The North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (ON.2) approved the project IPP_ReTEE – IPP_ International Technological Networks of Wind Energy Sector.

This project promotes the participation of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto, on the one hand, in the European Technologic Platform for Wind Energy - TPWind (an European Network that operates in several areas related to wind power, which aim is to identify areas of greater innovation and research and to contribute to the development at an European level for better policies and practices regarding wind energy) and on the other hand, in the European Wind Energy Association - EWEA (with more than 600 members, representing a market share of more than 90% of the wind energy market, acting regarding wind sector international policy and the promotion of key aspects in the relationship industry-R&D institutions).

The goals for this Project include: to strengthen R&D activities of IPP at an European level; to increase the cooperation with renowned organizations in the area of wind power, the networking and integration into European lobby strategies with policy-makers; to facilitate the access in attracting public and private funds through the establishment of new R&D cooperation projects and measures of knowledge and technology transfer; to raise awareness and qualify the research community to the importance of an international action, where scientific excellence is a key factor for distinction and to take a leading role in the wind sector of the North region spreading knowledge and new technologies.

The deadline to implement this operation is 12 months, starting in October 2011 and the budget available is €78,944.82, supported by the FEDER in €55,261.37, which corresponds to 70% of co-funding. The scientific coordinator of the project will be Prof. Zita Vale.

This project represents another step that IPP is taking in its program of Energy Efficiency and Diffusion of Renewable Energy.