Open Calls

Accelerating innovation in floating offshore wind

The I3FLOAT 1st Open Call supports SMEs in developing innovative technological solutions that contribute to strengthening the European floating offshore wind value chain and accelerating the transition of promising technologies towards market deployment.

Through this call, I3FLOAT will provide financial support to projects addressing key technological and industrial challenges identified in collaboration with floating offshore wind stakeholders across Europe.

The 1st Open Call will support projects addressing two complementary types of challenges:

• Specific Challenges, based on concrete technological needs identified by I3FLOAT Challenge Owners. Each Specific Challenge is described in a dedicated Fact Sheet:
  • Compact pull-in head for pre-terminated dynamic power cables 66kV & 132kV — Challenge Owner: Aventa
  • Smart Offshore Gateway for Real-Time Subsea Monitoring in Floating Wind Operations — Challenge Owner: CoreMarine
  • Storm-resilient drones for real time subsea inspection of floating windfarms — Challenge Owner: EDF power solutions
  • Monitoring of Dynamic Performance of Offshore Wind Turbine Blades using LiDAR-Based Systems — Challenge Owner: EnerOcean
  • Single-pass welding outside for local FOWT serial assembly — Challenge Owner: Eolink
  • Lifting solution enabling to perform full erection of wind turbine generators (WTGs) at Port quayside — Challenge Owner: GEODIS
  • Cost-optimised hybrid mooring systems — Challenge Owner: Iberdrola
  • Logistics optimization in the transport of offshore wind structures — Challenge Owner: Navantia Seanergies
  • Instrumentation for coexistence between Offshore Wind Farms and Fishing Activities on French coastlines— Challenge Owner: Qair
  • Development and assessment validation of Load Reduction Devices applied to mooring lines in floating offshore wind systems, aimed at reducing dynamic loads and improving fatigue life and system reliability — Challenge Owner: Saitec & Saitec Offshore Technologies
  • Floating Layout Optimization for Wind — Challenge Owner: TETRACE
• Open Challenges, which allow SMEs to propose solutions addressing the prioritised innovation lines identified through the Floating Offshore Wind Strategic Innovation Agenda, which is available for download in the Results & Resources section of the I3FLOAT website.

SMEs interested in applying should carefully review the 1st Open Call – Submission Toolkit, which contains the complete information on the call, including eligibility requirements, funding conditions, eligible costs, evaluation criteria, application procedure, reporting obligations and relevant deadlines.

1st Open Call – Submission Toolkit

The Submission Toolkit provides applicants with all the information required to prepare and submit a proposal to the I3FLOAT 1st Open Call, including eligibility conditions, funding rules, evaluation and selection criteria, application procedures, eligible costs, payment conditions and reporting requirements.

Applications must be submitted through the official online application form before the deadline indicated in the Submission Toolkit.

The link towards the submission platform is: I3FLOAT
Please note that applicants are responsible for reviewing the complete Open Call documentation before submitting their application.

Application deadline: November 10, 2026, at 17:00 CEST
For further information or clarification regarding the I3FLOAT 1st Open Call, please contact: msuarez@basquenergycluster.com

The I3FLOAT 1st Open Call is addressed to SMEs developing technological solutions for the floating offshore wind sector, with projects relatively close to commercialisation (TRL 6–8).
Applicants must meet the geographical eligibility requirements of the call. SMEs are eligible if they have their headquarters or an affiliated entity in an eligible I3FLOAT region, are members of an I3FLOAT cluster partner by June 2026, or are established in an eligible Less Developed Region (LDR), Outermost Region or Overseas Region, as defined in the Submission Toolkit.

Applications may be submitted by one SME individually or by two SMEs collaborating from eligible regions. Each application must address one — and only one — of the 11 Specific Challenges or 44 Open Challenges identified by I3FLOAT.

Applicants must also be able to demonstrate their financial stability and capacity, must not have an ownership connection with an I3FLOAT consortium partner, and may submit only one proposal. Applications must be prepared in English and submitted through the designated GoodGrants platform.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult the Submission Toolkit, particularly the eligibility criteria and the complete list of eligible regions, before preparing their proposal.

Selected SMEs will receive financial support to develop their innovative solutions, and will also become part of the wider I3FLOAT innovation ecosystem.

Funded SMEs will have access to Advisory Support Services provided through the I3FLOAT cluster network, including support for networking and scale-up, access to financing opportunities and investors, business model development, intellectual property and stakeholder mapping, and communication and pitching activities.