
The first slice of the £250 million taxpayer-fund Aberdeen city-region deal to stimulate economic development in Grampian has been paid out.
The Oil and Gas Technology Centre has now received £4 million from the 10-year deal which will also see public investment in innovation, internationalisation, digital connectivity and infrastructure across the region.
The partners estimate the deal has the potential to create an average of 330 new jobs per year in the region, aggregating to 3,300 new net jobs over its 10-year lifespan.
The partnership was formally signed yesterday by UK Government Minister Lord Dunlop and Keith Brown MSP, Scottish trade and industry minister.
They were joined by Aberdeen council leader Councillor Jenny Laing, Aberdeenshire council Co-Leader Councillor Richard Thomson and Sir Ian Wood, Chairman of Opportunity North East.
UK Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said: “The Oil and Gas Technology Centre, which is part of the £250m Aberdeen deal, will ensure we enhance our technological edge and keep the UK at the forefront of oil and gas globally.”