Wave Energy Scotland (WES) – funded by the Scottish Government – takes an innovative approach to supporting the commercialisation of the wave energy sector. What makes Wave Energy Scotland unique is its long-term commitment to the sector: WES will take innovative technologies from concept to being ready for private investment. WES, a wholly owned subsidiary of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), will award contracts for wave energy technology development until the technical and commercial risks are low enough for private investment to re-enter the sector.

WES issues calls for proposals for wave energy technology development projects in areas that have been prioritised as requiring the most development and/or having the most impact on the future cost of energy. These areas are identified by WES through the outputs of landscaping studies and via stakeholder consultation including the WES Advisory Group: a body with expertise drawn from the industrial, academic, investment and insurance communities. Interested parties bid in an open competitive process to enter a programme at its inception, and contracts are awarded for up to 100% of the cost of the technology development project. Each programme has pre-defined Stage Gates, and these are a closed competition for existing programme participants.

WES uses pre-commercial procurement (PCP) for its calls which means that successful applicants receive a contract for research and development services and not a grant. This means that successful applicants have a higher duty to WES than is normal in grant-funded programmes, which is outlined in these guidance documents.

In addition to the development already in the marine sector, WES is also strongly interested in technology transfer from other sectors such as automotive, offshore wind, tidal, mining, aerospace, defence, robotics, maritime and oil & gas. WES believes that technology transfer from these sectors can stimulate step changes in technology development in the wave sector via lower capital costs, and improved efficiency or reliability at the sub-system or device level.

WES has adopted a thorough stage-gate technology development process to ensure early stage concepts are supported and evaluated to allow subsequent prototype development work to be undertaken at scale efficiently and robustly.

Details of the projects which were successful in entering into this stage can be found in the "Development Programmes" section of the Knowledge Library.

Current funding opportunities are advertised on the WES website, and through Public Contracts Scotland.