Join us as we launch The Skills Academy on 24th October 5.30pm – 8pm.
Register to attend now – https://shorturl.at/abgC4
Delivered in partnership by Dundee and Angus College and Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc, The Skills Academy is a national centre of excellence for skills development in renewable energy, sustainable mobility and decarbonisation.
The Skills Academy aims to inspire, educate and prepare the current and future workforce to support and accelerate the green recovery and Scotland’s just transition to Net Zero.
This event is designed to give you an insight into the training offer at The Skills Academy, as we formally launch the space to industry. Focused on supporting individuals and businesses to advance careers in the offshore and renewable industries, courses at The Skills Academy include wind training, electric ChargePoint installation, automation training, electric vehicle technician training, and heat pump installations.
At this event you will get to try out some of the kit yourself, have an opportunity to network with our team and others in the renewables industry and offer feedback on the skills gaps that affect you or your business.
Ten innovative young companies have been successful in applying to take part in Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc’s (MSIP) latest accelerator programme, committed to amplifying sustainable mobility and decarbonisation solutions.
MSIP, a joint venture between Michelin, Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise, is a dynamic and creative home for innovators, manufacturers and skills leaders who are actively working towards reducing carbon emissions and fostering a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Part funded by Scottish Enterprise and delivered by Skillfluence, the MSIP Accelerator has been specifically designed to help ambitious young companies who are developing new solutions in sustainable mobility and decarbonisation achieve a step-change in their business.
Skillfluence, experts in designing and delivering impactful start-up accelerator programmes, will provide a specialist programme to support Scotland’s Net-Zero carbon ambitions.
This is the fourth cohort of the MSIP Accelerator. The successful applicants are developing a range of future thinking products and services, including sustainable mobility technology, innovative climate action products and services, sustainable manufacturing technology, wind power, energy efficiency and biotech for net zero.
Cohort 4 commenced on 22 August and will primarily be delivered virtually, running for 12 weeks. The programme will provide participants with access to the skills, knowledge, networks and advice to enhance their overall solutions.
A number of participants will become the first users of MSIP’s newly launched Innovation Labs and will have first access to the soon to launch Innovation Hub.
The MSIP Accelerator is one of many initiatives MSIP is undertaking as part of its Innovation Programme, designed to underpin Scotland’s response to the global climate emergency.
The successful companies that have been selected include:
Other Way Climate Limited: Accelerating climate action in every journey and every vehicle.
Donaa Ltd: Donaa delivers a powerful AI tool to detect defects in real-time during 3D printing, enabling manufacturers to save costs and protect the environment.
BOABER by Innovate Rural: Boaber is an on-demand boat travel booking app using the power of AI to keep it live and current.
BioBright: Elevating Interiors with Algae Elegance – Enhancing Spaces, Oxygenating Lives, and Nurturing the Planet.
Copper & Carbon Ltd: IRIS- A powerful wind turbine which can speed up the NetZero ambition by controlling the wind flow, yielding better at low wind and operating beyond cutoff range.
Redbarn Group Ltd t/as ‘Veritherm‘: Decarbonising buildings and empowering sustainability by making measurement mainstream.
Recarbox: The Garage innovation that fits into any common car parking space and makes electric driving and safe parking accessible to anyone.
Well Spent Ltd: Upcycling Brewers Spent Grain into Healthy, Sustainable Snacks.
HydroTrux (Greenway Fuels): Drive CH2ange – Co-Combustion H2 kits made for fleets NOW!
Sarah Petrie, Innovation Director at Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc, said: “I’m so pleased to see the start of our fourth MSIP Accelerator programme.
“The purpose of the MSIP Accelerator programme is to help companies grow. The 31 companies that have participated to date have demonstrated some astounding progress.
“In the past 18 months alone, MSIP Accelerator companies closed equity investments totalling £1.08m and sales have increased by over £2m in the same period. Twenty of these companies have also received innovation grants to the value of £1.47m, and several have been recognised for their ground-breaking products and businesses.
“To have 10 new ambitious companies to work with and continue that level of impact, is incredibly exciting.”
Alison Gray, Founder and Director of Skillfluence Ltd, said: “We’re excited to collaborate with the Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc team to support this remarkable cohort of founders. They’re creating businesses poised to significantly benefit the world. Given the pressing climate challenges, their efforts, alongside MSIP’s, have gained unparalleled significance and we look forward to working with them to accelerate their impact.”
Suzanne Sosna, Director of Economic Opportunities and Climate at Scottish Enterprise said: “Green energy is a key sector of the future and, with sustainable mobility in particular being a crucial element, there are huge opportunities for innovative companies.
“It is fantastic to see the calibre of innovators we have coming forward in the Accelerator and really exciting to help them develop the ideas that will tackle the climate challenge.
“Supporting businesses to develop in this space is vital to ensuring we maximise their potential and the part they will play in a successful greener Scottish economy.”
Join us for an exclusive look inside our Innovation Labs building, where we will be staging one of our Labs and hosting a tour of the facility.
The Innovation Labs located at MSIP offer 14 workshops starting at 73sqm. These are designed for short-term, flexible project use, and offer shared amenities & spaces which are perfect for collaborating and socialising.
On the 29th of August we’ll be staging one of the Innovation Labs, giving you an opportunity to get an idea of what the space will look and feel like when in use. We’ll also be doing a show and tell of the equipment in the Maker Space to enable a better understanding of how an individual can make the most of this area.
This event is aimed at individuals from organisations looking for flexible R&D space, or can offer a product or service which can help small companies progress to the next level, having had access to the basics whilst occupying an Innovation Lab.
It will also be useful to those that support businesses, as a way to gain better insight into what the Innovation Labs can offer your audience.
The event will be split into a morning and afternoon session, where refreshments such as teas and coffees will be available.
Morning will run from 10:00 – 11:30
Afternoon will run from 2:00 – 3:30
To book a space, register here – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/innovation-labs-staging-and-facility-tour-tickets-689962023987?aff=oddtdtcreator
Making Scotland’s Future is a partnership designed to secure a strong, sustainable and successful future for Scotland’s manufacturing sector.
With one week to go until the Making Scotland’s Future Conference, we are reflecting on what this means to MSIP, and asking what does Making Scotland’s Future mean to you?
MSIP is a dynamic and creative home for innovators, manufacturers and skills leaders who are actively working towards reducing carbon emissions and fostering a cleaner, more sustainable future.
We understand the critical role we play in Making Scotland’s Future. That is why we are a sponsor of this years’ conference.
We are Making Scotland’s Future by enabling businesses working on new and emerging technology to thrive.
Okay, but how?
Our Innovation Labs offer short-term, flexible workshops that include a Makerspace, shared amenities and collaborative space. The idea of the Innovation Labs is to remove as many barriers for businesses to grow as possible. With nearly all of the Innovation Labs booked ahead of opening, we know there is a demand for this part of our offer.
We have also supported 31 companies through our successful MSIP Accelerator. In the past year, companies that have participated in this programme have secured £1.47m in innovation funding, £1.1m in equity investment and received product orders of over £2m. Those outputs, in part, reflect the impact of the MSIP Accelerator Programme.
We are Making Scotland’s Future by supporting Scottish manufacturing businesses to transition to net zero.
Okay, but how?
With available production units ranging from 80 sqms up to 10,000 sqms, we have enough space for businesses to grow and thrive. And that space is complimented with the supply of low carbon energy options, delivered from sustainable sources.
As well as being competitive with regards to cost and an attractive low carbon option, this also offers energy resilience at a time when future certainty is needed more than ever.
We are Making Scotland’s Future by meeting the skills needs of industry.
Okay, but how?
At MSIP we want to help industry continue to grow, thrive and lead with a competitive edge.
The Skills Academy, delivered in partnership with Dundee and Angus College and located at the Innovation Parc, is a national centre of excellence for skills development in renewable energy, sustainable mobility and decarbonisation.
As well as that direct skills and training provision, we can also enable a lower total cost of operation for businesses based at the Innovation Parc, by connecting them with free recruitment support.
We are Making Scotland’s Future by helping, supporting and guiding businesses.
Okay, but how?
Through our established network, we help businesses access funding and investment, to develop their products and technology further and quicker.
We have the tools to support businesses and help them get to the next level, including identifying investment, signposting research and development opportunities, and enabling collaboration.
We are Making Scotland’s Future by creating a place where collaboration can happen.
Okay, but how?
With active collaborative partnerships between universities, companies, investors and industry bodies, our Innovation Hub (scheduled to open in November) will be the place for innovators, manufacturers and academia to come together, to find new and exciting answers to today’s problems.
With hot desks, flexible meeting and events space, design labs, a digital suite, demonstration space and business support services, this will be the hub of all activity at the Innovation Parc.
Scotland has always been at the forefront of industrial evolution. This next chapter is a challenge. At MSIP, we are a core part of facing that challenge head on.
As Scotland’s Home for Innovation, we are Making Scotland’s Future.
Are you?
To join the discussion and attend the Making Scotland’s Future Conference, click here.
On the 26th and 27th of April 2023, I had the opportunity to complete my Sixth Form College’s mandatory work experience at Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP), Dundee. Over the course of the two days I experienced a range of activities in the Innovation Parc.
First, I visited MVV Baldovie: an incinerator just outside MSIP which will supply the entirety of the Innovation Parc with heat, using waste heat from the burning of waste. This is a great way to reduce the waste heat coming out of the incinerator by using it for something useful, highlighting that the entire Innovation Parc is built around the concept of sustainability.
Next, I was taken on a tour of SolarisKit, one of the tenants, an innovative company who are developing a device that can harness solar energy to heat up water, without using electricity- reducing costs of using water whilst also lowering carbon emissions. I will admit I had almost no grasp on how these “solar collectors” actually worked, but I was blown away by the results: on a day when the Sun is shining, the solar collector can heat up water to 50 degrees Celsius. When I asked why SolarisKit located at MSIP, they talked about the collaborative environment of the Innovation Parc, and that different companies are encouraged to share ideas and work on projects together.
Finally, I had a tour around the entire site with Greig Coull, the CEO. After getting the tour I realised just how much MSIP pushes collaboration between companies, breeding more innovative ideas. We first visited the under-construction Innovation Hub. The Hub will contain many facilities to help new companies gain funding from investors. My favourite area of the Hub was the large showcase floor, where companies can show off their innovative products to try and secure funds from investors. The Innovation Hub is due for completion at the end of this Autumn, and I’m looking forward to seeing pictures of the finished building. We also visited the new Innovation Lab. The Innovation Lab is a sort of open plan lab split into lots of different segments for different companies wanting to develop new products. The open plan nature of the Labs work brilliantly to further drive collaboration in the Innovation Parc as companies can see all the different products being researched around them and work together to create new and exciting things.
Though my time at MSIP was brief, I experienced a wide range of activities that made me get a feel for working life. I think the words that came out of my mouth the most while here was “that’s amazing”- because it is. All of the aspects of the Innovation Parc I saw over the last two days were fascinating and I know many great things will come out of this place. MSIP is absolutely ideal for small companies with big ideas as the ethos of the Innovation Parc is centered around working together to achieve greater heights. I would like to thank everyone involved in making my time here as enjoyable as it was- I had an absolute blast! If actual working life is as fun as it is here, maybe it won’t be too bad!
The topping out of Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc’s (MSIP) flagship Innovation Hub has taken place in Dundee today.
The Innovation Hub is a key part of MSIP’s regeneration of a former manufacturing facility into an Innovation Parc focused on tackling climate change, that will provide a focal point to the Innovation Parc.
Dundee City Council secured £3.5M of funding to support the Innovation Hub from the Tay Cities Deal Industrial Investment Fund. The project has also been funded by Scottish Enterprise and Michelin.
MSIP, a joint venture between Michelin, Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise, is a world-class Innovation Parc in Dundee for sustainable mobility and decarbonisation, which aims to drive growth and diversity in the Scottish economy whilst addressing the global climate emergency.
The Innovation Hub has been built with its carbon footprint in mind, with a Glulam (glued laminated timber) and CLT (cross laminated timber) structure used in place of a conventional steel construction, saving an estimated 715 tonne of carbon dioxide.
Both materials used are a natural alternative to steel, concrete, and plasterboard, and are manufactured off-site to precise size specifications, resulting in very little to no waste in the construction phase.
The use of these natural materials from sustainably managed forests reduces the buildings carbon footprint in two ways. Firstly, less carbon dioxide is generated during the production of Glulam and CLT than conventional building materials. Secondly, the use of wood as the principal building material locks away the carbon it contains for the lifetime of the building.
The Innovation Hub is located at the main entrance to the Innovation Parc, creating a space to support and drive collaboration and innovation. Core facilities include co-working space, flexible meeting and events space, design labs and a range of business support services.
The Innovation Hub is due for completion by October 2023.
Colin McIlraith, Chief Operating Officer, MSIP said: “This is a significant moment for MSIP, marking once again the amount of progress we have made at the Innovation Parc in the 2 years since we took over stewardship of the Innovation Parc.
“The Innovation Hub sits at the core of our mission at MSIP, to create a place where industry, academia and government can come together and thrive, to enable the growth and advancement of the sustainable mobility and decarbonisation industries.
“With the physical structure now in place, and construction continuing at pace, I look forward to welcoming innovators, businesses, learners and the community into this remarkable building later this year.”
Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive Adrian Gillespie said: “The Innovation Hub will help cultivate a culture of innovation and collaboration which will see MSIP play a vital role in making Scotland a global leader in sustainable mobility. “
“I am excited to see the Innovation Hub become a focal point for businesses, academics and researchers at MSIP to work together on developing, testing and commercialising new products and services for a sustainable, low carbon future.”
Dundee City Council Leader, Councillor John Alexander, said: “This is another important milestone in the transformation of the former Michelin site, and it’s fantastic to see the progress that has been made.
“Driving innovation in low-carbon transport and sustainable mobility is at the heart of the MSIP mission, and I look forward to the creativity and collaboration this new facility fosters playing a part not only in creating jobs and prosperity but also helping to address the global climate emergency.”
Kevin Dickson, Regional Managing Director, Robertson Construction Tayside, said: “The commitment made by MSIP to regenerate the site is clearly demonstrated through the Innovation Hub, the selection of materials reflects the aspirations that are being delivered throughout the project and how the facility will be used in the coming years.
“Decarbonisation is a key element in addressing the climate emergency and the end use of the Parc will place Dundee at the centre of innovation and collaboration to make positive changes that will benefit both the economy and the environment.
“We are proud to be continuing our relationship with MSIP and to celebrate this significant milestone in the delivery of the Innovation Hub.”
Details on the programme for our Demonstrator and Showcase 9th March event are below:
Doors open – 9am
Breakfast and Networking
MORNING SESSION
10am – 10.30am
Welcome address
Greig Coull, CEO, Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc
Ministerial address
10.40am – 11.30am
Panel session: Innovation and technology in 2023, and ensuring we have the skills to keep up
- Sarah Petrie, Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (lead panellist)
- Stuart Jackson, Transport Scotland,
- Stewart McKinlay, National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland
Workshop 1: ‘Efficient Technology Innovation and Qualification’ led by Astrimar
Workshop 2: ‘How do we flexibly Manage Energy Demand?’ led by Mike Thususka, Summerside
Tour of MSIP Innovation Labs
11.40am – 12.30pm
Plenary: Phil Steele, Future Technology Evangelist, Octopus Energy facilitated by tbc
Workshop 1: DER-IC led, title tbc
Workshop 2: Zero Emission Truck Task Force led, title tbc
Tour of MSIP Innovation Labs
12.30PM – 1.20PM
Lunch and networking
AFTERNOON SESSION
1.20pm – 1.30pm
Welcome back – Greig Coull, CEO, Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc
1.40pm – 2.30pm
Panel session: New Technology for new behaviours, mobility in 2023 – facilitated by tbc
- Sebastien Thomas, Tripshift
- Hugh MacKenzie, Trojan Energy
- David Hamilton, Scooply
- Tbc, Cosortiq
Workshop 1: ‘De-risking innovation in your business’ led by Will Mitchell, 4C Design
Workshop 2: ‘Building IP Strategies that secure investment’ led by Veronika Brázdová, Potter Clarkson
Tour of MSIP Innovation Labs
2.40pm – 3.30pm
Panel session: ‘Enabling innovation – MSIP Accelerator Showcase’, facilitator tbc
- Tronius
- Carruthers Renewables
- Vahanomy
- CalPac Resources
- Kinetic Hydro
- Laidir Circular Mobility
Workshop 1: ‘5G Enabled Energy Innovation Workshop’, led by Kirsty Scott, Scotland 5G Centre
Workshop 2: ‘Skills for Decarbonising Transport’, led by Stuart Jackson, Transport Scotland
Tour of MSIP Innovation Labs
3.40pm – 4.30pm
Reflection on the day: Sarah Petrie, Innovation Director, Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc
Keynote: Ian Houston, President, Scottish Business Network US/SBN Ambassador Washington, DC
Final remarks: Greig Coull, CEO, Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc
4.30pm – 5pm
Final networking
Close of event
Tickets can be purchased here – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/506077249677
Five companies have been awarded funding as part of Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc’s (MSIP) second Innovation Challenge.
MSIP and partners The Data Lab, Censis and Dundee City Council, are providing project funding of over £86,000, towards a total project cost of over £136,000.
MSIP, a joint venture between Michelin, Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise, is a world-class Innovation Parc in Dundee for sustainable mobility and decarbonisation, which aims to drive growth and diversity in the Scottish economy whilst addressing the global climate emergency.
MSIP’s Innovation Challenge 2 aims to provide grant funding to companies seeking to develop and demonstrate innovative new models for personal transport and commuting whilst addressing the Scottish Government’s challenging Net Zero targets for transport.
A competitive funding call was launched in September 2022, resulting in 13 applications, which have been narrowed down to four funded projects from five companies.
As part of the funding, the successful companies will have access to space at MSIP’s soon to launch Innovation Labs.
The funding awarded will allow the successful companies to test, prototype and demonstrate technologies focused on new sustainable transport options including e-bikes powered by solar; an electric vehicle and hydrogen refuelling system; development of an electric vehicle with the innovative capacity to yield energy to the grid; and mobile electric vehicle charging technology.
All projects are due to start by April 2023.
Sarah Petrie, Innovation Director, MSIP said: “I’m excited to announce that we are funding a further four projects through our Innovation Challenge 2.
“Through MSIP’s Innovation Programme we want to support early-stage companies that will benefit from additional support to test, develop and demonstrate innovative ideas into viable products that can be taken to market.
“This kind of funding is critical to achieving the ambitious net zero targets set in Scotland, which is why it is a core part of our Innovation Programme at MSIP.”
Brian Hills, CEO, The Data Lab said “Data science is already helping us to understand climate change and develop technologies to support the transition to net zero.
“We’re looking forward to seeing these projects get started, which have the potential to change the way we think about transport.
“Normally we think of greener transport options as vehicles with a lower carbon footprint, but to be able to demonstrate transport options that actually generate energy back to the grid could be game-changing.”
Councillor John Alexander, leader of Dundee City Council, said: “The four projects selected display the kind of creativity and innovation that is going to be required to address the global climate emergency.
“The work undertaken through this Challenge will help to further both MSIP and Dundee’s reputation as being at the forefront of new, greener transport technologies. I look forward to seeing each of projects develop and wish them every success.”
Projects selected for MSIP Innovation Challenge 2 funding are:
Frisco Project Management Consultancy Services Limited: the Frisco e-Bikes and the Frisco Solar Docks harness the use of solar power, to wirelessly recharge e-Bikes, at Docking Stations with solar panels.
OTG1821 and Tronius: a collaboration to develop a portable EV charging and hydrogen refueler system. The new product will be named the “GINIUS”Pod and respond to the increasing demand for accessible EV charging and lack of hydrogen fuelling locations.
IC2EV: MH2G will convert an existing motorhome running on fossil fuels into a 100% electric vehicle with the innovative capacity to yield energy to the grid through V2G technology controlled by IC2EV’s evBrain software.
4SB Mobility Ltd: an attachable, swappable, ‘jerry can’ battery that connects directly to an electric vehicles main battery.
We will hold our next Demonstrator and Showcase Event at MSIP on 9 March.
At this event we will transform one of its largest industrial spaces (10,000 m2) into a showcase of the sustainable mobility and decarbonisation industry in Scotland.
With panel sessions, workshops, in the round discussions and demonstrators and exhibitors, well as interactive activities throughout the day, and an anticipated audience of over 300, this is an event that can’t be missed!
You can find out more information about the opportunities to get involved here – https://www.msipdundee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSEvent-2023-Sales-Brochure.pdf
To book a space complete the exhibitor form here – https://forms.monday.com/forms/dd1227279a3925107785921c672e43b2?r=use1
Tickets include catering for the day and can be reserved here – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/demonstrator-and-showcase-event-9-march-tickets-506077249677
Hello! My name is Amy and I joined the team at MSIP as the marketing intern back in June, having just finished my fourth year at Abertay University studying Business Management. This post will be a summary of my time at MSIP so far, and some of my highlights!
But before that, here is a little bit about me: I’m 22 years old, originally from Kelso (Scottish Borders) but have lived in Dundee for the past 4 years while at university. You would think that I would be familiar with the East Coast slang by now but since working at the office, I’ve been guilty of regularly Googling Dundee slang after conversations – my most recent search was baffies (which are slippers if you’re like me and were unsure).
When I’m not at work I enjoy playing hockey, and currently play for one of the local clubs called Monarchs.
I was made aware of the internship by one of my university module leaders, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to gain some experience within an area of business I’ve never worked in before.
Now that I have been at MSIP for a few months I can safely say that it has been! I’ve had the chance to be part of the planning process for numerous events, my favourite so far being the first regional STEM Expo. We had approximately 440 pupils from 15 Dundee and Angus schools visit the new Skills Academy, to participate in a wide variety of interactive activities organised by the exhibitors, and after the end of the second day it was great to hear all the positive feedback from pupils, teachers and the exhibitors! I’m also really looking forward to helping organise the MSIP Showcase Event in March having heard how highly everyone speaks of the previous one, which was hosted last November.
In addition to events, I have been able to see the thought process behind marketing campaigns and social media posts, which is a lot more intense than people might think!
It’s also fair to say I’m now an expert in building/dismantling QUICKBLOCK, which we use for furniture and to build our stage for events.
Although I am primarily involved with marketing there have been numerous opportunities for me to grow and develop other skills, such as basic accountancy. I have been able to help process invoices and purchase orders coming into the business with the expert guidance from the finance department. I’m also currently participating in a Climate Solutions Course through work, and I’m looking to use this to be able to review current processes at the Parc and see where we can improve in terms of sustainability.
Overall, I have learned so much already having only worked at MSIP for a short period of time and been able to put knowledge from university into practise during work. I’m very grateful for everyone passing on their expertise and making me feel like part of the team from my first day!