Funding Ocean Energy Technology Development Using Pre-Commercial Procurement and Stage-Gate Development Processes

Speakers:

Tim Hurst, Wave Energy Scotland

David Langston, Wave Energy Scotland

 Patrik Möller, CorPower Ocean

Pre-commercial procurement (PCP) is an increasingly popular methodology amongst public funding organisations. PCP involves issuing contracts for research and development services, rather than supporting innovation through grant schemes.  This allows public bodies to provide up to 100% funding whilst placing a greater level of duty on contractors than is possible through grant funding. As their effectiveness becomes more apparent, the use of PCP schemes is becoming more widespread in the ocean energy sector.

Stage-gate development processes are used to ensure that innovative technologies develop fully and at a suitable rate.  The use of such processes, often in conjunction with PCP methodologies, can be of great value to organisations looking to fund innovative technology development in the ocean energy sector.  Stage-gate development processes allow the continual assessment of competing technologies against established metrics and the selection of the best performing technologies for continued support and investment.

This webinar investigated the use and value of PCP and stage-gate development processes in funding bodies operating in the ocean energy sector.