AIRTO is pleased to announce a new partnership with OGTC, which will hold a management contract to run its operations following a successful tender process. The new partnership aims to strengthen cross-disciplinary collaboration across the Innovation, Research & Technology sector in support of delivering the UK’s Industrial Strategy and accelerating the transition towards Net Zero.
AIRTO – Association of Innovation, Research and Technology Organisations – is the principal membership body for the UK’s Innovation, Research and Technology (IRT) sector. The IRT sector has a combined turnover of £6.9Bn, employing over 57,000 scientific and technical staff (equivalent to the academic staffing of the Russell Group of universities) and, for comparison, it is significantly larger than the network of Fraunhofer Institutes in Germany both in size and its scope of activities. The sector contributes £34Bn to UK GDP. AIRTO’s members work at the interface between academia and industry, for both private and public sector clients. Members include independent Research and Technology Organisations, Catapult Centres, Public Sector Research Establishments, National Laboratories, some university Technology Transfer Offices and some privately held innovation companies. Learn more about AIRTO…
OGTC, which has been a member of AIRTO since 2016, works to develop and deploy technology to accelerate the transition to an affordable net zero North Sea. OGTC invests in partnership with industry, local and national government, and academia to address major energy challenges, working across a range of sectors from renewables to manufacturing. People and technical innovation are at the heart of what OGTC does. Learn more about OGTC…
OGTC is succeeding as the management contract provider from fellow AIRTO member NPL, The National Physical Laboratory which has held the contract since the end of 2010. Key staff, including AIRTO’s Executive Director, Jane Gate, and Executive Administrator, Shelley Sharma, are continuing in their roles.
Commenting on the new partnership, which is effective from 1 January 2021, AIRTO’s Chair and CEO of NNL, Paul Howarth FREng, said:
”I am delighted that AIRTO is entering into this new relationship with OGTC and look forward to working together to champion the UK’s Innovation, Research & Technology sector – which has critical roles to play in delivering the UK’s Industrial Strategy, developing essential innovations in technology to help us lead the world in reaching Net Zero and aiding our national economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.”
OGTC’s CEO, Colette Cohen, said:
“OGTC is committed to a net zero future for the UK, this new partnership with AIRTO will enable better cross sector collaboration focused on the delivery of that goal. Working together to accelerate UK-based investment in technology development and innovation targeting low carbon solutions, net zero technologies and alternative fuels – positioning the UK as a leader in the energy transition.”
AIRTO President, Steve Yianni FREng, commented:
“NPL has supported AIRTO superbly during its tenure, and we are very grateful for the contribution NPL has made to the evolution of our community. We look forward to continuing to advance our mission to support and champion the IRT sector for our members in partnership with OGTC.”
Notes for editors
About AIRTO
AIRTO is the Association of Innovation, Research and Technology Organisations. Its membership comprises approximately sixty of the principal organisations operating in the UK’s Innovation, Research and Technology (IRT) sector. The IRT sector has a combined
turnover of £6.9Bn, employing over 57,000 scientific and technical staff (equivalent to the academic staffing of the Russell Group of universities) and, for comparison, it is significantly larger than the network of Fraunhofer Institutes in Germany both in size and its scope of activities. The sector contributes £34Bn to UK GDP. AIRTO’s members work at the interface between academia and industry, for both private and public sector clients.
Members include independent Research and Technology Organisations, Catapult Centres, Public Sector Research Establishments, National Laboratories, some university Technology Transfer Offices and some privately held innovation companies.
For further information, please contact:
enquiries@airto.co.uk
