Andrew Aveyard

Business Development Lead for Energy, the University of Edinburgh @Edinburgh Innovations

I am the primary point of contact for Energy related research and commercial engagement at the University of Edinburgh. I help develop Energy projects and research across the University in areas including; Energy Network System Integration, Energy Storage, Hydrogen, CCS, CCU, Net Zero, Techno-economic analysis, Energy Policy, Energy Efficiency, Wave & Tidal Energy, Floating Wind & Solar, and Wind Energy. I am responsible for: identification of projects with commercial benefits, development of strategic opportunities, fostering of partnerships with industry, initiating knowledge exchange, fostering mutually beneficial research collaborations and partnerships, understanding and leveraging research funding, negotiation of commercial terms, implementing contracts, and commercialization. I maintains close partnerships with industry, the UK’s Research Councils, Innovation UK’s Knowledge Transfer Network, Scottish Enterprise, ORE Catapult Centres and Innovation Centres. I am developing a 10 year strategic plan including investigation and foresighting into the key research areas, to ensure the Energy Research within UoE is in the optimal position to be successful long term. I help connect industry with the Universities Research Facilities including; FloWave, tidal, wave and floating wind test facility, Fastblade tidal blade fatigue testing and Power Lab Innovation Centres. I work with academics to help them work use their innovative ideas to spin out commercial companies. I also collaborate with Industrial partners, helping them commercialise their innovative ideas, by introducing them to key academics who help refine and develop the idea to develop a commercial product.