EIC-backed innovators pitch deep decarbonisation solutions at GITEX Europe via SPIN4EIC

Brussels, July 4th 2025

Summary

›On 21 May 2025 EIC beneficiaries pitched decarbonisation solutions at GITEX Europe in Berlin to private buyers from the First Mover Coalition.
›The SPIN4EIC programme under the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme organised the session to link innovators with corporate procurers such as Honeywell, Siemens and SLB.
›Five EIC-backed companies presented technologies spanning supercapacitors, CO2 electrolysis, high temperature thermal storage, low carbon cement and muscle-inspired actuators.
›The event was positioned as a step towards procurement-led deployment but scaling, validation and procurement timelines remain practical hurdles.
›Follow-up opportunities include an EIC Innovation Procurement Academy in November 2025 and a targeted pitching call with Belgian Customs on drug detection in maritime containers.

EIC pitching session at GITEX Europe: connecting climate tech with corporate buyers

On 21 May 2025, beneficiaries of the European Innovation Council gathered at GITEX Europe in Berlin to present technologies aimed at deep emissions reduction. The session was organised under SPIN4EIC, the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme's matchmaking and procurement support initiative. Its explicit purpose was to create direct contact between EIC-backed innovators and private buyers drawn from the First Mover Coalition ecosystem. The buyers were described as industry leaders actively seeking to procure early stage climate technologies.

What happened at the session

The event combined short pitches from innovators with a panel of sustainability and procurement representatives from large companies. Names mentioned in the EIC write up include Honeywell, Siemens and SLB. The stated intention was to explore potential procurement or pilot collaborations, to surface operational constraints, and to accelerate route to market for technologies that could reduce emissions in hard to abate sectors.

EIC-backed solutions showcased

Company	Technology	EIC backing	Primary application	Contact
C2C NewCap	Supercapacitor-based energy storage and GO-START product designed to replace lead-acid starter batteries in trucks	EIC Accelerator beneficiary	Truck electrification and improved energy recovery on heavy vehicles	André Mão de Ferro
eChemicles	Low temperature electrochemical electrolysers to convert CO2 into e-chemicals such as carbon monoxide and ethylene	EIC Transition beneficiary	Decarbonising chemical feedstocks and creating circular carbon value chains	Mariia Shabalina
Kraftblock	High-temperature thermal energy storage system delivering heat up to 1,300°C	EIC Accelerator beneficiary	Process heat decarbonisation across steel, ceramics, chemicals and food sectors	Christian Kissling
Materrup	Environmentally friendlier cement with claimed parity in mechanical performance	EIC Accelerator beneficiary	Lower carbon construction materials	Julie Neuville
MetisMotion	Modular actuator systems modelled on human muscle for efficient motion control	EIC Accelerator beneficiary	Robotics, automation and energy efficient actuation	Patrick Fröse

What these technologies are and why buyers might be interested

Supercapacitors:Supercapacitors store and release energy quickly by using electrostatic charge separation rather than chemical reactions. They offer high power density, long cycle life and fast charge discharge, which can reduce fuel consumption and extend lifetime of auxiliary systems when used with trucks. They do not replace high energy density batteries for long range driving but can improve start stop operations, regenerative braking capture and peak power management.

Electrochemical CO2 conversion (eChemicles):Low temperature electrolysers use electricity and catalysts to convert carbon dioxide into reduced carbon products such as carbon monoxide and ethylene. The approach aims to create circular feedstocks for chemical industries while using renewable electricity. Key challenges are catalyst selectivity and stability, energy efficiency, integration with CO2 capture and scale up to industrial throughput. Claims like 'world's best performing' need replication in independent, peer reviewed or standardised tests.

High temperature thermal energy storage (Kraftblock):Thermal batteries store heat at high temperatures using solid materials. By charging with cheap or surplus renewable electricity they can supply process heat on demand, allowing industries that require temperatures up to 1,300 degrees Celsius to decarbonise. Deployment considerations include integration with existing process interfaces, thermal losses, materials durability and permitting for plant scale installations.

Low carbon cement (Materrup):Cement is responsible for a substantial share of industrial CO2 emissions. Alternative formulations and production processes aim to reduce clinker content or capture process emissions, while maintaining mechanical performance. The main adoption hurdles are standards certification, long term durability data, cost competitiveness and acceptance by construction value chains.

Modular, muscle-inspired actuators (MetisMotion):Actuators designed to mimic the way muscles deliver force seek to increase energy efficiency, reduce weight and deliver more human friendly motion profiles in automation and robotics. Key factors for buyers include component reliability, integration with existing control systems and demonstrable lifetime cost savings.

Voices from the event

Speakers and participants framed the session as a pragmatic route to bridge technology developers and industry procurement. Julie Neuville, Chairwoman of Materrup, said that SPIN4EIC is not only about pitching but about 'connecting with the right people and with the key decision maker in our sectors.'

Maximilian Schnippering, Head of Sustainability at Siemens Gamesa, emphasised the search for small and medium sized companies offering greener products and the role of scaling and production optimisation to make greener products the default option.

From the EIC support side Nassima Ferahtia, Senior Programme Advisor at EISMEA, argued that to achieve strategic impact and significant company growth there is no alternative to deliberate, targeted investment and procurement engagement.

Critical perspective on procurement and scaling

Pitching events and procurement-focused matchmaking are useful for exposure but they are an early step in a lengthy process. Moving from pilot discussions to commercial deployment typically requires technical validation in operational environments, safety and standards compliance, contracting cycles, and sometimes bespoke integration work. Corporate procurement cycles can be slow and risk averse. For technologies addressing regulated sectors or heavy industry, additional barriers include third party certification, insurance terms and grid or site constraints. Observers should treat press style claims about immediate market readiness with caution until supporting demonstration data and procurement commitments are documented.

Innovation procurement explained:Innovation procurement is a demand side policy tool where public bodies or private buyers use procurement to stimulate development and scale up of new solutions. It differs from traditional procurement by specifying desired outcomes rather than prescribing technical solutions. In practice it can accelerate market validation for start ups but requires carefully prepared procurement plans, clear specifications and risk sharing arrangements between buyer and supplier.

Follow up opportunities and open calls

The EIC and SPIN4EIC signalled several next steps for innovators who wish to pursue procurement routes or further pitching opportunities. Two items were highlighted in the original communications.

EIC Innovation Procurement Academy powered by SPIN4EIC:An online Academy for EIC awardees will run between 17 and 19 November 2025. The format is three online sessions of three to four hours each. The training will cover public and private innovation procurement inside and outside the European Union. The service is free and exclusive to EIC awardees. Applications are to be submitted by 12:00 PM on 14 November 2025 and successful candidates will be contacted in September 2025. Eligible participants include EIC Accelerator, EIC Transition and EIC Pathfinder awardees, Women TechEU awardees, members of the EIC Scaling Club and Seal of Excellence holders under Horizon Europe. Participants will receive an Academy Certification from the EIC in its role as a Centre of Excellence on Innovation Procurement.

Pitching opportunity with Belgian Customs on maritime drug detection:An online pitching session with Belgian Customs is scheduled for 30 September 2025 from 10:00 to 11:30 CEST. The call targets EIC beneficiaries with advanced chemical detection solutions that use air sampling to detect cocaine residues inside maritime freight containers. Selection will be limited to a maximum of five beneficiaries. Applicants must be able to participate in both a pre event pitching guidance session in September 2025 and the main pitching session. The application window was originally set to 20 July 2025 and later updated to 31 August 2025. Eligible EIC schemes include Accelerator, Transition, Pathfinder, Women TechEU, Scaling Club members and Seal of Excellence holders.

The Belgian Customs brief narrows scope to air sampling methods for cocaine detection. Approaches that do not involve air sampling or that target other narcotics are outside scope. Applicants must submit an English application form and upload a pitching deck containing company and solution details, technical specifics, practical references, market context and business model information.

How to engage and where to get help

SPIN4EIC operates a Helpdesk for inquiries about events and partnership opportunities. For the Belgian Customs call or other SPIN4EIC activities, EIC beneficiaries are directed to contact the Helpdesk and to use the category 'SPIN4EIC powered by EIC BAS Innovation Procurement Programme' or to email spin4eic@intelleraconsulting.com. The EIC Business Acceleration Services also offers a newsletter and an 'open calls digest' to alert beneficiaries to new opportunities.

Practical next steps for innovators

If you are an EIC awardee and you want to pursue procurement pathways consider these actions. Register for the EIC BAS newsletter and the open calls digest. Prepare concise, evidence based pitch decks that include technical performance data, demonstration references and risk mitigation strategies. For procurement targeting public clients, be ready to discuss IP, data sharing, liability and pilot evaluation metrics. Finally, treat pitching events as the start of a procurement dialogue rather than a guaranteed sales channel.

Final note

The GITEX session is an example of the EIC shifting more attention to demand side measures to scale climate technologies. Such events matter because procurement can provide the customer pull that innovators need. At the same time, the transition from pilot to wide scale deployment depends on detailed validation, fit with industrial processes and realistic procurement timelines. Observers and participants should look for follow up procurement intents, pilot contracts or memorandums of understanding as the most credible indicators of progress toward deployment.

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