ABZ DEAL - INVEST ABERDEEN

what is a City region deal

The Aberdeen City Region Deal is the agreement between the UK Government and the Scottish Government with Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council and Opportunity North East (ONE) as one delivery mechanism for the Region’s economic vision which focuses on transformational investment supporting the evolution of the region's key sectors, sustainable business growth and creating green jobs for the future. It follows the signing of a Heads of Terms Agreement in January 2016.

GOVERNANCE

The Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee drives and governs the implementation of the City Region Deal programme and its links to the Regional Economic Strategy. It works to maximise the economic benefits of the Deal. It is made up from three Aberdeen City Council Councillors, three Aberdeenshire Council Councillors and three Opportunity North East Board Members.

ANNUAL REPORT

The 2022/23 Annual Report produced for the Joint Committee and UK and Scottish Governments, highlights the continued investment by industry and regional partners taking the deal value to over £1Billion.

Details of all the projects in the scope of the City Region Deal can be found in more detail within the annual report and at each projects website below.

PROCUREMENT

There are no live procurements at present.

Digital Connectivity

Three exciting new projects are in progress to deliver 5G networks in the region

Aberdeen South Harbour

Port of Aberdeen’s transformational £420 million expansion project is now fully operational

Transport

The Strategic Transport Appraisal, led by the Regional Transport Partnership Nestrans, supports decision-making for future transport investment in the region

NZTC

The National Subsea Centre was launched in January 2023

Seedpod

SeedPod is a £27million investment in the food and drink industry to create a centre of excellence for manufacturing and production in North East Scotland that will deliver regional and national growth ambitions.

CityFibre Network

"Going up from 33 to 900 Mbps will make such a huge difference to my working day!"
~ Local resident

Digital Connectivity

Transformation of Aberdeen City into one of the UK’s most connected Cities within two
years

BioHub

Opened in August 2023, the ONE BioHub is the iconic new home for life sciences in Aberdeen

NZTC

We’re pushing boundaries to turn net zero ambitions into a reality

Aberdeen City Region Deal

Transformational investment supporting the evolution of the region’s key sectors, sustainable business growth and creating green jobs for the future

Full Fibre project

In 2021/22 the Deal Full Fibre project won the Social Value Category for procurement in the “Go Awards” (Social Value Category)

Transport

Development of proposals for innovative transport pilot projects aimed at providing inclusive transport connectivity, including Transport Mobility Hubs supported by Digital Applications

BioHub

The building of ONE BioHub provided an economic boost for the construction sector and created career pathways for young people in the city

Aberdeen South Harbour

The Aberdeen South Harbour of Port of Aberdeen connects customers to what they need, where and when they need it, through innovation, commitment, and environmental sustainability

NZTC

The National Decommissioning Centre was launched in January 2019

Key Projects

aberdeen south harbour

Completed in August 2023, the £420 million Aberdeen South Harbour of Port of Aberdeen connects customers to what they need, where and when they need it, through innovation, commitment, and environmental sustainability.
The new facilities are creating new opportunities for energy transition activities, including renewables and decommissioning, attracting new cargo to the port and generating increased tourism through cruise traffic around the North Sea.

Find out more

Biohub

The £40 million ONE BioHub on Aberdeen's Foresterhill Health Campus opened in August 2023 and provides start-up, spinout and scaling life sciences businesses with the resources and infrastructure to work on modern health challenges and turn research into innovation.
Growing the life sciences sector is a regional economic priority and will contribute to the Scottish and UK sector targets for innovation, collaboration and commercialisation.

Find out more

seedpod

ONE SeedPod is a £27 million investment in the food and drink industry to create an innovation hub for manufacturing and production in North East Scotland that will deliver regional and national growth ambitions.
Led by Opportunity North East (ONE), the Aberdeen City Region Deal industry innovation project will put the region’s businesses at the forefront of innovation, productivity, sustainability and developing foods of the future to increase high-value exports and create new jobs.

Find out more

NET ZERO TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (FORMERLY OGTC)

Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) develops and deploys technologies that reduce emissions, unlock the full potential of an integrated energy system and propel the energy industry towards a digital, automated, decarbonised future.
The Centre does this by co-investing with industry to fund and develop technology projects, working in partnership with pioneering technology developers; supporting clean energy start-ups through their annual TechX accelerator programme; collaborating with partners across the world. Through its newly launched Net Zero Technology Services business, they also provide clients with insights and foresights on current and emerging technologies, helping them navigate and accelerate their journeys to net zero and make the right technology investment decisions.

Find out more

digital connectivity

Improving the region’s digital infrastructure is key to the long-term future of the local economy. It will drive innovation through the better use of physical and digital assets to enhance public and private service delivery, to tackle inequality and to improve social outcomes.
The Aberdeen City Region Deal provides the opportunity to create a sustainable infrastructure from which the region can transform into a world class digital area. The Digital programme has been delivered across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire. Three exciting new projects are in progress to deliver 5G networks in the region, allowing the North East of Scotland to begin commercially utilise the opportunities of 5G technology.

Find out more

Transport

Two transport projects are being progressed within the City Region Deal, the Strategic Transport Appraisal, a Transport Review and External Transportation Links to Aberdeen South Harbour.
The Strategic Transport Appraisal is a key element of the Aberdeen City Region Deal, tasked with considering the future transport needs of the region over the next 20 years.

The External Transportation links to Aberdeen South Harbour will deliver improved road access, as well as public transport and active travel measures, to the new Harbour and support the Energy Transition Zone.

View PDF

what is a City region deal

GOVERNANCE

ANNUAL REPORT

PROCUREMENT

Digital Connectivity

Three exciting new projects are in progress to deliver 5G networks in the region

Aberdeen South Harbour

Port of Aberdeen’s transformational £420 million expansion project is now fully operational

Transport

The Strategic Transport Appraisal, led by the Regional Transport Partnership Nestrans, supports decision-making for future transport investment in the region

NZTC

The National Subsea Centre was launched in January 2023

Seedpod

SeedPod is a £27million investment in the food and drink industry to create a centre of excellence for manufacturing and production in North East Scotland that will deliver regional and national growth ambitions.

CityFibre Network

"Going up from 33 to 900 Mbps will make such a huge difference to my working day!" ~ Local resident

Digital Connectivity

Transformation of Aberdeen City into one of the UK’s most connected Cities within twoyears

BioHub

Opened in August 2023, the ONE BioHub is the iconic new home for life sciences in Aberdeen

NZTC

We’re pushing boundaries to turn net zero ambitions into a reality

Aberdeen City Region Deal

Transformational investment supporting the evolution of the region’s key sectors, sustainable business growth and creating green jobs for the future

Full Fibre project

In 2021/22 the Deal Full Fibre project won the Social Value Category for procurement in the “Go Awards” (Social Value Category)

Transport

Development of proposals for innovative transport pilot projects aimed at providing inclusive transport connectivity, including Transport Mobility Hubs supported by Digital Applications

BioHub

The building of ONE BioHub provided an economic boost for the construction sector and created career pathways for young people in the city

Aberdeen South Harbour

The Aberdeen South Harbour of Port of Aberdeen connects customers to what they need, where and when they need it, through innovation, commitment, and environmental sustainability

NZTC

The National Decommissioning Centre was launched in January 2019

ONE SeedPod food manufacturing innovation hub marks construction milestone

The new ONE SeedPod industry innovation hub for north east Scotland’s £2.4 billion food manufacturing sector marks a major construction milestone today

A major Aberdeen South Harbour Expansion project is complete

The Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee has marked an important milestone

National Subsea Centre Launches Centre for Doctoral Training in Net Zero Technologies

National Subsea Centre Launches Centre for Doctoral Training in Net Zero Technologies

ENERGY MINISTER VISITS NATIONAL DECOMMISSIONING CENTRE TO MARK FIFTH ANNIVERSARY

Scotland’s Minister for Energy and the Environment, Gillian Martin MSP had the opportunity to use the marine simulator on her visit to the NDC

Feedback sought for A90(N) - A952 transport study

Members of the public are being asked to share their views to support two studies

Update on A90/A952 roads corridor evidence review

Work to update and strengthen the case for improving transport north of Ellon to Fraserburgh and Peterhead has received backing from the Nestrans board, and the Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee.

CITY REGION DEAL - Full Fibre PROJECT COMPLETE

A major project, funded by the Aberdeen City Region Deal and bringing gigabit fibre connectivity to the region, is complete.

Technology Roadmap Initiative to Revolutionise Emissions Measuring and Monitoring

The Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) and the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) have announced a collaborative initiative aimed at revolutionising the way asset operators measure and monitor emissions.

Clean Energy start-ups graduate TechX Accelerator with £740K equity raised

The Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) continues to drive transformational technologies through promising clean energy start-ups.

ONE BioHub launches a new life sciences research commercialisation and economic diversification in north east Scotland

£40m Aberdeen investment to accelerate life sciences research, commercialisation and business growth

New era for North-east tourism as first cruise shop docks at £400m harbour

Port of Aberdeen has today (Tuesday 2 May 2023) welcomed the first cruise ship into the transformational £400 million Aberdeen South Harbour expansion.

Port of Aberdeen charts growth in offshore wind

Port of Aberdeen has welcomed more than 100 vessels working on offshore wind projects to the port so far this year, including the latest arrival of the Blue Tern jack-up installation vessel.

NZTC and Siemens announce World's first liquid bio-methanol pilot

Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) together with Siemens Energy have this week (22 February) announced the successful demonstration of running an aero-derived gas turbine on green methanol.

TECHX UNVEILS 2023 COHORT OF NEXT-GEN CLEAN ENERGY START-UPS

The Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) has announced its 2023 start-up cohort.

National Subsea Centre officially opens in Aberdeen

The National Subsea Centre (NSC), a centre of excellence for subsea research and technology development, has been officially opened today in Dyce, Aberdeen.

NZTC offering up to £500K per technology project in latest funding competition

The Net Zero Technology Centre has launched its 2023 Open Innovation Programme

Project launched to create Hydrogen Highway from Scotland to Rotterdam

The Net Zero Technology Centre and ERM have announced the launch of the Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) for Hydrogen Transport from Scotland (LHyTS) project, which will play a key role in the export of hydrogen from Scotland to Rotterdam.

New programme examines pathways for integrated floating offshore wind technology

The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult announcing the WINTOG programme to examine pathways for integrated floating offshore wind technology

Report identifies five international collaboration actions to transform hydrocarbon basins for net zero

Global technology gaps and innovation priorities identified to drive the transition of hydrocarbon basins to an integrated net zero energy future.

Aberdeen’s £400 million port expansion nears completion

The handover from construction to operations for Dunnottar, Crathes and Castlegate (East) Quays was completed

NZTC launches new Net Zero Technology Services business to help companies accelerate their journey to net zero

The Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) today (October 25, 2022) announces the launch of its Net Zero Technology Services business

NZTC awarded £2.12million from Just Transition Fund to demonstrate feasibility of repurposing existing assets to produce green hydrogen

Net Zero Technology Centre has been awarded £2.12M from Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund (JTF) to support delivery of its Hydrogen Offshore Production Project (HOP2)

£8 million funding awarded across 20 game changing net zero technologies

The Net Zero Technology Centre has announced the 20 winners of its 2022 Open Innovation Programme.

"Going up from 33 to 900 Mbps will make such a huge difference to my working day!"
~ Local resident

Transformation of Aberdeen City into one of the UK’s most connected Cities within two
years