OWI CREATE | The Belgian Offshore Wind Innovation Center for Research, Expertise and Advanced Technology Excellence

OWI CREATE will advance the Belgian offshore (wind) sector in the national and international market by accelerating innovation. This involves consolidating all (new, ongoing and completed) R&D initiatives within a unified Offshore Energy Center of Excellence. The main goals of this center are to formulate a joint innovation roadmap for Belgium, foster technological innovations in core labs, cultivate multidisciplinary research and set up an academy. The emphasis is on enhancing internationalization and nurturing collaboration among academia, industry and policymakers.

Goals and results

• Create a Center of Excellence to coordinate and communicate all offshore energy-related research and development.
• Develop an innovation roadmap for Belgium's offshore energy sector based on European guidelines and Belgium’s unique expertise. 
• Future-proof existing OWI core labs through technological innovations, expanding into new areas like floating wind and energy islands. 
• Build a triple-helix innovation structure, fostering collaboration between research, industry, and policymakers to ensure the uptake of R&D results. 
• Establish a leading offshore energy academy involving all major Belgian research organizations to train talent and support skill-building.

Approach

The OWI CREATE project uses a multi-faceted approach combining research results, industrial collaboration, and  our expanding academic backbone. The initiative consolidates previous and ongoing R&D project results and recommendations and builds on Belgium’s strong history of innovation in offshore wind energy.  The project also aligns with international roadmaps like ETIP Wind, expanding the scope of Belgian expertise to follow global trends and emerging offshore energy technologies. OWI CREATE benefits from collaborations with international partners and associations, positioning Belgian companies and research institutions as leaders in offshore energy across Europe and beyond.

Six work packages define the activities of OWI CREATE:

• Innovation Roadmapping
• Strengthening and future-proofing core labs
• Bridging the gap between research and industry needs
• Developing the triple-helix innovation framework
• Creating the OWI Academy for training and collaboration
• Project management, communication, and dissemination

Target Audience

• Belgian offshore wind industry: Large companies, SMEs, and startups operating within the offshore wind sector.
• Research institutions: Universities and labs in Belgium that focus on offshore energy, engineering, and innovation.
• Policymakers: Government bodies shaping policies for renewable energy, with a focus on innovation and international collaboration.

Partners

The project is led by 3 key Belgian institutions:

• Sirris: Belgium’s collective center for the technology industry, coordinating innovation roadmaps and gap analysis.
• VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel): Responsible for strengthening core labs and ensuring they remain at the forefront of European research.
• UGent (Ghent University): Leads the triple-helix innovation strategy and OWI Academy, fostering collaboration between industry, academia, and policymakers.