I3FLOAT supports Europe’s energy transition by reinforcing technological leadership in floating offshore wind, a key technology for unlocking deep-water wind resources in southern sea basins and outermost regions. The project pursues five strategic objectives: capitalising innovation through 10 interregional investments; building interregional collaboration ecosystems; strengthening value chains in Less Developed Regions (LDRs); empowering SMEs through funding and advisory services; and fostering public-private partnerships aligned with Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3). Expected impacts include accelerated time-to-market for floating wind technologies, increased participation of SMEs, improved regional cohesion and enhanced competitiveness of Europe’s industrial ecosystem.
Objectives & Impact
Methodology & Approach
I3FLOAT combines direct innovation funding, cascade funding for SMEs, advisory services and strategic roadmap activities. Ten near-to-market investments are deployed on four TRL6+ floating platforms operated by Saitec Offshore Technologies, Enerocean, Eolink and Multi Engineering. Two Open Calls will finance SME-driven projects aligned with the Floating Wind Innovation Roadmap. Advisory services include networking and scale-up support, financial advisory and valorisation services. The project also develops a participative roadmap and a value chain mapping tool to guide long-term industrial development.
Innovation Hubs & Connecting Nodes
Four Innovation Hubs anchor the implementation of innovation investments: Basque Country (Saitec), Andalusia (Enerocean), Occitanie & PACA (Eolink) and Flanders (Multi.Engineering). Four Connecting Nodes—Canary Islands, Campania, West Pomerania and Varna—facilitate replication, SME engagement and value chain expansion, especially in LDR and outermost regions. Together, these eight regions create a balanced interregional ecosystem supporting Europe’s floating wind supply chain.
