A key figure in driving the North Sea oil and gas industry has hailed the City Region Deal as offering the north-east a “unique opportunity” to create a new breed of “brave” leaders.
Colette Cohen, chief executive of the newly-created Oil and Gas Technology Centre (OGTC), said the sector had historically been too “cautious” when it came to developing technology.
She said more courageous leadership was now needed to maximise economic recovery from UK waters and turn the north-east into a powerhouse for innovation.
“It takes courage to take on and recognise new ways of working. That’s what comes with being first,” Ms Cohen said, as she called for a breed of sector leaders who are “brave, courageous and committed”.
The transfer of the first £4million of funds from the agreement with the UK and Scottish governments was announced at a signing ceremony in the Granite City yesterday.
Speaking at the event, Ms Cohen said the signing was a “landmark” for the north-east and called for industry to capitalise on the opportunities the region deal presented.
Sir Ian Wood, chairman of private sector economic development body Opportunity North East (ONE), said the OGTC was part of a new and exciting phase for the region.
Sir Ian said the OGTC would make Aberdeen a “leader in mature basin technology” and anchor parts of the oil industry supply chain in the region “post the North Sea”.
Ms Cohen was grateful for the support received from ONE and Scottish Enterprise since she took over in September.
But she emphasised that the OGTC needed cash to press ahead with its goal of becoming the oil and gas industry’s “go to” technology centre.
Ms Cohen, previously a senior vice-president at Centrica, said she hoped to boost the headcount at the OGTC’s Queen’s Road base in Aberdeen from 12 to 30 by the start of next year.
The OGTC is expected to officially launch in February 2017.
It will strive to “create a culture of innovation, an attitude that embraces technology and leaders who are willing to think differently,” Ms Cohen said.
Economy Secretary Keith Brown said: “This multi-million pound deal will support Aberdeen’s position as a global oil and gas hub, and it’s fantastic to see the first tangible results of our investment through funding for OGTC, which will help companies develop new products and processes that can reduce costs in the sector.”