Japan's ambition to become a global leader in floating offshore wind is facing significant innovation bottlenecks, prompting a critical examination of successful international models, particularly Norway's integrated ecosystem. While collaboration between academia, industry, and government is widely recognized as essential for innovation, Japan's current mechanisms remain fragmented, lacking the cohesive framework seen in leading offshore wind nations.

Norway's success in advancing floating offshore wind, exemplified by projects like Hywind Tampen, stems from a multi-faceted approach. Central to this is the presence of applied research and development facilities such as the Marine Energy Test Centre (METCentre), which provides crucial real-world environments for testing floating wind concepts at sea. This enables innovative designs, like TetraSpar and Hywind Demo, to progress from conceptual models to certified, deployable technologies. In stark contrast, Japan, despite designating multiple test sites, still lacks an equivalent grid-connected offshore wind test center with an industry-friendly application process, hindering the commercial maturity of its innovations.

Furthermore, Norway's government, through agencies like ENOVA, plays a pivotal role in de-risking first-of-a-kind floating projects with strategic, mission-driven funding. ENOVA's support was instrumental in enabling Hywind Tampen, now the world’s largest floating offshore wind farm, and continues to back other innovative projects such as GoliatVIND (75-MW) and the Wind Catching Demo. Japan’s current project-by-project subsidy model, like the Green Innovation Fund by NEDO, offers no comparable consistent innovation pathway, often limiting access to established companies with substantial capital.

Academic expertise is deeply embedded within Norway's innovation framework, as demonstrated by the Bergen Offshore Wind Center (BOW) and the University of Bergen. Their cross-disciplinary research, spanning marine science, spatial planning, and environmental impact, directly collaborates with industry leaders such as Equinor on projects like Hywind Tampen. This contrasts with Japan's research agendas, which are often government-driven and insufficiently connected to evolving industry needs, with a reliance on short-term consortia rather than long-term trust-building partnerships.

Japan's current innovation landscape, often referred to as Sankangaku Renkei, suffers from a disconnect where applied R&D is primarily government-driven, industry focuses narrowly on tender wins, and universities lack sustained incentives for long-term offshore wind innovation. Without stronger coordination, Japan risks losing competitiveness in floating offshore wind, a sector where global competition is intensifying rapidly. Floating offshore wind presents unique engineering and cost challenges, requiring a market structure built on mass production and economies of scale, akin to the automotive industry's evolution from custom orders to serial production. To achieve global competitiveness and build a robust domestic supply chain, Japan must invest in a more cohesive innovation system.

With the establishment of FLOWRA, Japan has begun strengthening international R&D partnerships. However, to truly close the innovation gap, Japan should consider establishing a national offshore wind test center, shifting from one-off project subsidies to a mission-driven innovation fund for floating offshore wind, and incentivizing long-term industry-government-academia partnerships modeled on successful Norwegian collaborations. Floating offshore wind represents a significant industrial opportunity for Japan, but realizing its potential demands more than just auctions and subsidies; it requires the cultivation of a true innovation ecosystem.