OSW: HUGE POTENTIAL, INVOLVEMENT OF REGIONS CRUCIAL BUT PATCHY4POWER (Policy and Public Private Partnerships for Offshore Wind EneRgy) focuses on the role of regions in relation to Offshore wind energy (OSW). OSW has an enormous potential as a renewable energy source: EEA has calculated that it is economically feasible to generate over 60 to 70% of EU’s total energy demand by OSW in 2020. Regions are crucial for further OSW development, for practical reasons - electricity cables have to ‘land’ in coastal regions – and because of the political and strategic role they can play – e.g. creating Triple Helix linkages and stimulating business networks.While the technological advancement in OSW applications is considerable in industry, the uptake in terms of knowledge and effective policy in Europe’s regional and local governments is still patchy. There are clear front-runner regions on offshore wind energy implementation and regions with similar ambitions, but without the level ofexperience and/or knowledge to implement OSW in the short term.PARTNERSHIP REPRESENTING DIVERSITY, STRONG INTERREGIONAL COOPERATION4POWER stimulates knowledge exchange between front-runner regions (Rostock, Dundee), regions underway (Emden, Groningen, Rimini) and regions in the stage of orientation (Azores, Malta, Latvia) to create common understanding on current and future regional challenges in OSW development. The partners represent various angles of the Triple Helix: local and regional authorities, specialised energy institutes set up by government, public-private business organisation and knowledge institutions. The level of interaction between partners is strong, there are 7 joint project meetings, 11 bilateral study visits and 3 international conferences. The 4POWER approach is such that the transnational project groups specify the required regional input, this input is then translated back to project and EU level.2 THEMES, 3 PHASES - The partnersjointly work on two themes: creating an efficient regional policy framework (1) and a favourable business and innovation climate aimed at implementation (2). Three phases are defined for project implementation: divergence (regional consultation rounds, comparative analysis documents), convergence (mainstreaming session, good practice examples, thematic guidelines), and translation into strategy (local/regional strategies, project implementation guide (PoG) and EU OSW policy charter).The PoG is directed towards regions and will be offered to the Committee of the Regions. It's an overview of project findings, summarizing local implementation plans, forming a guide for regions to prepare for OSW development.The policy charter will include practical policy recommendations towards EU policy-making level on how to make regions more aware and better equipped to create an EU level playing field for OSW implementation. It will be offered to a high-profile EU official at the end-event. Achievements: The first semester of our project was meant to get to know each other and to get to know the project. In February 2012 we all met up at Schiphol Airport and saw each other face to face for the first time. We discussed the planning and installed the Steering Group and the 2 thematic workgroups. TWG “Implementation” focuses on promoting a favourable business and innovation climate aimed at implementation of offshore wind and TWG “Frameworks” works on creating an efficient regional policy framework. The official Kickoff meeting took place in Rostock, Germany, where 25 delegates from our partnership gathered for a project meeting. Rostock Business organised the 2 day event. The first day was spent with project details and we got started on the content. During the 2 TWG sessions all partners reflected on the development of Offshore Wind in their region and the main issues encountered. During the second day we visited the first German commercial Offshore Wind farm “Baltic 1”. We were joined by a delegation of representatives of German governments. During the boat trip all partners presented themselves and we discussed the 4POWER project with the other participants of the trip and we learned more about the development and installation of Baltic 1. In the evening we joined the Wind and Maritime Event for a networking dinner.