The MRE partnership is the network of European regions that include marine renewable energies in their Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3). It is one of the most active networks of the ‘S3Platform on Energy’, which has 5 networks in various fields of energy, all promoted by the DG REGIO of the European Commission (EC). This network is made up of sixteen European regions and it is co-led by the Basque Country (through SPRI) and Scotland. The Basque Energy Cluster supports the SPRI by acting as a liaison with Basque industry and providing technical assistance in the technical proposals and activities that are addressed.

The Bilbao meeting was attended by representatives from 8 European regions, as well as agents from the CPRM Atlantic Arc Commission, the network of Atlantic Arc regions, chaired by the Basque Energy Agency (EVE). Two members of the European Commission also took part in the meeting: Xabier Guillou, Policy Officer of the ‘Maritime Policy in the Atlantic, Arctic, outermost regions’ of DG MARE and Myriam Bóveda Team Leader for Spain of ‘OPs: Sustainable Growth’ in DG REGIO.

During the meeting representatives from both networks (MRE and CPRM) shared their most relevant projects and ongoing initiatives. The EC agents presented the plans and programmes to support marine renewable energies by DG MARE and DG REGIO. The Director of the Basque Energy Cluster participated in the meeting presenting the progress of the pilot project ‘Sensing and Remote Monitoring in Marine Renewable Energy facilities’ (S&RM), which the Basque Energy Cluster is coordinating and promoting through an agreement with DG REGIO. The meeting ended with a group visit to the ‘Wind Energy Basque Country’ stand.

The following day the regional representatives participated in the organised visit to the Port of Bilbao, where they visited the facilities of companies such as Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy and Haizea Wind.