This week the Flow Accelerator launches their program focused solely on offshore wind. Five companies from three European countries stand ready to accelerate their innovations. The program launches with a digital kickoff the 27th of January, together with Norwegian Offshore Wind. This year the program will tour Norway, with workshops in Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger and Haugesund.
Flow Offshore Wind Accelerator is built for startups and scaleups with innovative ideas within the ocean industries and sustainability. With strong support from industry partners and investors within the maritime field on the west coast of Norway, the goal is to help the companies scale efficiently, aligned with the offshore wind development.
– As an offshore wind developer, we want to provide opportunities for the supplier industry at an early stage. By participating in this program as a partner, we look forward to meet innovative companies with new technological solutions that can be relevant for the development of sustainable and profitable offshore wind farms, says Silje Rødeseike, Communication Manager in Deep Wind Offshore
- Within the field of offshore wind we see that innovation and new solutions often come from smaller companies. It is therefore important that we contribute where we can, so that these companies can get a foothold in the industry as early as possible. We must ensure that good ideas become profitable, says cluster manager of Norwegian Offshore Wind, Arvid Nesse.
This year the startups come from Norway, Spain, and Germany. The first Norwegian company is North Geoservices, who develop new geophysical surveying solutions, and who aim towards projects within offshore wind, ocean mining, and carbon storage. Saferock, also from Norway, produces geopolymer-concrete from industry waste, a method which can cut over 70% of carbon emissions. Alerion and X1 Wind joins the program from Spain, both focused on offshore wind. Alerion deliver autonomous drone inspection for wind farms both onshore and offshore, while X1 Wind have developed their own design of a floating wind platform.
The last company is Sensorise from Germany, who develop smart machine components to monitor and predict asset condition. Through their solutions they will help operators avoid accidents, reduce downtime and increase asset lifetime.
Flow Offshore Wind Accelerator has evolved into a full-year program with continuous onboarding of new exciting companies within offshore wind. The program is a combination of physical and digital workshops and plans to have the first physical gathering in Norway as soon as possible. The program is supported by partners from the industry. Deep Wind Offshore, Subsea 7, Haugaland Kraft, Karmsund Havn, and Stiftelsen Agenda Vestlandet, all contribute with expertise and mentors.
Helge Myrvang, Tender Manager at Subsea 7 is looking forward to see what the startups can show them;
- We believe new technologies will play an important role in a common effort across the industry to strengthen the competitiveness of offshore wind. Through this program we hope to connect with companies working on new and exciting technologies within floating wind, says Myrvang.
Flow Accelerator is a unique accelerator program focused solely on the ocean industries. The accelerator is based in Haugesund, and their mission is to accelerate startups and drive innovation for the ocean industries by building a curated community of startups, scaleups, corporate partners and mentors.
