Competition Terms – Ørsted Digital Innovation Challenge

 

1.PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

1.1. Programme Description

1.1.1. This Programme is a commercial programme fully funded by industry.

1.12. The Programme comprises an innovation challenge Competition, shortlisting and selection process, and fully funded support to mature solutions provided by ORE Catapult and Digital Catapult.

1.1.3. A successful Applicant will be required to contract with ORE Catapult, the Programme Collaboration Partner, for the duration of the Programme through the Letter of Engagement. The Letter of Engagement can also be found linked on the Competition’s landing page on the Digital Catapult website.

 

1.2 Programme Objectives

1.2.1 Ørsted is running this challenge to identify and adapt innovative digital solutions developed in other industries to enhance Operations & Maintenance (O&M) in the offshore wind sector. Ørsted aims to support the development of two promising solutions from various sectors by enabling access to sector-specific technology advancements and support services offered by the UK’s Catapult network. By maturation, Ørsted means an increase in the Technology Readiness of solutions as they move towards commercial readiness in offshore wind applications.

 

1.3 Programme Judges

1.3.1. During the application stage, judges will be responsible for scoring the applications according to the process and criteria set out in these Competition Terms. The judges will be chosen based on their experience and expertise. The Programme Judges comprise:

1.3.1.1. Internal Judges
A number of judges from Digital Catapult will help judge the applications

1.3.1.2. Programme Collaboration Partner Judges
A number of judges from Programme Collaboration Partner (see clause 1.4.1).

1.3.1.3. Programme Owner Judges

A number of judges from the Programme Owner (see clause 1.4.1).

1.4 Programme Partners

1.4.1. Digital Catapult is working with the following to deliver the Programme:

1.4.1.1 Programme Collaboration Partner
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, incorporated under company number 04659351 at Offshore House, Albert Street, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 1LZ (“ORE CATAPULT”) will lead on the delivery of the Programme.

1.4.1.1. Programme Owner
Ørsted is a company incorporated under company number 06730824 at 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG. Ørsted will sponsor the Programme.

 

2. DEFINITIONS & INTERPRETATION

2.1. The following definitions have the given meanings in these Competition Terms:

Applicant: A company that applies to this Competition.

Participant: An Applicant that is successful with its application and completes all pre-Programme activities (e.g. signing the Letter of Engagement).

Programme Partners: Digital Catapult, the Programme Collaboration Partner and the Programme Owner.

Competition: The innovation challenge opportunity made available by Digital Catapult to Applicants, as governed by the Competition Terms.

Competition Terms: This document, as may be updated by Digital Catapult from time to time in its absolute discretion.

Programme: Has the meaning as described in the Programme Description (see paragraph ‎1.1).

Key Contact: Applicant’s main contact for the Competition and Participant’s main contact for the Programme.

Submission Method: The application form on the SkipsoLabs platform

Application Deadline: The relevant date detailed in the Key Dates, in paragraph 4.

Programme Contact Address: [email protected]

Privacy Policies:
Digital Catapult’s privacy policy: https://www.digicatapult.org.uk/legal/privacy-policy
ORE Catapult’s privacy policy: ore.catapult.org.uk/privacy-policy
Ørsted’s privacy policy: https://orsted.co.uk/privacy-policy

2.2. The following interpretations shall apply to these Competition Terms:

2.2.1. A reference to a company shall include any company, corporation, or other body corporate, wherever and however, incorporated or established (unless otherwise stated) and specifically excludes all natural persons and unincorporated bodies.

3. APPLICANTS

3.1 Minimum Requirements

3.1.1. Applicability to Highlighted Use-Cases: Applications are welcome from solutions which address part of, or all of a use-case; as well as solutions which cover multiple use-cases. Applications which do not apply to any of the specifically identified use-cases (‘out of the box solutions’) are also accepted.

3.1.2. Innovation & Applicability: Proposed solutions must demonstrate clear potential to improve efficiency, reduce costs, reduce risks or enhance safety in offshore wind O&M. Solutions should be at least TRL3, in an offshore wind context, according to a recognised TRL scale.

3.1.3. Commitment to the Challenge & Collaboration: Shortlisted companies must actively participate in challenge-related activities, including pitching their solution. The companies’ successful in progressing to the second stage of the Programme where they receive support from ORE Catapult and Digital Catapult must commit to working with our delivery partners and the support that is being facilitated.

3.1.4. Applicants must be a UK based registered company and undertake all activity in the UK.

3.2 What we’re looking for

3.2.1. Company Size: The challenge is open to companies of any size, although we expect it to be most suitable to companies in a position to act with agility.

3.2.2. Industry Background: Companies from any industry are welcome to apply, provided they offer digital solutions that can be adapted to offshore wind operations & maintenance.

3.2.3. Individual Companies: the challenge is not open to consortium-based applications, only individual companies.

 

4. KEY DATES

4.1. The following table sets out the key dates for the Competition.

Applications Open – Tuesday 2nd September 2025
Official launch of the Competition, with details on goals, eligibility, and how to apply. Participants can now register and submit their proposals.

Application Deadline – Friday 3rd October 2025
Deadline for submissions. All proposals must be submitted by this date to be considered for the Competition.

Applicant Shortlisting – w/c October 6th
Proposals are reviewed and shortlisted based on the evaluation criteria.

Intended notification of all Applicants – Friday 24th October 2025
All applicants notified of outcome. Shortlisted applicants are invited to proceed to the next phase of the Competition.

Pitch Day – Thursday 20th November 2025
Shortlisted applicants will attend an in-person event in London to present their proposals to a panel of judges.

Intended public announcement of Participants – December 2025
Announcement of successful applicants, who will become Participants

Programme Start – January 2026
Programme delivery commences

Programme End – June 2026
Programme closes

 

5. THE APPLICATION

5.1. What information should my application contain?
Applicants must answer all required questions in the full online application form.

5.2. Who will see my Application?
The following people will see your application:

• Catapult Representatives: Relevant representatives from each of Digital Catapult and ORE Catapult will see your application in order to assess the application, and otherwise in the administration of your application and, if successful, participation in the Programme.
• The Programme Judges will see your full application
  Note: Even if personal information fields from the application are not disclosed, names of presenters will be disclosed to Judges during the pitch stage of the application process.
• Programme Owner: For Participants, the Programme Owner will see your full application, along with your company name, key contact name and key contact email address in order to provide bespoke support during the Programme including 1:1 office hours, mentorship, workshops and/or webinars.

5.3. Can I make multiple Applications?

Applicants are limited to one application for this Competition. If there are variants of the solution it must be detailed in a single application form.

5.4. Key contact

Applicant will appoint a Key Contact. This person will be Digital Catapult’s main point of contact for the Competition and, if successful, Applicant’s Programme activities, including: workshop and event commitments, team members’ availability, ongoing activities, and assessment of progress during and after the Programme.

Digital Catapult will use this personal information for the purpose of carrying out due diligence on Applicants prior to the point of selection onto the Programme and to notify successful and unsuccessful Applicants over their submissions. The personal data of the Key Contact may be shared with and processed by (i) Programme Partners Judges for the purpose of assessing the Applications; and (ii) Programme Partners and third-party service providers for the provision of benefits to the Participants in the Programme, as set out in these Competition Terms.

5.5 Submitting your application

5.5.1.  All applications must be submitted via the Submission Method by the Application Deadline.

5.5.2. Once your completed application has been received, Digital Catapult will send you a confirmation receipt by email. If you do not get a receipt within twenty four (24) hours of the next working day, please email us at Programme Contact Address.

5.6. Digital Catapult’s Equality Diversity and Inclusion Survey

5.6.1. In addition to your application, you will be required to complete Digital Catapult’s Equality Diversity and Inclusion Survey (‘Survey’). Whilst the completion of this Survey is mandatory, please note that your responses to this Survey will be kept separately from your application and will have no effect whatsoever on your application to the Programme.

Digital Catapult (as the Data Controller) will collect and process your personal data, including the following special category data to help Digital Catapult improve its services in respect of equality, diversity and inclusion:

• Racial and/or ethnic origin
• Sexual orientation
• Health (including disability)
• Religious and/or philosophical beliefs

The data collected and processed may be shared with relevant third parties and/or published but only in an aggregated form, which means you will not be personally identifiable.

Your personal data will be kept for 15 months from the time you respond to the Survey.

Please note you are responsible for the accuracy of the data you share with Digital Catapult and you agree to inform us if your data needs to be updated.

For more information on Digital Catapult’s collection, use and protection of your personal data and your rights in regards to your personal data, please see Digital Catapult’s privacy policy (https://www.digicatapult.org.uk/legal/privacy-policy/) or contact us at [email protected]. If you have specific queries on our use of your Survey data (including a request to delete your Survey data), please contact us at [email protected].

5.7. Positive Action

5.7.1. Not used.

 

6. SELECTION

6.1. Qualification
6.1.1. Programme Partners will undertake an initial assessment of the Applicants against the Programme Requirements.

6.2. Selection process
6.2.1. All qualifying applications will be reviewed and scored by the Programme Judges panel to create a shortlist. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a Pitch Event. This will be an in-person event for shortlisted applicants to pitch their proposal to the Programme Judges and for the Programme Judges to ask further questions. Generally, the highest ranked Applicants will be accepted onto the Programme,

6.3. Application Scoring criteria and weighting
6.3.1. The scoring criteria will be assessed based on statements in the areas below. Each criterion will be scored on a range from 0 to 5. 0 being an “Unacceptable or No submission” score for each criterion and 5 being an “Excellent” score for each criterion. This scoring will be applied to all applications and will be equally weighted.
6.3.2. There are 5 criteria upon which applicants will be assessed:

1. Innovation & Alignment: The applicant should demonstrate that their company is clearly addressing the challenge as well as offering unique approaches not widely used in the industry.
2. Potential Impact: The applicant should demonstrate the potential of its solution to drive significant offshore wind O&M activities as well as its potential to scale
3. Feasibility and Scalability: The applicant should demonstrate that their solution is technically feasible for real-world deployment in offshore wind O&M.
4. Team Experience: The company and its employees should have the necessary experience and skill to consistently develop & deliver their solution.
5. Programme Fit: The applicant should demonstrate how they would benefit from being selected for this programme.

6.4. Due diligence
6.4.1. We will carry out due diligence on applicants prior to the point of selection onto the Programme. Applicants must be willing to submit further information or documentation upon request to qualify as ‘successful’.

6.5. Successful applicants
6.5.1. Successful applicants will be notified and provided with a standard agreement for review and execution (“Letter of Engagement”) with Programme Partners.
6.5.2. The Letter of Engagement is a standard agreement and not negotiable. The Programme Partners do try and ensure these contracts are fair and reasonable.
6.5.3. In some cases, additional conditions may be added to address concerns raised in due diligence or otherwise.
6.4.2. In order to be accepted onto the Programme, successful applicants must sign the Letter of Engagement.

7. STATE ASSISTANCE
7.1.1 Not Applicable

 

8. OTHER GENERAL COMPETITION TERMS

8.1. Activities
8.1.1. All the activities provided under the Programme by third-party organisations (“Suppliers”) are subject to the Supplier’s terms and conditions stated in the Letter of Engagement.
8.1.2. Any optional activities provided by third party organisations whose terms and conditions are not contained in the Letter of Engagement will be agreed between the Participant and the Supplier directly.
8.1.3. Programme Partners reserve the right to amend the list of activities at any time and at their sole discretion.

8.2. Accessibility
8.2.1. Programme Partners aim to make all programmes of this type accessible. We welcome feedback as to how we may be able to improve the accessibility of our programmes in the future. If you have any feedback with regards to accessibility, please send your feedback by email to: [email protected]. Your feedback may be used by us in our programmes and activities.

8.3. Applicants
8.3.1. Programme Partners reserve the right to accept any application which does not fulfil the minimum requirements.

8.4. Key Dates
8.4.1. Programme Partners reserve the right to change the Key Dates at their sole discretion. No extension to deadlines will usually be granted, with very limited exceptions where the Applicant requests an extension due to reasonable extenuating circumstances, beyond the Applicant’s control and unforeseen to them, subject to the Applicant providing evidence that proves the extenuating circumstance; and the Applicant informing Programme Partners as soon as reasonably practicable following the extenuating circumstance becoming apparent. Programme Partners reserves the right to consider the factors and decide whether such circumstances are extenuating and whether granting an extension is fair to other applicants. No extension granted will usually be for greater than two working days.

8.5. Applications
8.5.1. All information and documents requested must be submitted. Failure to submit all requested information and documents may result in the application being rejected. Programme Partners will not use outside information in respect of your application unless otherwise indicated, other than to undertake due diligence. Programme Partners reserves the right to not work with people or an organisation which they believe could impact their respective reputations.

8.6 Personal Data
8.6.1. Digital Catapult is the Controller for the personal information submitted in the Application for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR.
8.6.2. Digital Catapult and the Programme Owner are each individually (not jointly) a Controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR. ORE Catapult is a Processor under the service agreement between the Programme Partners. Digital Catapult and the Programme Owner are each individually responsible for how they store, use and process your personal data in accordance with their privacy policies. Digital Catapult and the Programme Owner are not responsible to you for the other party’s storage, use or processing of your data. Actions taken by one party (e.g. deleting personal data) will be independent of the other party. If you need to make a data request, please make such request directly to the relevant party pursuant to the Privacy Policies.
8.6.3. In submitting the Application, the Applicant confirms that it has made the Key Contact and any other person whose personal data has been submitted, aware of, and has the lawful grounds to enable each Controller (including its processors) to, process the personal information of the Key Contact (and any other person named in the Application) as set out in these Competition Terms and in accordance with the relevant Privacy Policies.

8.7. Letter of Engagement
8.7.1. Digital Catapult and/or ORE Catapult reserve the right to make amendments to the Letter of Engagement they will issue up until the point of execution by both parties.

8.8. Participant Programmes
8.8.1. Digital Catapult reserves the right to offer Participants access to its Participant Programmes, such as its Platinum Awards and investment programme.

8.9. Data Retention
8.9.1. Digital Catapult will store your application and the scoring it has received for the entire duration of the Programme, or up to two (2) years, whichever the greater. If you are a successful Applicant, we shall also store your Application for a period of up to seven (7) years following the end of the Programme. For administration purposes, contracts may be stored for up to seven (7) years, contracts providing State Assistance for up to eleven (11) years, and deeds for up to thirteen (13) years from the end of the Programme.

8.10. Confidentiality
8.10.1. The information provided in your Application will be kept confidential and only used and disclosed as reasonably necessary for the purpose of assessing Applications, and, if admitted onto the Programme, for working with you in the Programme. This may include with our Programme Partners as indicated above.
8.10.2. For practical reasons, NDAs will not be signed by Digital Catapult or the Programme Partners as part of the Competition (they may be required once Participants have been selected). The activities we provide can only be achieved through trust of the tech community. It is therefore not in our interest to release your sensitive information. Confidentiality provisions are included in the Letter of Engagement.
8.10.3. The scoring of your Application will be treated as sensitive information.
8.10.4. As your Application will be transmitted over the Internet, ultimately Digital Catapult cannot guarantee its security.
8.10.5. In submitting the Application, you promise that you have and continue to have all necessary rights, licenses, permissions and consent to provide the content in your application to us, and for Catapult to use the Application as we have set out.
8.10.6. We will not remove from Applications any proprietary labels or copyright assertions

8.11. Disclaimers, Exclusions & Limitations
8.11.1 Programme Partners accept no liability for any consequences, whether direct or indirect, that may arise from your participation in the Programme, your reliance on any statements we may have made about your application, the Programme, or its suspension or withdrawal.
8.11.2. In any case, to the extent permitted under law, Digital Catapult’s liability shall be limited to one thousand (£1,000) pounds.

8.12. Entire Agreement
8.12.1. These Competition Terms constitute the entire agreement between the Applicant and Programme Partners and extinguish all previous and contemporaneous agreements, promises, assurances, and understandings between them, whether written or oral, relating to the subject matter of these Competition Terms.

8.13. Jurisdiction
8.13.1. The Programme is governed by English law and the Applicant agrees that any dispute shall be exclusively resolved in the English courts.