The WindPowerCluster has advanced to the next round of the cutting-edge cluster competition organised by the Federal Ministry of Education and
research (BMBF): this was announced by the competition jury on 22 June 2011. The cluster is coordinated by ForWind, the centre for wind energy research at the universities of Oldenburg, Hanover and Bremen, the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology (IWES) and the wind energy agency WAB.

The success in the cutting-edge cluster competition shows the appreciation of the research carried out at ForWind and thus at the universities of Oldenburg, Hanover and Bremen. With their expertise and basic research, the scientists are driving forward the development of wind energy not only in the north-west region, but throughout Germany, explained Prof Dr Babette Simon, President of the University of Oldenburg, Prof Dr Erich Barke, President of the University of Hanover, and Prof Dr Wilfried Müller, Rector of the University of Bremen, on the occasion of today's jury decision.

The WindPowerCluster is committed to the industrialisation of the construction and operation of offshore wind turbines in the northwest region. This is achieved through the optimisation and development of manufacturing and installation processes. Together with industry and research partners, the cluster realises the development of offshore wind energy in the North Sea and Baltic Sea and opens up new markets - also outside Germany.

The aim of the BMBF's cutting-edge cluster competition is to sustainably strengthen the innovation and competitiveness of the German economy. To this end, an independent jury selects five cutting-edge clusters, which are funded with up to 40 million euros over a maximum period of five years. The most efficient clusters from industry and science in a region are supported. ForWind, IWES and the Wind Energy Agency now have until 30 September to submit their cluster strategy to the project management agency in Jülich. The decision on which cutting-edge clusters will be funded by the BMBU will then be made in January 2012.