SHOREWINNER - Southern European Community for Offshore Wind Energy by IFOA

The SHOREWINNER initiative aims to strengthen the offshore renewable energy (ORE) workforce in Southern Europe by creating national Centers of Vocational Excellence and a transnational Community of Practice across Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece and Cyprus. Led in Italy by IFOA, the project develops a coordinated training and skills-development ecosystem to support the rapid expansion of offshore wind and other marine renewables. SHOREWINNER maps the resources and actors of the ORE sector, identifies current and future skill needs, and designs innovative, flexible training pathways ranging from vocational programmes to advanced upskilling and reskilling. It brings together training providers, universities, research organisations, companies and policymakers to co-design long-term strategies, governance models and shared services that can support job creation and workforce readiness. At regional level (particularly in Ravenna and Rimini, where major italian offshore wind projects are planned) the initiative helps build an integrated talent pipeline and supports the broader energy transition by improving sector visibility, attracting new workers, and promoting social acceptance of offshore renewable projects. SHOREWINNER provides a stable platform for cooperation and skill development, backed by a consortium of 28 partners and an online platform offering networking, training resources, job opportunities and collaboration spaces for professionals, institutions and students.