OPIN is a cross-sectoral collaborative network that aims to accelerate the growth of the ocean energy sector

Key project details

  • 2019 - 2022

    Planned duration of the project

  • €2.4 million

    Total project budget

  • SEAI

    Lead partner

About the Ocean Power Innovation Network (OPIN)

The Ocean Power Innovation Network (OPIN) is a cross-sectoral collaborative network that aims to accelerate the growth of the ocean energy sector and its supply chains across the partner regions of Ireland, the UK, Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Germany.

OPIN is a 3-year initiative, running from 2019 to 2022. The project had a total project budget of €2.4M, with €1.4M in financial support contributed by Interreg North West Europe from the European Research and Development Fund (ERDF). SEAI was the lead partner of this project and was reponsibile for coordinating all project activities.

Key results of the OPIN project

Cross-sectoral and cross-regional collaboration for Offshore Renewable Energy SMEs

In less than 4 years, the network has attracted more than 500 members from 35 countries from all over the world. OPIN organised close to 40 events; over 1500 people attended OPIN workshops, webinars & 3 symposiums, which provided them with latest insights into technology and developments in the offshore renewable energy sector.t.  

Supports to encourage offshore renewable energy deployment & technology exchange.

OPIN provided support to 35 SMEs via the Technology Assessment Process (TAP), an evidence based assessment of their technology conducted by a team of OPIN experts. The Technology Assessment Process (TAP) was designed to support both the developers in the ocean sector looking to develop their technology, and the developers in other sectors looking for opportunities to transfer technology into ocean energy. It offered an analysis of the development & support needs of SMEs, in which OPIN partners discussed design principles, opportunities to de-risk onward development and the route to commercialisation (product to market) with the technology developer. Following the completion of their TAP, 80% of recipients went on to test/develop their technology further, 60% increased their TRL and 40% released new products to the market.

A forum for collaboration exchange across the partner regions and technology

OPIN offered support to SMEs through the Collaborative Innovation Groups (CIGs). A Collaborative Innovation Group (CIG) is a small group of SMEs, often working with research entities and / or large companies, to solve specific problems which are barriers to deployment of ocean energy and offer opportunities for new products, services or markets. CIGs should focus on challenges which cannot or have not been solved by one SME alone and aim to include complementary skills and expertise. The work carried out by a CIG is defined as a Collaborative Innovation Project (CIP).  Collaborative Innovation Group facilitated through OPIN covered various topics, from corrosion monitoring, space technologies to pre-commercial funding.

Please find the link to OPIN brochure below

OPIN brochure

OPIN partners

The partners involved in delivering the OPIN Project are:

Find out more about OPIN