Offshore Wind Place Based Impact Accelerator Account (PBIAA)
What is the PBIAA funding programme?
The UK Government-backed body’s UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) made a £2.5 million innovation funding award under its Place Based Impact Acceleration Account (PBIAA) scheme, to the University of Edinburgh, the University of Dundee and the Forth & Tay Offshore cluster.
It will leverage the expertise of both universities and the FTO cluster to address critical challenges in offshore wind technology, fostering innovations that will drive sustainable energy solutions and further strengthen Scotland’s position as a global leader in offshore wind.
The East coast of Scotland is viewed as the ideal location from which to run the programme, as it is currently home to the majority of Scotland’s offshore wind farms which are in various stages of development. It also boasts a rich diversity of supply chain companies, from developers to SMEs supported by world-class infrastructure, with a diverse range of ports and Forth Green Freeport – now open for business – all within the region.
About the Partners
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Lead Civic Partner Forth & Tay Offshore Academic Partners The University of Edinburgh and the University of Dundee
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Named partners at application
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How long does it run for?
It’s a four year programme running from April 2025 until 2029.
What is an Impact Accelerator Account?
- Impact acceleration accounts (IAAs) are strategic awards providing funding to research organisations to use creatively for a wide range of impact activities after fundamental research has been completed.
- Normally given to UK Universities who have a significant research portfolio.
- They allocate funds to researchers competitively for:
- Collaborative projects – develop impact from EPSRC early-stage research outputs through collaborative projects with industry e.g. use research, research expertise or research facilities to solve a real world problem with an external organisation
- Secondments – can be inward or outward with the emphasis on transferring and exchanging knowledge e.g. use researchers to solve a real world problem in an external organisation
- Commercialisation projects – translate new ideas, discoveries or inventions arising from your research into commercial solutions e.g. develop IP from research, and test its usefulness and value
- Funds buy University researcher or facility time; often co-funding
What projects have been identified so far?
We’re looking to collaborate with offshore wind suppliers and innovators who have potential solutions to real-world challenges, including:
Improving substructure design, manufacturing, assembly, and installation for Forth & Tay wind farms and ports.
Enhancing moorings and anchor systems for local seabed conditions.
Supporting sustainable deployment by addressing social, economic, and environmental non-price factors.
Achieving net positive biodiversity impacts, including through permitting and consenting.
Advancing logistics for investigation, installation, monitoring, and maintenance.
Creating more effective community benefit schemes for the Forth & Tay region.
If you have an idea but need help to develop it further, this is your chance to work with leading university researchers and access funding and support to bring your solution to life.
How can you get involved?
To find out more or get involved, please contact pbiaa-offshore@ed.ac.uk
We are interested in having conversations with your organisations:
- Which areas would your organisations be interested in?
- Which member organisations in your network would be interested?
- How can this EPSRC resource be leveraged by other funds?
We are interested in your guidance:
- Participation in Advisory Board
- Help us prioritise funds and timings
- Help us allocate external projects
Find out more in the introduction pack.
Latest Updates:
£2.5 Million UKRI Place-Based Impact Accelerator Funding Programme Officially Launched at Edinburgh Futures Institute
Launch event on 30 May at Edinburgh Futures Institute
The Universities of Edinburgh and Dundee, in collaboration with Forth & Tay Offshore, have officially launched a £2.5 million UKRI-funded innovation programme designed to drive advancements in Scotland’s offshore wind sector. The launch event, held on 29 and 30 May at the stunning Edinburgh Futures Institute, brought together academia, industry leaders, and policymakers to foster collaboration and accelerate innovation.
The two-day event kicked off on 29 May with an academic roundtable, where university partners and expert researchers gathered to explore potential projects and discuss meaningful ways to engage with industry. This was followed by an exclusive industry engagement dinner, where selected partners were introduced to the funding programme through a concise presentation, leading to valuable networking and productive discussions.
Strengthening Industry-Academic Collaboration
The formal industry launch on 30 May attracted around 70 attendees, offering organisations key insights into the programme’s objectives and opportunities. Academic leads presented the initiative’s vision, outlining how businesses can participate and benefit. A highlight of the event was the showcase of existing collaborations between universities and offshore wind sector stakeholders, demonstrating the power of research-driven industry partnerships.
Discussions underscored significant potential for the offshore wind supply chain, particularly for businesses based in the Forth and Tay region or those actively partnering with local industry. The networking segment of the event helped strengthen connections, facilitating engagement across key stakeholders.
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