The Basque internationalisation agency of the SPRI Group took part in the Global Offshore Wind Summit Japan 2026 to share the keys to the competitiveness of the Basque wind energy value chain and promote new business collaboration opportunities with Japan.
Basque Trade & Investment participated in the Global Offshore Wind Summit Japan 2026 (GOWS-J), held from 13 to 15 October in Nagasaki, where it presented the Basque Country’s experience in developing a competitive and internationally oriented wind energy value chain. The participation helped raise the profile of the industrial and technological capabilities of Basque companies and highlighted the potential of international collaboration to strengthen offshore wind supply chains.
The Basque presence at this international event, organised by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and the Japan Wind Power Association (JWPA), was structured around an exhibition space featuring Basque companies, a presentation as part of the Regional Forum & Networking, and Basque Trade & Investment’s participation in a round table on international cooperation in the offshore wind supply chain.
The Basque Country shares the keys to its industrial development with key sector stakeholders
One of the central elements of the participation was the intervention of Nadia Maestro, Competitive Intelligence Manager at Basque Trade & Investment, in the round table International Collaboration in the Offshore Wind Supply Chain. The discussion addressed the challenges and opportunities for developing the wind energy supply chain in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the role of cooperation between markets in driving the sector’s growth.
During her intervention, Basque Trade & Investment outlined the evolution of the Basque wind industry, from its origins linked to industrial manufacturing and the development of onshore wind energy to its current position as an international supplier of technologies, equipment and services for offshore wind, including floating technology.
The Basque experience helped highlight the importance of having a solid industrial base, supported by energy, industrial and technology policies that are aligned and sustained over time. Throughout this process, public-private collaboration, cluster policy and investment in technological capabilities and testing infrastructure have helped strengthen the industrial ecosystem and encouraged the internationalisation of Basque companies.
The round table brought together representatives of leading sector organisations and companies, including Vestas, the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) and Doosan Enerbility. It was moderated by Chihiro Terasawa, Director of Research in the Green Transformation Division of Mitsubishi Research Institute.
Japan, a strategic market for offshore wind cooperation
Japan regards offshore wind as a key technology for advancing its energy transition and climate neutrality goals by 2050. Its maritime potential and the experience of its manufacturing industry offer opportunities to develop new production capabilities and consolidate specialised supply chains.
During the event, participants highlighted the need for a stable and predictable market, supported by policies that provide long-term visibility and enable companies to plan investments, develop industrial capabilities and achieve economies of scale.
Participants also stressed the importance of leveraging the complementarities between international value chains, promoting specialisation and avoiding duplication. In this context, Japan’s technological and manufacturing capabilities offer areas of complementarity with the Basque Country’s industrial experience, which could open up new avenues for business cooperation.
Collaboration between the two ecosystems can help identify business opportunities, promote joint projects and strengthen the presence of Basque companies in global offshore wind value chains.
Source: SPRI Edited by Jon Erramun Arrue-Karazo