Oil tycoon Sir Ian Wood will today kick-start funding for a new £8million Aberdeen-based oil and gas institute with a £500,000 donation to Robert Gordon University.
The university will announce plans later today to establish the International Institute for Oil and Gas as part of its new oil and gas strategy.
The institute will work with industry to deliver high quality oil and gas training and research for the sector.
RGU principal, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, will today outline the university’s plans to invest £8million over the next five years to bring leading experts in oil and gas to Aberdeen.
“The university has an international reputation for focused and relevant engagement with industry,” said Professor Prondzynski.
“This investment, which reflects RGU’s priority commitment to oil and gas, will secure for the north-east of Scotland high value expertise that will support the industry in exploiting the oil reserves in the UK continental shelf and in building up innovation and enterprise in the supply chain.”
The key areas of focus for the institute are: brownfield development through enhanced oil recovery, asset integrity, subsea engineering and decommissioning; unconventional oil and gas; leadership; industry collaboration; oil and gas finance and economics, and applied offshore healthcare.
Sir Ian said: “It is essential for both the UK and Aberdeen’s future growth and prosperity that we maximise recovery of our offshore oil and gas.
“The creation of RGU’s new Oil and Gas Institute will provide an important focus for the sector.
“It will attract and develop expertise in key areas such as exploration, infrastructure, regional hub development, production efficiency, improved and enhanced oil recovery, and decommissioning at a critical time in the development of the North Sea.”
A director will be appointed to lead the institute; their primary focus will be engagement with industry and management of the university’s oil and gas research agenda.
Watch a video interview with Professor Prondzynski on www.energyvoice.com
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