“Ready for Offshore” programme to equip Polish companies seeking to enter the offshore wind sector: training, competence development and financing of up to PLN 100 million

In July of this year, electricity generated by an offshore wind farm was supplied to the Polish grid for the first time in history, through the Baltic Power project. This marks the beginning of an ambitious offshore development programme in Poland. In the near future, the Baltic Sea has the potential to become one of the most important regions for the development of new, stable and low-carbon energy sources for the economy. According to Poland’s energy policy objectives, the country plans to achieve 5.9 GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030, with this potential increasing to as much as 18 GW by 2040. With planned investments reaching PLN 500 billion by 2040, the sector is expected to become one of the key drivers of the energy transition and a cornerstone of Poland’s energy security.

The “Ready for Offshore” programme responds to the needs of the emerging offshore ecosystem and supply chain, including offshore wind investors, Polish companies seeking participation in contracts, and research and development institutions. The programme was designed following consultations with representatives from various industries. These consultations confirmed that Polish companies are ready to enter the offshore market but require support in developing competencies and gaining access to financing.

The initiative is built on two pillars:

Tailored Financial Instruments – ARP S.A. provides companies interested in joining offshore supply chains with a package of flexible financial products, including: investment loans, including loans backed by the InvestEU guarantee, development loans supporting projects financed through EU grants, leasing solutions. These instruments can be combined flexibly to finance investments required for the execution of offshore contracts. In addition, companies carrying out such projects within special economic zones managed by ARP may benefit from corporate income tax exemptions of up to 70% of the investment value for up to 15 years.

Competencies and Certifications – Based on recommendations developed together with PARP, Polish companies can access subsidised training programmes listed in the Development Services Database (BUR). These programmes cover eight key competencies required for participation in offshore projects, including: supply chain entry strategies, tendering and bidding processes, contracting, health and safety, quality management, delivery execution, innovation, and workforce development.

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Originally published on 15 Sep

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Poland: EIB contributes €400 million to building the EU’s largest offshore wind farm

By European Investment Bank 31 January 2025

The European Investment Bank (EIB) signed an agreement to support Poland’s largest utility Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE) with a €400 mln loan towards the design and construction of Baltica 2, the European Union’s largest offshore wind farm to date. Baltica 2 will feature innovative technology for a 1.5 GW capacity and sit off the Polish coast in the Baltic Sea. Supported by major European funding, it is being developed by PGE and leading offshore wind company, Denmark’s Ørsted.

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Originally published on 30 Jan

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EU invests over €1.2 billion in cross-border infrastructure contributing to build our Energy Union and to boost competitiveness

By The European Commission 30 January 2025

The Commission will allocate almost €1.25 billion in grants from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to 41 cross-border energy infrastructure projects, which have obtained the status of Projects of Common Interest and Projects of Mutual Interest (PCIs and PMIs) in 2024 under the Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) policy framework.

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Originally published on 30 Jan

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Ultrasound Technology Puts Lithuania on the Global Map: “We Started with the Idea of Applying It to Industry”

By Innovation Agency Lithuania 28 January 2025

Lithuanian company Ulsontech has attracted interest from businesses not only in Europe but also in Asia with its innovative ultrasound solutions. Successfully entering international markets, the company’s CEO, Dr. Vykintas Samaitis, highlights that this achievement is the result of consistent effort and the adoption of new digitization solutions supported by the European Digital Innovation Hub EDIH4LT and the Innovation Agency Lithuania.

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Originally published on 28 Jan

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A measure to support energy storage is being planned as part of the coalition agreement

By Zero Terrain 27 January 2025

The coalition parties have agreed that either the state or Elering will support the construction of energy storage capacities. The Ministry of Climate historically believed energy storage would be built on market demand. The Ministry of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas stated, “If we purchase offshore wind energy on a large scale and develop these capabilities, we must also ensure that we have the infrastructure for long duration energy storage.” She emphasised that constructing an offshore wind facility without appropriate energy storage poses a significant risk of energy being exported.

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Originally published on 27 Jan

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Estonia Launches €100M Defence Fund

By The Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications 21 January 2025

The Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications has announced the launch of a €100 million Defence Fund, established to support the development of innovative defence and security capabilities to meet the growing global demand for new solutions. Managed by national fund manager SmartCap, the fund will provide direct investments to defence companies and funds investing in military and dual-use technologies.

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Originally published on 21 Jan

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Energiø Bornholm has every chance of becoming a good business for Denmark

By Baltic Energy Island 16 January 2025

Doubts have been raised about Energiø Bornholm’s relevance and economy, but the project has never been more important. Besides being a crucial project in the European fight against climate change, the energy island has every opportunity to become a good business for Denmark.

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Originally published on 15 Jan

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Hollister Incorporated boosts Lithuanian presence with 100 new hires

By Invest Lithuania 14 January 2025

US healthcare products manufacturer Hollister Incorporated is expanding its Lithuanian operations. This month, the company has officially opened its financial services center, Hollister SSC Lithuania, complementing its manufacturing facility, Hollister Lietuva, located in the Kaunas Free Economic Zone. Building on this growth, the company has announced plans to establish a new product development (NPD) center at its Lithuanian facility later in the year.

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Originally published on 14 Jan

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Estonia opened Business Hub in Washington D.C.

By Trade with Estonia 17 October 2024

Estonia opened the first Business Hub in U.S. Located at the Embassy of Estonia in Washington, D.C., the Business Hub will serve as a bridge between Estonian companies and the vast business opportunities in the U.S. market. A delegation of Estonian defence industry innovators was present at the opening event, also attending the annual AUSA conference.

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Originally published on 17 Oct

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