The Sea of Innovation Cantabria Cluster (SICC) also includes the regional government’s holding company, Sodercan, and 17 research and technology groups.
Sodercan says SICC’s aim is to form a joint private and public sector cluster to make this small coastal region "an international reference" for offshore technology and services.
Given the moratorium on commercial Spanish offshore installations to 2014, SICC says its focus is on offering technology and services abroad, mainly to the British, German and North American markets.
It will also consolidate an offshore R&D base and component supply chain in Cantabria, where both Vestas and Siemens have signed local agreements to establish offshore research activities.
SICC will build on pioneering experience in Cantabria, where two patented floating wind measuring masts, designed locally, already operate in waters of 50m and 200m depth, since 2009 and 2010, respectively.
A third tower, measuring 132m, is due for installation. (Windpower Monthly, April 2011). The semipublic developing consortium of those masts, Idermar, a SICC founding member, told Windpower Monthly it is holding "confidential negotiations" with "two global wind companies" to transfer its floating technology to actual turbines by end-2013.
