€2.52 Million for Floating Offshore Wind Innovation: I3FLOAT Launches Its 1st Open Call

 The I3FLOAT project has officially launched its 1st Open Call, offering European SMEs the opportunity to receive funding and specialised support to bring innovative floating offshore wind solutions closer to market.

With a total budget of €2.52 million, the call targets SMEs developing technologies and solutions at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 6–8, with individual companies eligible to receive up to €60,000 in funding.

I3FLOAT is a European initiative funded under the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument, managed by EISMEA on behalf of the European Commission. The project aims to strengthen the European floating offshore wind value chain by connecting regional innovation ecosystems, supporting investment and accelerating promising solutions towards commercial deployment.

What support is available?

The 1st Open Call opened on 7 September 2026 and applications can be submitted until 10 November 2026 at 17:00 CET (Brussels time).

Individual SMEs can receive up to €60,000, while projects involving two SMEs from different eligible regions can receive up to €120,000. Selected projects can run for a maximum of 12 months.

Beyond direct financial support, selected SMEs will also gain access to networking and scale-up services, financial advisory support and valorisation services, helping companies strengthen both the technological and commercial potential of their innovations.

Who can apply?

The call is open to SMEs established in eligible regions represented within the I3FLOAT ecosystem, companies that are members of an I3FLOAT cluster partner, as well as SMEs located in eligible European Less Developed Regions (LDRs), outermost regions or overseas territories.

Regions represented in the consortium include:

Spain: Andalusia, Basque Country, Canary Islands, Cantabria, Madrid and Navarra;
France: Sud-PACA, Occitanie, Bretagne and Île-de-France;
Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy and Poland: all regions;
Portugal: Santarém;
Croatia: Primorje-Gorski Kotar;
Slovakia: Nitra.

Importantly, SMEs from all regions of Bulgaria are eligible to participate, opening an opportunity for Bulgarian technology companies and innovation providers to enter European floating offshore wind value chains and develop partnerships with organisations from established offshore wind ecosystems.

Projects involving at least one SME from a Less Developed Region will also receive additional points during the evaluation process.

From industry challenges to market-ready solutions

Applicants are expected to propose innovations responding to concrete technological needs of the floating offshore wind sector.

Projects can address one of the 44 prioritised innovation lines identified in the Floating Offshore Wind Strategic Innovation Agenda, referred to as the Open Challenges, or respond to one of 11 Specific Challenges proposed directly by leading industry stakeholders.

The companies behind the Specific Challenges include Iberdrola, EDF Power Solutions, Navantia Seanergies, Qair, Saitec, Eolink, EnerOcean, Aventa, Core Marine, Geodis and Tetrace.

This industry-driven approach is designed to connect innovative SMEs with real technological needs and accelerate solutions with clear potential for deployment and commercialisation.

Learn more at the I3FLOAT webinar

To support potential applicants, the I3FLOAT consortium will organise a dedicated 1st Open Call Webinar on 15 September 2026 at 10:00 CEST.

During the webinar, participants will learn more about the conditions and application process of the Open Call, the Floating Offshore Wind Strategic Innovation Agenda, and the 11 Specific Challenges proposed by industry stakeholders.

The webinar will also provide an opportunity for SMEs to better understand where their technologies could fit within the emerging European floating offshore wind value chain before preparing their applications.

Application deadline: 10 November 2026, 17:00 CET.

Companies active in offshore and maritime technologies, renewable energy, engineering, digital solutions, advanced materials, manufacturing and other relevant areas are encouraged to explore the challenges and identify where their expertise could contribute to the next generation of floating offshore wind technologies.