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Terms and Conditions of Use

Wind Innovation Hub Accelerating Innovations Programme Application Platform

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult ("ORE Catapult") application platform powered by Skipso (the "Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions of Use ("Terms").

If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access or use the Platform or submit an application through it.

These Terms apply to use of the Platform for the Wind Innovation Hub Accelerating Innovations Programme (the "Programme"). They are supplemented by the Programme-specific Scope and Guidance document, including its provisions on privacy, confidential information, intellectual property, subsidy control, eligibility, assessment and programme delivery. If there is any inconsistency between these Terms and the Scope and Guidance document, the Programme-specific provisions in the Scope and Guidance document will take precedence in relation to application data, confidential information, intellectual property and the assessment and delivery of the Programme.

2. Description of the Platform

The Platform provides a space for applicants to submit information about their business, innovation, technology, product or service for the purpose of applying to the Wind Innovation Hub Accelerating Innovations Programme.

ORE Catapult uses the Skipso platform to administer the application process. Skipso provides the technical platform only and does not make application assessment, selection, award, funding or programme delivery decisions.

Applications will be assessed and managed by the Wind Innovation Hub organisations, comprising ORE Catapult, NCC and NMIS, with funder governance and approval from Innovate UK.

3. User Accounts

You may be required to create an account to access certain features of the Platform and submit an application.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account.

You agree to provide accurate, current and complete information during registration and throughout the application process, and to update such information where necessary to keep it accurate, current and complete.

You must not allow any unauthorised person to access or use your account.

4. Application Content and User Content

You are responsible for any content, including ideas, projects, business information, innovation information, technical information, financial information, application materials, declarations and supporting documents ("User Content"), that you submit or otherwise make available through the Platform.

Confirmations

By submitting User Content for the Programme, you confirm that:

  • You have the necessary rights, permissions and authority to submit the User Content
  • The User Content is accurate and provided in good faith
  • Submission of the User Content does not knowingly infringe any third-party rights or breach any applicable law, duty of confidentiality or contractual obligation
  • You are authorised to submit the application on behalf of the applicant organisation

Limited Grant of Rights

By submitting User Content for the Programme, you grant ORE Catapult, NCC, NMIS, independent technical assessors and Innovate UK a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free right to access, review, copy, analyse and use your User Content solely for the purposes of:

  • Administering the application process
  • Checking eligibility
  • Assessing applications
  • Conducting due diligence
  • Supporting award decisions
  • Managing Programme delivery
  • Meeting funder governance, approval, monitoring, assurance and evaluation requirements
  • Complying with applicable legal, regulatory, audit and reporting requirements

This permission does not transfer ownership of your User Content, confidential information or intellectual property.

ORE Catapult will not publish, display or use applicant User Content in promotional or marketing materials, case studies, public communications or introductions to third parties without the applicant's prior written agreement, except where required for agreed Programme reporting, governance, assurance, audit or legal compliance.

5. Confidentiality and Intellectual Property

Confidential information, business information and intellectual property submitted as part of an application to the Programme will be treated in confidence.

Intellectual property included in submissions to the Programme, and any intellectual property developed during any subsequent phase, will remain the property of the applicant or relevant provider unless otherwise agreed in writing.

ORE Catapult, NCC, NMIS, independent technical assessors and Innovate UK may use applicant confidential information and intellectual property only for the purposes of assessing, evaluating, approving, monitoring and delivering the Programme, including funder governance and assurance requirements.

Nothing in these Terms transfers ownership of an applicant's confidential information, intellectual property, application materials or supporting documents to Skipso, ORE Catapult, NCC, NMIS, Innovate UK or any assessor.

If an applicant does not want to share particular outputs or information with ORE Catapult or the Programme team, the applicant should clearly identify which information is to be redacted or withheld in accordance with the Scope and Guidance document.

6. Data Protection and Privacy

Personal data and application information submitted through the Platform will be processed in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation, including the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

ORE Catapult is the data controller for personal data collected through the application process and used to administer, manage and assess applications on behalf of the Wind Innovation Hub. Skipso acts as ORE Catapult's data processor in providing the Platform.

See Privacy Policy for further details.

7. Application Submission and Programme Decisions

Submission of an application does not guarantee eligibility, selection, award, funding, support, collaboration, commercial opportunity or admission to the Programme.

All applications are subject to the eligibility criteria, assessment process, portfolio approach, due diligence checks, subsidy control requirements, Innovate UK approval and Programme terms set out in the Scope and Guidance document.

ORE Catapult, NCC, NMIS and Innovate UK reserve the right to request further information from applicants where required to assess eligibility, conduct due diligence, support award decisions or meet governance, audit, assurance or legal requirements.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that applications are submitted before the relevant application deadline. ORE Catapult is not responsible for late, incomplete or unsuccessful submissions caused by applicant error, connectivity issues or factors outside ORE Catapult's reasonable control.

8. Acceptable Use

You agree to use the Platform only for lawful purposes and in a manner that does not breach these Terms or any applicable laws or regulations.

You agree not to:

  • Use the Platform in any way that could damage, disable, overburden or impair the Platform
  • Attempt to gain unauthorised access to the Platform or any accounts, computer systems or networks associated with the Platform
  • Impersonate any person or entity or falsely state or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity
  • Use any robot, spider, scraper or other automated means to access the Platform for any purpose without express written permission
  • Introduce any viruses, worms, Trojan horses or other malicious software code to the Platform
  • Submit information that is knowingly false, misleading, unlawful, infringing, defamatory or in breach of any duty of confidentiality
  • Attempt to interfere with the fair, secure or lawful operation of the Programme or Platform

9. Platform Intellectual Property

The Platform and its content, including text, graphics, logos, layout, design, software and technical functionality, are owned by ORE Catapult, Skipso or their respective licensors and are protected by intellectual property laws.

You may not modify, reproduce, distribute, create derivative works from, publicly display or otherwise exploit the Platform or its content except as expressly permitted by ORE Catapult or as necessary to submit and manage your application.

This clause does not affect the ownership of applicant User Content, confidential information or intellectual property submitted as part of a Programme application.

10. Third-Party Links and Services

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or resources.

ORE Catapult is not responsible for the content, products, services, policies or practices available from third-party websites or resources.

You acknowledge that ORE Catapult is not liable for any loss or damage that may arise from your use of, or reliance on, third-party websites or resources.

Third-party services used to support the operation, security or performance of the Platform may process limited technical data where necessary, in accordance with applicable data protection requirements and relevant privacy information.

11. Availability and Disclaimer of Warranties

The Platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis.

ORE Catapult does not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free or secure, or that all defects will be corrected.

ORE Catapult will take reasonable steps to support the proper operation of the Platform, but it does not guarantee that the Platform will be available at all times or free from technical issues.

Nothing in these Terms limits any commitments made in the Scope and Guidance document regarding the fair assessment and governance of the Programme.

12. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, ORE Catapult shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages, or any loss of profits, revenue, goodwill, data, use or other intangible losses arising from:

  • Your use of, or inability to use, the Platform
  • Unauthorised access to or use of your account where caused by your failure to keep credentials secure
  • Interruption or cessation of transmission to or from the Platform
  • Bugs, viruses, Trojan horses or similar harmful code transmitted through the Platform by a third party
  • Errors, omissions or inaccuracies in User Content submitted by an applicant

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless ORE Catapult and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees and agents from and against claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, expenses or fees arising out of or relating to:

  • Your misuse of the Platform
  • Your breach of these Terms
  • Your submission of User Content that knowingly infringes third-party rights or breaches applicable law
  • Your unauthorised use of another person's account or credentials

This indemnity does not apply to the extent that the relevant claim arises from ORE Catapult's own breach of these Terms, negligence or unlawful act.

14. Suspension and Termination

ORE Catapult may suspend or terminate access to the Platform where it reasonably believes that a user has:

  • Breached these Terms
  • Misused the Platform
  • Provided false or misleading information
  • Compromised, or attempted to compromise, Platform security
  • Acted in a way that may prejudice the fair, secure or lawful operation of the Programme

ORE Catapult may also suspend or restrict access to the Platform where necessary for maintenance, security, legal, regulatory or operational reasons.

You may terminate your account at any time by using the "manage account" section of the Platform or by contacting the Programme team where account closure support is required.

Termination of Platform access does not necessarily delete application records, User Content or personal data already submitted where retention is required for Programme administration, governance, audit, assurance, legal, funder or reporting purposes.

15. Modifications to These Terms

ORE Catapult may modify these Terms from time to time.

Where material changes are made, ORE Catapult will provide notice through the Platform or by another appropriate communication method.

Your continued use of the Platform after such changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

Changes to these Terms will not retrospectively alter the treatment of submitted confidential information, intellectual property or personal data in a way that conflicts with the Scope and Guidance document or applicable law.

16. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, that provision shall be modified or removed to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

18. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Programme-specific Scope and Guidance document, the Programme privacy information and any application declaration or supporting Programme documentation, constitute the terms applicable to use of the Platform for the Programme.

To the extent that these Terms relate only to use of the Platform, they do not replace any separate letter of engagement, award documentation, subsidy control documentation or other Programme-specific agreement that may apply to successful applicants.

19. Contact

If you have questions about these Terms or the application process, please contact the Wind Innovation Hub Programme team using the contact details provided in the Scope and Guidance document or on the Platform.