EIC at Gastech 2023: European deep tech seeks commercial footholds in Singapore amid the energy transition

From 5 to 8 September 2023 the global energy industry converged on Singapore for Gastech, one of the world’s largest gatherings focused on natural gas, LNG, hydrogen, low-carbon solutions and climate technologies. The European Innovation Council used the event to stage a coordinated EU presence. Seventeen EIC-funded awardees from across Europe and associated countries exhibited at the European Pavilion under the EIC Overseas Trade Fairs Programme 2.0. The delegation also took part in a high-level European Reception and panels intended to link entrepreneurs with diplomats, buyers and potential partners.

Event scale and EIC’s role

Gastech promoted itself as an integrated business environment. The organisers reported more than 750 exhibitors, over 600 speakers and more than 44,000 visitors from more than 100 countries at the 2023 edition. The EIC partnered with the European Delegation in Singapore and event organiser DMG events to deliver the European Pavilion and a closed-door European Reception. High level figures and ceremonial openings were highlighted by EU and local officials to underline political support for European innovators looking to scale in Asia.

Who represented Europe on the pavilion

The EIC selected 17 innovators to represent European deep tech and climate technologies at the European Pavilion. The cohort included companies working on gas and LNG value chain efficiency, hydrogen, low carbon fuels, carbon removal and monitoring, and related climate technologies. The delegation aimed to demonstrate European capability across downstream and emerging low-carbon segments.

Programmes, events and political optics

The EIC’s visible presence combined exhibition space with networking and curated events. An invitation only European Reception gathered about 150 participants including diplomats, high level event organisers, and entrepreneurs. The EIC also contributed to conference content including a high level panel on Strategic Leadership focused on funding structures to mobilise private and early stage capital for the energy transition. EIC officials used the platform to reiterate the Council’s role in backing visionary entrepreneurs and advising on policy directions to support emerging technologies.

Public statements emphasised European leadership in green diplomacy and climate tech. Ambassador Iwona Piorko framed the European Pavilion as evidence of Europe’s contribution to climate friendly technologies and a vehicle to connect SMEs, start-ups and scaleups from EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries with Asian markets. Viorel Peca described the cohort as extraordinary and expressed confidence about commercial opportunities arising after the tradeshow.

Organiser and industry perspectives

DMG events leadership framed the European Pavilion as a central hub in Gastech for public and private sector collaboration. In an interview published by the EIC, Christopher Hudson said the pavilion would promote cross border exchanges of lessons and help remove barriers to cross border energy investments. DMG also highlighted Gastech features such as a hydrogen zone, climatetech and shipping and marine zones and a dedicated start up area and hosted-buyer programme intended to accelerate deal-making.

Voices from companies and the practical value

Selected awardees reported practical benefits from attending. Sensia Solutions, represented by APAC Project Manager Aurora Fernández, said the pavilion helped the company meet new end users, customers, distributors and partners. EIC also provided preparatory workshops and IP clinics ahead of the fair to help companies get the most out of the visit.

EIC emphasised the Overseas Trade Fairs Programme 2.0 as a mechanism to support commercialisation. The programme builds on a pilot and over 2022 and 2023 offered selected EIC beneficiaries the chance to attend multiple trade fairs to scale internationally and to access coaching, matchmaking and dedicated market briefings.

What the pavilion did not claim and what remains to be seen

EIC and event organisers used strong language about expected business impact. The EIC said it was confident the 17 companies would generate significant business impact after Gastech. Those claims reflect the purpose of the trade fair programme but they are forward looking. The true test will be measurable follow up such as signed commercial contracts, pilot projects, distribution agreements, investment rounds or revenue increases tracked over months after the event.

Trade fairs can be effective ways to open doors. They also have limits. Market entry in Asia typically requires local regulatory understanding, long sales cycles, capital intensive pilots for hardware or infrastructure, and trusted local partners. Many European scaleups face bottlenecks in all these areas. Preparatory workshops and hosted buyer introductions help but do not by themselves solve barriers such as local certification, grid interconnection rules, financing for large projects and land or permitting constraints.

Key concepts and technical terms

Broader context and implications for EU innovation policy

The EIC’s use of high profile trade fairs is consistent with the EU strategy to support scale ups and internationalisation. For deep tech companies there is a policy logic in exposing founders to large markets early. The challenge for policymakers is to ensure trade fair attendance is embedded in a sustained commercialisation pathway. That requires financing instruments, diplomatic support, local partnerships and procurement windows that convert visibility into contracts.

The ceremony and rhetoric around green diplomacy have value in signalling political backing for European companies. Yet this must be accompanied by hard metrics. When the EIC promotes future business impact it should also commit to transparent reporting on outcomes. That will help justify continued public investment in trade fair support and make it easier to refine selection and coaching processes.

Next steps and EIC trade fair schedule

The EIC used Gastech as one stop in a broader international trade fairs programme. The EIC OTF Programme 2.0 ran through 2022 and 2023 and the agency also promoted participation in other fairs such as GITEX in Dubai in October 2023. The EIC continues to run international trade fairs initiatives in subsequent years under updated ITF programmes. For beneficiaries the key question is how follow up services and measurable indicators will be implemented to convert leads into sustained commercial traction.

Practical advice for innovators considering trade fair participation

If you are an innovator planning to use trade fairs as part of your internationalisation strategy consider these actions. First, treat the fair as the start of a sales process not the end. Second, build relationships with local business partners and advisers before and after the fair. Third, prepare for intellectual property risks and get IP counsel for the target market. Fourth, plan resources for follow up pilots and certifications that Asian buyers will typically request. Finally, insist on measurable KPIs from any public support you receive such as numbers of qualified meetings, pilot contracts initiated and revenue closed within 12 months.

Gastech 2023 offered a high visibility platform for EIC-backed innovators. The value of that platform will be proven by the commercial outcomes it produces in the months and years ahead. Public sector facilitation helps reduce barriers but it is not a substitute for the deep market work innovators must do to convert interest into contracts.