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Overview
The North East Offshore Wind Innovation and Demonstration (NEOWIND) Programme has been established as a flagship regional initiative in North East England, funded by the North East MSA and delivered by ORE Catapult.
Funding Details
The Innovation Development (IDP) funding pot offers grants ranging from £150,000 to £300,000, covering between 25% and 60% of eligible project costs depending on project type and organisation size.
The funding is intended to support businesses undertaking research and development activities to develop new technologies for the offshore wind sector, in alignment with the thematic priorities established by the NEOWIND Programme Partners.
Direct Award
Funding Type
Competitive
Application Type
£150- £300k
Funded Value
Project Size
15-21 Months
Project Duration
Eligibility
It is highly recommended that companies read the full scope and guidance document to understand full programme eligibility.
Full Scope and GuidanceThis competition is open to companies registered in the North East MSA area operating in or with a clear desire to operate in the offshore renewable energy sector. North East MSA area is defined as: Northumberland, North-Tyneside, Newcastle upon Tyne, South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham* *administrative area not ceremonial county
Companies working in other supply chain sectors (e.g. oil and gas) are actively encouraged to apply providing the proposal demonstrates a clear innovative business case for offshore wind.
It is strongly recommended that proposals include evidence of support from an end-user or an industrial sponsor clearly demonstrating a potential route to market.
Applications from academic institutions, charities, not for profits, public sector organisation or a research and technology organisation (RTO) will not be accepted. Below are criteria for prospective applicants:
Essential Eligibility
Projects must:
Be led by a single enterprise with a registered address in the North East MSA area or commit to establishing one before project commencement
Request grant funding between £150,000 and £300,000.
Be able to start no later than 1 November 2026 and complete by 31 July 2028.
Demonstrate ambition for business growth (e.g. turnover, jobs, exports, IP).
Demonstrate a clear commercial use case and market opportunity within the offshore wind sector.
Comply with both the RDI streamlined route for subsidy control and the eligible costs outlined in the scope and guidance
Focus on developing innovative or competitive solutions for offshore wind.
Not be classified as an ailing enterprise.
Demonstrate a clear intention to develop and commercially exploit new technologies, services, or intellectual property.
Show clear plans to exploit project outcomes within or from the North East MSA region.
Demonstrate the ability to provide an appropriate level of match funding.
Demonstrate that the project would not proceed without grant support (additionality).
Not have already received grant funding for the same scope and project outcome.
Desirable Criteria
Projects should:
Provide evidence of end-user support or sponsorship
Demonstrate capability to develop and commercially exploit new technologies, services, or intellectual property.
Innovation Themes
The purpose of this competition is to support existing and transitioning supply chain companies within the North East MSA area to strengthen their market position through enhanced competitiveness and the development of innovative technologies, products and services. Applicants are invited to submit proposals for projects that demonstrate a high degree of innovation, encourage research and private investment in the North East, and deliver solutions of clear relevance and value to the offshore wind sector.
Applicants are invited to submit proposals for projects that match the below innovation themes.
Sustainable Deployment, Environment and Circular Design
Innovations that accelerate the sustainable deployment of offshore wind, reduce environmental impacts, extend asset value and embed circular principles across the full project lifecycle
- Accelerating project development and consenting
Innovation technologies, tools and processes that reduce project development timelines, improve consenting efficiency, strengthen environmental assessment capabilities and enhance evidence-based decision making throughout the offshore wind planning and approval process
- Asset life extension and circular end-of-life solutions
Innovations that enable the life extension, repowering, reuse and recycling of offshore wind assets and components, maximising value and reducing lifetime environmental impacts
- Decarbonisation and circularity across the asset lifecycle
Solutions that reduce carbon emissions and increase circularity throughout the offshore wind project lifecycle including innovations in materials, manufacturing, operations, maintenance and decommissioning
Advanced operations, maintenance and installation
Innovations that improve the safety, efficiency, reliability and cost effectiveness of offshore wind installation and O&M across both fixed and deep water developments.
- Robotics and autonomous systems for offshore intervention
Innovative robotic, autonomous and remotely operated technologies capable of interacting with assets resulting in increased safety, productivity and availability.
- Major component replacement and exchange
Solutions that optimise the planning, logistics and execution of major component exchange activities, reducing vessel dependencies, downtime and lifecycle costs.
- Novel foundation technologies and installation methods
Innovations in fixed and deep water foundation design, fabrication and installation that improve constructability, reduce costs, enhance scalability and support deployment in increasingly challenging environments.
- Digital and AI-Enabled Offshore Wind Operations
Digital, data-driven and AI solutions that enhance asset performance, operational decision making, installation planning, logistics and predictive maintenance across the offshore wind lifecycle.
Advanced portside logistics and operations
Innovations that enhance
the efficiency, capacity, resilience and digitisation of ports supporting
offshore wind deployment, assembly and O&M.
- Smart port logistics and asset management
Innovative technologies that improve offshore wind port logistics through enhanced asset visibility, tracking, automation and operational optimisation leading to increased efficiency across storage, handling and movement of components and equipment.
- Port energy infrastructure and electrification
Solutions that advance portside energy infrastructure, including vessel charging, energy storage, temporary power provision and grid integration.
- Heavy lift, marshalling and assembly optimisation
Innovations that improve the efficiency, safety and scalability of heavy life operations, component marshalling, pre-assembly and installation activities enabling the deployment of larger offshore wind assets.
- AI-Enabled digital ports
AI, digital twin data integration and advanced connectivity solutions including applications of 5G and emerging communication technologies that enable smarter, more connected data-driven port operations and logistics
Electrical and marine systems
Innovations that enhance the reliability, performance, resilience and scalability of offshore wind electrical and marine infrastructure enabling efficient deployment and long-term asset performance
- Advanced subsea cable technologies
Innovative cable technologies and solutions that improve the performance, reliability, monitoring, inspection, maintenance and repair of offshore power cables including advancements in geotechnics, anchoring systems and cable-seabed interaction.
- Seabed operations and installation optimisation
Innovations that improve the efficiency, safety and effectiveness of seabed operations, including trenching, cable burial, installation and protection across a range of conditions and depths.
- Innovations in transmission and energy systems
Solutions that advance offshore transmission infrastructure including high-voltage AC and DC technologies, increased cable capacity and capability, offshore grid architecture and integrated energy storage systems.
Open Innovation
Cross-cutting innovations with the potential to address strategic challenges facing the offshore wind sector and deliver significant benefits in safety, security and cost reduction. Examples provide below but are not limited to.
- Health, safety and workforce wellbeing
Innovative technologies and processes that enhance the health, safety and wellbeing of personnel across all stages of the offshore wind project lifecycle, from development and construction through to O&M
- Critical infrastructure protection and security
Solutions that strengthen the protection, monitoring and resilience of critical offshore wind infrastructure, including physical and cyber security for offshore assets, subsea systems, transmission networks and shoreside facilities.
- Cross sector technology transfer
Innovative solutions and technologies with proven application in other industries that can be adapted to address challenges and improve performance across the offshore wind sector.
Application Process
The Innovation Call is a set duration call; Applications can be submitted from 7th July 2026 to 3rd September 2026.
Applications will be assessed after this period with an expected funding notification to be made by 16th October 2026. Projects will need to begin by the 1st of November 2026.
The application process will be administered through the Skipso online platform. Applicants will be required to create an account before submitting an application. Application questions, together with supporting guidance, will be made available on the platform. Applicants will also be required to complete and upload the downloadable Excel finance and impact form, as part of their submission.
A formal question window will run from the 7th July – 21 August 2026, questions can be submitted to the NEOWIND@ore.catapult.org.uk email address, any questions submitted outside of this window or to other contacts will not be responded to.
Key dates
7th Jul - 3rd Sept 2026
Funding Call Duration
29th Jul 2026
7th Jul - 21st Aug 2026
Formal Question Window
3rd Sept - 16th Oct 2026
Application Assessment
1st Nov 2026 - 31st Jul 2028
Project Duration