NSRI names new director

The National Subsea Research Initiative (NSRI) has appointed Tony Laing as its new director of research and market acceleration.

Bringing more than 35 years’ experience, Laing will be tasked with ensuring the UK’s subsea technology needs are understood and met within an increasingly diverse business environment and the associated complex innovation and funding landscape, according to NSRI.

Laing has been an independent consultant within the oil and gas industry since 2015, delivering strategic commercial projects for a range of technology and engineering service companies as well as academia.

According to NSRI, Laing is well known for supporting the wider industry, which includes being a fellow member of the Society of Underwater Technology and treasurer of the Aberdeen branch.

Based at Subsea UK in Westhill, Aberdeen, he will take over the reins from Gordon Drummond who has returned to Subsea 7 following his three-year secondment to NSRI.

Commenting on the appointment, Laing said: “NSRI has a major role to play as a knowledge hub for subsea research and development, not only within oil and gas but across the wider offshore renewable energy sectors including marine and ocean science.

“I look forward to working with businesses, technology developers, universities and academics as they look for support in bringing new innovations to market that can push the UK energy industry forward for years to come.”

As the subsea focused technology research partner organization of Subsea UK, NSRI plays a key role in communicating the needs of the industry to the supply chain, encouraging market-led development of technology.

Working collaboratively with other organizations to align industry, academia and government – NSRI aims to lead on the drive to identify and support the commercialization of technology that will deliver significant economic gains across the sector, and in turn advance the export of UK subsea technology.