De Rijke Noordzee (DRN) is a Dutch organization with a mission to enhance nature utilizing the opportunities which offshore wind farms offer. The organization is currently working on several nature enhancement projects in offshore wind farms in the Dutch part of the North Sea. However, DRN’s mission to enhance biodiversity does not stop at the borders of the North Sea. Therefore, I explored in this report the opportunities for DRN to collaborate with the North Sea countries in offshore wind farms (OWFs).

To find opportunities for DRN, I started with an analysis of De Rijke Noordzee by interviewing employees of DRN. Based on this analysis, I found two critical needs regarding international collaboration. The need for a strategy on international collaboration between North Sea countries and a way to share knowledge on nature enhancement. Furthermore, I identified three valuable strengths of DRN: 1) connector between science, industry and government, 2) practical performer in nature enhancement projects, 3) opportunity focussed.

Thereafter, I created future contexts on Enhancing biodiversity in the North Sea by 2030 with the so called ViP method. I selected the most promising two future contexts which align with DRN’s needs and strengths: A) North Sea cooperation plays a significant role in educating people about nature topics and B) Nature education starts by engaging locally.
Based on the two analyses, I primarily focussed on the development of a strategy on North Sea collaboration (including looking for a country to start knowledge sharing with). Furthermore, on the development of ideas for DRN to share knowledge on nature enhancement projects by engaging locally.

To assess the North Sea countries, I built a decision tree based on a list of factors which influences the suitability for DRN to share knowledge with this country. The North Sea countries Germany, Denmark, UK and Belgium appeared to be suitable for collaboration from 2024 on, where Germany has the highest score. Furthermore, France and Norway might be suitable to share knowledge with in the future.

To come up with different ideas on sharing knowledge on nature enhancement by engaging locally, I organized multiple brainstorm sessions. Four ideas were selected for DRN which create the highest impact and at the same time acquire low effort to be implemented in 2024.

Consequently, I formulated a strategy on how to approach the North Sea collaboration to enhance biodiversity by 2030. This strategy is illustrated in a roadmap including selected ideas for horizon 1. The strategy is summarized as following:

Horizon 1: Share knowledge with Germany by engaging locally while: eating OWF seafood in restaurants, walking along the coast line or joining a music festival.

Horizon 2: Share and gain knowledge with and from Denmark, the UK and Belgium.

Horizon 3: Scale knowledge with France and Norway.

Besides the developed strategy, the decision tree is a structured tool for DRN to evaluate countries for collaboration in the future. Together with DRN, I discovered how the decision can be feasible, viable and desirable for them. As a result a poster was developed to inspire DRN employees. Besides, the decision tree is valuable in acquiring new funding and informing new and current stakeholders.

In addition to these outcomes for DRN, I discovered the contribution for Accenture. Together with fellow design consultants from Accenture, I explored the use of the ViP method within Accenture. I organized a brainstorm session to discuss the potential value. The session resulted in a positive response towards a VIP by a majority of my colleagues. Therefore, I designed a guide to integrate the ViP method within Accenture.