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24 July 2009 An exciting marine renewable energy project in which the University of Plymouth is a partner has received £10.3m in research funding announced today, Thursday 2 July. The announcement is a major boost for the South West’s ambition to be a global centre for harnessing energy from the sea. The bulk of the investment - £5.3m - has come from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Convergence Programme in Cornwall. The Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE), set up two years ago by the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter with funding from the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), will use the cash to support its team of world-class academics and researchers, buy new equipment and collaborate with business. Match funding comes from SWRDA (£4.3m), the University of Plymouth (£200,000k) and the University of Exeter (£466,000k) and there is further investment from the ERDF Competiveness Programme in the rest of the South West. The funding will support PRIMaRE’s 15 world-class academic staff, 60 researchers and a dedicated technology transfer team that works with businesses to support high-quality job creation across the South West. There will be substantial investment in new equipment, including wave and tidal measuring devices, wave-making facilities, subsea electrical equipment, collision avoidance and monitoring equipment, and research into the environmental impact and benefits of marine renewable energy. PRIMaRE will support and complement SWRDA’s pioneering Wave Hub project, which will create the world’s largest wave energy farm ten miles off the Cornish coast and is on course to be built next year. Professor Wendy Purcell, University of Plymouth Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor, said: “This new funding recognises the very substantial expertise in marine energy, research, development and innovation now present in the South West and provides additional support for engaging business with world-class research for the benefit of our region and the wider environment. In partnership with the University of Exeter, we will generate important new marine knowledge to inform the emerging renewable energy sector, positioning the region at the forefront of marine science and technology expertise.” Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “Climate change presents many challenges but there are also great opportunities for new low carbon goods, services and energy production. It is only through investment in top quality scientific research and knowledge transfer to businesses that we will successfully tap these new markets. This ERDF Convergence investment will stimulate the creation of a whole new industry and related business opportunities.” Stephen Peacock, SWRDA’s Enterprise and Innovation Director, said: “PRIMaRE and Wave Hub are central planks in the RDA’s drive towards a low carbon economy in South West England. We want our region to be one of the best places in the world to build a low carbon business and a global leader in the development of environmental and renewable energy technologies.” More information about PRIMaRE can be found at: www.primare.org University of Plymouth press release 
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