Partnership dives in to sub-sea cable monitoring innovation

A company specialising in the development of technology to monitor and maintain undersea cables has formed a knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) with key departments at the University of Bath.

Viper Innovations is working with the university’s Departments of Electronic & Electrical Engineering, and Chemistry, to build on Viper’s innovative monitoring technology.

The company provides solutions electrical monitoring, recovery, and fault finding for the global sub-sea oil and gas, and rail industries.

The newly awarded KTP will look to develop an innovative sub-sea cable integrity monitoring product, extending the lifetime and performance of critical underwater cables.

Professor Frank Marken, from the Department of Chemistry, and the KTP’s academic lead, said: “We look forward to starting this newly awarded KTP with Viper Innovations, which will support an exchange of technical capabilities, upskill staff, and most importantly strengthen a culture of applied collaborative partnering.”

Guangqiao Xu, head of research at Viper Innovations, and industrial supervisor, added: “This initiative will strengthen our positions in the current markets, contributing directly into our product research and development, driving technical advancements, and gaining insights that are crucial for future market diversifications.”

This project brings together expertise from the Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering, and the Department of Chemistry, to build on Viper’s monitoring technology.

The technology is expected to reduce both the damaging environmental impact of repairing and relaying subsea cables and associated costs, as well as open up access to new market opportunities such as the renewables sector.

Marken, along with Dr Benjamin Metcalfe, head of electronic and electrical engineering Bath, will provide expertise and research capabilities in the electrochemistry of corrosion for further understanding of processes involved in sub-sea environments.

Dr Steven Boakes, head of knowledge exchange at the university – the team behind the full life-cycle programme support for KTP partners – said: “I’m delighted by this new partnership and combination of expertise working together to develop innovative solutions.

“The rich knowledge exchange between the specialists within this partnership has the potential to deliver market leading technology, reduce environmental impacts and embed skills that will have a lasting legacy.”

KTPs are funded by Innovate UK to help businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills within the UK knowledge base.

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