The £5 million funding, part of the Defence Growth Deal, will support technology development in Scotland’s marine and advanced manufacturing sectors. This funding will specifically focus on skills development and innovation at the Arrol Gibb Innovation Campus (AGIC), which operates both virtually and physically at Rosyth Docks in Fife. AGIC, established in 2022, aims to foster collaboration between industry, academia, and government to accelerate innovation and automation within the marine, shipbuilding, and renewable energy sectors.
AGIC’s first facility, located at Rosyth, is the University of Edinburgh’s FastBlade, the world’s first test facility using regenerative hydraulic technology. This facility offers low-cost, high-quality fatigue testing for lightweight composite structures, helping to advance research and product development. The campus is backed by key partners, including Babcock International, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Strathclyde, Fife College, Fife Council, the Royal Navy, Scottish Enterprise, and Skills Development Scotland.
The new funding adds to £25 million in UK Government seed funding unlocked by the Forth Green Freeport in January, aimed at the reindustrialisation of Edinburgh, Fife, and Falkirk. The Freeport initiative, a collaboration of public and private entities, is focused on advancing green technologies, alternative fuels, and renewable energy manufacturing in the region.
Professor Graham Wren, Chair of the AGIC Steering Group at the University of Strathclyde, welcomed the new investment, noting it will enhance existing programs and drive innovation for both Scottish and UK industries. The funding will support skills development and training, benefiting suppliers, SMEs, and the broader maritime sector. Additionally, Professor Guangzhao Mao of the University of Edinburgh emphasized the role of their institution in contributing expertise in advanced manufacturing, materials, and data science to support AGIC’s goals.
Dr. Susan Bodie, Head of Innovation Development and Licensing at Edinburgh Innovations, highlighted the role of AGIC in fostering new technologies and creating high-quality jobs. The FastBlade facility, in particular, plays a vital role in testing composite materials for large-scale structures that are essential to UK supply chains in shipbuilding, marine, and renewable energy industries.
