definitely a night owl – whilst I can get up if I have an appointment, I am really good at prevaricating in the morning, staying under the duvet as long a humanly possible. Conversely I am happy to work into the early hours if I have a deadline to meet.
5 March 2025