A seminar with a business workshop on the topic "Floating Offshore Wind and the I3FLOAT Innovation Roadmap" took place in Varna

On 26 February 2026, in Varna, Marine Cluster Bulgaria organised a seminar and business workshop entitled “Floating Offshore Wind and the I3FLOAT Innovation Roadmap”, dedicated to unlocking the potential of floating offshore wind energy in the Black Sea region.

The event brought together representatives of industry, research organisations, public institutions and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), who discussed the challenges and opportunities facing the sector within the framework of the I3FLOAT Project.

The opening session included a presentation of the I3FLOAT project – its objectives, participating regions, partnership structure and opportunities for business engagement.

A European perspective was delivered online through the lecture “Basque Country: A European Example of Floating Wind Industrial Development”, presented by Marcos Suarez Garcia (Basque Energy Cluster). He shared successful models of industrial integration, the development of regional innovation ecosystems and supply chain mobilisation in one of Europe’s leading floating wind regions. 

The second session focused on the Bulgarian and Black Sea context. In the online presentation “Existing Potential and Strategic Framework for Offshore Wind Energy in the Black Sea”, Tsvetomir Nikolov (Center for the Study of Democracy) outlined Bulgaria’s regulatory framework, energy transition targets and prospects for regional cooperation.

Prof. Dr Eng. Rumen Kishev and Assoc. Prof. Dr Nikolay Markov presented “Technical Aspects and Specificities of the Application of Floating Wind Turbines in the Black Sea Basin”, addressing hydrodynamic conditions, infrastructure requirements, grid integration and specific engineering challenges in the Black Sea.

Research Fellow Eng. Lyudmil Ikonomov highlighted the environmental aspects of offshore wind energy, including marine ecosystem protection, environmental monitoring, stakeholder engagement and principles for sustainable deployment.

The discussion was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Petar Georgiev, who encouraged an active exchange between speakers and participants and shared his expertise on the subject.

During the afternoon business workshop, participants worked collaboratively on the development of a Floating Offshore Wind Innovation Roadmap under the I3FLOAT framework.

Through interactive dialogue and stakeholder input, key Innovation Lines relevant to Bulgaria and the wider Black Sea region were identified. Discussions focused on:

• Strengthening the regional supply chain and SME integration

• Technology transfer and research–industry collaboration

• Infrastructure and port readiness

• Technological solutions for sustainability and monitoring

• Skills development and workforce transition

Marine Cluster Bulgaria expresses its sincere gratitude to all speakers – including Assoc. Prof. Anastas Yangyozov and Dr Anna Karadencheva for their contributions – as well as to the partners and participants for their active engagement and valuable expertise, ideas and insights. In the networking part of the event partnering and funding opportunities from the network of EEN were shared and the businesses that are still not a part of the network were invited to join. 

Stay tuned for the upcoming I3FLOAT activities supporting innovation, interregional cooperation and the energy transition in the Black Sea region.