Belfast Harbour is to become a live environment for testing the
next generation of zero-emission transport and energy systems
through a £15m investment announced by Economy Minister Dr .
The funding comes from UK Research and Innovation's (UKRI) Local
Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF) and is the second project
announced from the £30million allocation to the Belfast-Derry
Innovation Corridor.
The Zero Emissions Transport and Energy Cluster (ZETEC), led by
Artemis Technologies, will connect electric vessels, high-power
marine charging, autonomous transport and energy systems through
secure digital twin technology.
Testing these technologies together in an operational port
setting will generate evidence on how they perform as an
integrated system and help reduce barriers to commercial
adoption.
Minister Archibald said: This £15m investment is a
significant boost for our growing zero-emission transport and
energy sector. By bringing together expertise in advanced
manufacturing, clean energy, digital technologies and cyber
security, ZETEC will help turn cutting-edge innovation into
practical, commercially viable solutions.
Supporting innovation and accelerating the development of new
technologies is central to building a more productive and
sustainable economy, creating new economic opportunities and
strengthening our position in these important industries.
LIPF is a central pillar of the British government's commitment
to achieve growth in every postcode. It brings together local
leaders, businesses and research organisations to build on
regional strengths to create new jobs, drive innovation-led
productivity, and attract further public and private investment
into communities across the UK.
UKRI Chief Executive Professor Sir Ian Chapman said: ZETEC
is a critical Local Innovation Partnerships Fund project in
Northern Ireland to bring clean transport to market faster by
reducing risks and supporting the adoption of electric and
autonomous technologies.
This builds on local strengths and knowledge to advance
knowledge, improve lives and drive growth.
Dr Iain Percy OBE, CEO of Artemis Technologies, commented: We've
always focused on turning innovative technologies into practical
solutions that deliver real-world impact.
Through ZETEC, we're collaborating with leading partners to
demonstrate how electric vessels, charging infrastructure and
digital technologies can work together to support the transition
to cleaner, more efficient transport."
Notes to editors
1. LIPF is a flagship UK government programme, delivered through
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), investing £500 million to
strengthen innovation economies across the UK. It is a central
pillar of the government's commitment to achieve growth in every
postcode. It brings together local leaders, businesses and
research organisations to build on regional strengths, create new
jobs, drive innovation-led productivity and attract further
public and private investment into communities across the
UK.
2. The project is led by Artemis Technologies. Delivery partners
include Belfast Harbour, Digital Catapult / UK Digital Twin
Centre, the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre and the
Centre for Secure Information Technologies.
3. The project was approved by the local LIPF Innovation Panel,
comprising representatives from academia, industry and
government.
4. About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)- Its mission is to
advance knowledge, to improve lives and to deliver growth. They
are the largest public funder of research and innovation in the
UK, with an annual budget of around £9bn. It is composed of seven
disciplinary research councils, Innovate UK and Research England.
www.ukri.org
