Scotland and Japan unveiled a new strategic agreement earlier this month (at Offshore Europe in Aberdeen) to help them capitalise on opportunities in the growing sub-sea technologies sector.

Scottish Enterprise (www.scottish-enterprise.com) and the Nippon Foundation (www.nippon-foundation.or.jp) will work together on projects that address challenges identified by Japanese industry.

Maggie McGinlay, Scottish Enterprise’s director of energy, said: “We’ve built up our expertise in subsea engineering in the harsh environment of the North Sea, and many of the technologies developed here in Scotland have revolutionised the world-wide oil and gas industry.

“As a result, Scotland already accounts for 14% of the global sub-sea market, with about 370 companies generating an estimated annual turnover of £7.5 billion.”

Yohei Sasakawa, chairman of the Nippon Foundation, said: “The two parties will provide equal funding to support joint projects that push boundaries and challenge conventions.

“The programme will serve to incubate new seeds of ocean innovation. World-leading experts from both countries will be teaming up to help these seeds bud and bloom into innovative offshore technology.”