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Outside view of Orkney Research and Innovation Centre

Orkney Research & Innovation Campus

Supporting the growing research and innovation activity and the expansion of companies working in Orkney’s world-leading marine renewables, energy and low carbon sector.

Strengthening Orkney's global lead in renewables, research and innovation

The Orkney Research & Innovation Campus (ORIC) is a multi-million-pound project creating an improved home for Orkney’s wide range of clean energy and low-carbon expertise. ORIC LLP was previously a joint venture between Orkney Islands Council (OIC) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Following a change of ownership announced in April 2024, ORIC LLP is now a wholly owned subsidiary of HIE.

A first round of development was completed in late 2020. This included £1.48m from the European Regional Development Fund Scotland Programme towards a £6.9m overall project. HIE and OIC subsequently approved a further funding package totalling £2.8m for a second round of development. The planned expansion will make a substantial contribution to ORIC’s long term vision.

The new development aims to enhance existing facilities and create new spaces to enable more academic and commercial activity, collaboration, and business incubation. New co-working spaces will be created to support small and growing businesses and a number of improvements will be made across the campus with the aim of achieving net zero operations.

The project forms part of wider investment through the Islands Growth Deal, which is set to be supported with investment of up to £8m from the UK Government.

Our premises

The former Stromness Primary School has been fully refurbished and renamed as the Robert Rendall building after the renowned Orcadian naturalist and poet. It’s now home to Heriot-Watt University’s International Centre for Island Technology (ICIT).

Renovation work at the nearby Charles Clouston building, formerly known as the Old Academy, was carried out during phase one of the redevelopment work. The building has been renamed after the prominent Stromness-born polymath and provides modern facilities for the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), Robert Gordon University and environmental consultancy Aquatera. Other organisations located on the campus are Orkney Hyperbaric Trust and underwater services provider, Sula Diving.

A hub of activity

ORIC aims to strengthen Orkney’s global lead in the field of renewables research and innovation, providing purpose-built business and educational facilities within Stromness, where much of the sector’s activity is currently focused.

The campus aims to foster collaboration between various organisations, companies and agencies, with the common aim of furthering crucial Orkney-based research and development work.

The campus is open to visitors and members of the public during normal working hours with free Wi-Fi available in all public external and internal areas. Space can be hired in both the Charles Clouston and Robert Rendall buildings by organisations and local businesses involved in relevant sectors. Find out more below.