Offshore Wind Innovation Hub Launches 2026 Call for Innovators

The Offshore Wind Innovation Hub, an initiative led by Urban Future Lab at NYU Tandon School of Engineering and the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium (NOWRDC) in collaboration with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), announced its 2026 Call for Innovators with an application deadline of July 27, 2026.

Now entering its fourth year, the program serves as a critical platform for advancing technologies that support offshore wind, including adjacent ocean and maritime sectors, and the broader climate economy.

This year’s program introduces several strategic updates, among them a new partnership with NYSERDA, which deepens the program's ties to the state's clean energy transition while stimulating economic development. The program, which was developed in partnership with Equinor and has supported 18 cohort companies and 44 members, also expands industry collaborations with support for Vestas’ Innovator Program.

“The Offshore Wind Innovation Hub is the only US-based incubator solely dedicated to offshore wind startups and continues to drive cutting-edge technologies that support the domestic production of clean, reliable and affordable energy. This collaborative program is opening doors to our state’s most innovative offshore wind and technology developers and attracting promising tech companies to grow their operations in New York,” said NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris.

"Scaling offshore wind technology requires a robust ecosystem of innovators, collaborators, and visionaries. Expanding our partnership network allows us to bridge the gap between pilot concepts and commercial reality in new ways. I am thrilled to welcome our new partners and work with them and our new incoming cohort," said Tone Søndergaard, Director, Offshore Wind Innovation Hub.

"Offshore wind has an extraordinary role to play in our clean energy future. Realizing that potential takes the right partners, committed resources, and a clear drive to push the boundaries of technology and innovation. We are incredibly proud of what the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub has accomplished and of the companies we've had the privilege of supporting along the way. This expanded coalition of partners deepens that foundation and gives us renewed confidence in our ability to tackle the hard challenges ahead. We are excited to see what this next phase will bring.", said Lyndie Hice-Dunton, Executive Director, NOWRDC.

The program is also expanding its technology scope to include turbine components, port operations, and maritime logistics, reflecting both the growing convergence between offshore wind and adjacent sectors and the program's commitment to solutions that can adapt as the industry evolves.

A new addition to the successful corporate mentorship program provided by the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub is the availability of Seed Innovation Grants to selected startups. These grants will enable them to execute on offshore wind piloting opportunities in the US.

With this 2026 Call for Innovators, the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub is especially seeking technologies that can maximize the performance and value of existing and near-term projects. Despite industry slowdowns, ongoing offshore wind projects continue to provide innovators with unique opportunities to advance solutions development.

“It's great to see the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub’s progress over the past three years—from supporting entrepreneurs to advancing innovations and helping create new economic opportunities. This partnership with NYSERDA reflects the Hub’s growing role in strengthening New York’s offshore wind ecosystem, and Vestas is proud to support their work,” said Amy McGinty, Vice President, Offshore Customer Project Execution, Vestas.

“Equinor has had a front-row seat to everything the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub has built over the past three years: the founders, the breakthroughs, the connections that turned into commercial opportunities. This new partnership with NYSERDA is an exciting opportunity that reflects how much the Hub has accomplished,” said Beth Treseder, Vice President, PWR EW Communications and External Affairs.

“Offshore wind is an important long-term pillar of the clean energy transition, and NYU Tandon is committed to helping the industry reach its potential. Collaboration with innovative early-stage companies is central to that commitment, and we are excited to meet the next cohort of founders working in this space. By connecting them with our faculty expertise and research resources, we can help close the gap between where the technology is today and where it needs to go,” said Linda Ng Boyle, Vice Dean for Research, NYU Tandon School of Engineering.

The program is also debuting a newly revamped headquarters at BATWorks, the climate innovation hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal. The move, made possible through the support of NYCEDC and in partnership with Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), situates the cohort along Brooklyn's waterfront where climate entrepreneurs and talent are working to develop, pilot, and deploy new solutions to mitigate and combat the effects of climate change.

The program recognizes that while project timelines and market conditions may fluctuate, the need for innovation across offshore wind and adjacent climate sectors remains constant. Founders within the program have demonstrated that adaptability and strategic pivoting are essential capabilities.

Across the past cohorts, innovators have secured a combined $106 million in funding and achieved an average revenue growth of 67% following program participation. The 2025 cohort alone reported a 327% year-over-year revenue increase. Innovators consistently report high satisfaction, with a 97% average rating and many citing the program as a pivotal contributor to their success. View the full impact report.

“New York City is committed to connecting local workers to the jobs of the future, particularly in fast-growing sectors like the green economy, which we expect will employ hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers in the coming decades,” “We are proud to welcome the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub headquarters to BATWorks where the fourth cohort of innovators in the wind, maritime, and climate industries can come together to test, grow, and scale the technologies that will power our city’s future,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) Interim President & CEO Jeanny Pak.

“Our goal with joining the program was to explore technology adaptation from land-based to offshore wind. On this journey, the program provided us with direct access to the U.S. offshore wind ecosystem, allowing us to validate the real market need for our technology. Through valuable mentorship, we were able to evaluate our system outputs and refine our offshore strategy,” said Balca Yilmaz, CEO & Cofounder, Werover.

“This program was a great investment of time. The highlight was landing our first project in the US and entering negotiations for a second. Both are direct result from connections made through the program,” said Nejc Novak, CEO & Cofounder, Anemo Robotics.

For more information, eligibility criteria, and application details, please visit the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub website. Registration is open for the hybrid program info session on June 25, 2026, and the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub is also hosting a Q&A social hour on July 22, 2026.

About the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub

Catalyzing startups to unleash the potential of offshore wind in New York and beyond. We leverage our New York City hub to grow the US offshore wind industry by harnessing the entrepreneurial powers of both global industry-leading startups and the local community. Our innovative programming and strong networks connecting innovators, local partners, investors, and industry will foster demonstration opportunities, safety awareness, knowledge transfer, innovation, and job creation. Through collaborative partnerships, we accelerate the local development of new technologies for the national offshore wind industry to facilitate cost-efficiency gains. Our commitment to diversity and equity will advance an inclusive supply chain and business development and accelerate the green economy. To learn more, visit www.offshorewindnyc.com.

About the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium (NOWRDC)

The National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium, established in 2018, is a not-for-profit public-private partnership dedicated to advancing offshore wind in the United States. Through funded R&D projects, Joint Industry Projects, and innovation programming, NOWRDC works to lower the levelized cost of offshore wind energy, advance environmentally responsible development, and strengthen U.S. supply chain opportunities. Funding is led by seven state members, including co-founder NYSERDA, and is amplified by contributions from NOWRDC's industry members. For more information, please visit nationaloffshorewind.org.  

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

Since 1975, NYSERDA has been working to advance New York’s energy system and economy. As a public benefit corporation, NYSERDA has served as an objective source for information and technical expertise to drive innovation and investment. NYSERDA professionals have worked to protect the environment and help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. To learn more about NYSERDA’s programs and funding opportunities, visit nyserda.ny.gov.

About New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)

New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About the Urban Future Lab at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering

​The Urban Future Lab at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering is a nonprofit innovation hub for best-in-class climatetech startups with a focus on clean energy and sustainable urban infrastructure solutions. ​It houses ACRE, New York’s longest-running climatetech incubator, Clean Start; the Carbon to Value Initiative and the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub, which bring innovative technologies and solutions to industry leaders; and the Innovate UK Global Incubator Programme, which supports market entry in the U.S. for U.K.-based climatetech startups that can effectively scale and support the clean growth goals of New York State. It also offers an advanced certificate from NYU for people seeking a transition into the climatetech sector, As an integral part of Tandon’s Sustainable Engineering Initiative and NYU Tandon Future Labs network, the UFL is home to programs focused on policy, education, and market solutions for the green economy. For more information, visit ufl.nyc or LinkedIn and Instagram.

About the New York University Tandon School of Engineering

The NYU Tandon School of Engineering is home to a vibrant community working across disciplines to solve humanity’s greatest challenges. Researchers and students advance and learn at the intersections of emerging areas including Quantum Sciences and Technologies, Robotics and Embodied Intelligence, Engineering Systems, Sustainability, Health and Culture. The school dates back to 1854, the founding year of both the New York University School of Civil Engineering and Architecture and the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute. Located in the heart of Brooklyn, NYU Tandon is a vital part of New York University and its unparalleled global network. For more information, visit engineering.nyu.edu.