This focus group focuses on the innovation and technology pathway for offshore wind in the region—especially the floating wind priority. The discussion emphasised the need to move from strategic ambition to operational deployment by strengthening governance coherence, industrial coordination, and infrastructure readiness to support innovation and value capture in the offshore wind supply chain.

Participants

• Technology and innovation ecosystem actors:
• offshore wind technology developers
• engineering companies
• R&D laboratories
• universities and technical institutes
• digital technology providers (simulation, digital twins, monitoring systems)
• innovation agencies and technology transfer offices
• industrial partners in floating wind technology

Role of the group

• floating wind technologies
• innovation ecosystems
• R&D collaboration
• industrial supply chain development.

Goals

Foster innovation; support technology transfer; share R&D results.

Highlights

Participants identified the following SWOT factors:

• Strengths: suitability for floating wind due to deep seabed conditions; designated offshore hubs (e.g., Taranto and Augusta); pilot experience providing environmental evidence; integration within TEN‑E corridors.
• Weaknesses: gap between ambition and deployment; lengthy permitting; insufficient port infrastructure for heavy-lift and large turbines; limited structuring of a domestic floating wind supply chain; insufficient national–regional coordination.
• Opportunities: integrated Adriatic offshore energy systems; joint development zones; industrial reconversion of port economies; strong employment multiplier effects; possible ecological spillovers and biodiversity recovery perspectives.
• Threats: tariff instability; infrastructure readiness lag; value capture risk by non-European suppliers; cross-border administrative complexity; reputational risks from uncoordinated announcements.
• The discussion also noted the strategic relevance of Adriatic cooperation and referenced recent developments supporting maritime planning and cross-border alignment (including the Italy–Croatia EEZ delimitation agreement in April 2024 and links to maritime spatial planning processes).

Results and implications for ADRIONWIND

Key strategic trends identified: Participants converged on seven cross-cutting trends shaping offshore wind innovation deployment, including: a persistent gap between technical potential and administrative capacity, port infrastructure as a structural enabler, the need to consolidate domestic/regional supply chains, proactive environmental communication, and tariff/regulatory certainty as primary investment enablers.