Foundations foR Offshore wiNd TurbInES (FRONTIErS)

The offshore wind sector has experienced rapid growth in recent years, with new turbine technologies, increased sizes and
construction locations further from the shore in deeper waters than ever before. A critical challenge for future developments is the
lack of knowledge surrounding how to design foundations to support these turbines, with the safety, life-span, cost and
environmental implications coming increasingly into question. To maintain Europe's stance as a world-leader in offshore wind,
Foundations foR Offshore wiNd TurbInES (FRONTIErS) DN has been designed to bring together research intensive universities and
major industry stakeholders to train the next generation of graduates with the appropriate skills to tackle the emerging issues
presenting as a barrier to continued development of the sector. 9 talented Early-Stage Researchers will undergo training via individual
guided research projects, network-wide discipline-specific and transferrable training events, and local training at each host, over a 36-
month PhD programme. ESRs will receive training in innovation, communication, commercialisation and entrepreneurship as well as
undertaking specific modules in business development to arm them with the requisite all-round skills to excel in academic or industry
careers. A tailored dissemination strategy will govern outputs and ensure that the research reaches wider audiences, both scientific
and public, through a variety of media. The secondment strategy is designed to expose ESRs to both academic and industry
environments to foster an appreciation for the requirements of each sector and to enable research translation. Where an ESR's
research makes an appropriate contribution to its field of science, the candidate will be awarded a doctorate degree from one of four
world-leading academic institutions partaking in the programme. FRONTIErS will create the next generation of high-skilled
professionals, who will be in high-demand in this expanding sector.