Offshore Wind Industry Meets in Denmark for Speed Dating

Invited by Offshoreenergy.dk the international offshore wind industry gathers in Denmark for company speed dating.

Large foreign companies go to Esbjerg, Denmark, on 11th to 12th December 2013. They are participating in the annual event OWIB – Offshore Wind Industry Business to business event – arranged by Offshoreenergy.dk in cooperation with Danish Wind Industry Association and Esbjerg Business Development Centre. The gathering of both multiple foreign companies and Danish companies gives the participants the opportunity to let representatives meet face to face. Normally these meetings can be very difficult and expensive to arrange. All companies attending OWIB gets the chance to meet up to 17 companies by own choice, so that they can clarify whether the basis for further contact or cooperation exists.

One of the participating foreign companies is the French wind turbine manufacture Alstom Power, who is currently concentrating a lot of efforts into the offshore market. Also Japan will be represented with Samsung Heavy Industries, producing wind turbines and wings. For past events several Norwegian companies have attended OWIB. This year the largest producer of energy in Norway, Statkraft, will also be there. It is essential to OWIB that the event attracts some of the large international companies in the offshore wind industry, explains the Development Manager of Offshoreenergy.dk, Morten Holmager. But he emphasizes that companies of all sizes are welcome.

– The unique thing about OWIB is that large and small companies get the opportunity to meet and clarify whether there is reason to keep and develop the contact. A lot of the small and middle-sized Danish companies have specialized knowledge in demand by foreign companies, says Morten Holmager.

Because of the great international interest the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, “Invest in Denmark”, is now head sponsor of the event. Invest in Denmark will sponsor and participate in the event for the 3. Year in a row, tells Kim Schultz, Regional Project Manager in Invest in Denmark.

– Invest in Denmark is working on attracting foreign investments to Denmark and there is great potential within the offshore wind industry. Denmark has a lot of experience and a leading position when it comes to developing technology and services. OWIB is a very good opportunity to engage in dialogue with relevant foreign companies and specialized media. We would like to make sure that they get a good first impression, of what Danish competences and strong network within the wind industry can do for their business, he says.

Offshoreenergy.dk has extended the program so that foreign participants derive higher professional profit by the trip to Denmark. Before the business to business event they can join a trip around Denmark visiting some of the largest companies within the offshore wind industry. Danish Wind Industry Association and UK Trade and Invest, The British Embassy, are coordinating this trip.

Even though OWIB is an annual event gathering the wind industry in Denmark, this year an even larger organization, Offshoreenergy.dk, is backing the event. In May Offshore Center Danmark, The Alliance for Green Offshore Energy and Green Offshore Center joined and took the new name Offshoreenergy.dk. This means that focus on Renewables has been strengthened. Oil & Gas and Renewables have become co-ordinates in two divisions of Offshoreenergy.dk. The division of Renewables has gotten a Manager of it’s own. Morten Basse has previously been manager in companies like Djurs Windpower, Apro Wind, Unistaal and Spectronic and therefore has thorough insights into the wind industry.

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Press release, September 9, 2013