EIC Corporate Day with Galp: What EIC-backed companies need to know
- ›The European Innovation Council and Galp invite EIC-backed companies to pitch to Galp decision makers in Lisbon on 17-18 July 2024.
- ›Applications are open until 16 June 2024 and applicants will be informed by 21 June 2024.
- ›Galp seeks market-ready solutions that reduce, avoid or remove CO2 across several energy transition domains including hydrogen, sustainable fuels, batteries, mobility, renewables and carbon capture.
- ›Selected companies receive tailored preparation, one-to-one meetings with Galp executives, post-event support and potential access to funding from Galp CVC and Energy Impact Partners.
- ›Participants must be represented by C-level executives, commit to the full programme, and cover their travel and accommodation costs.
EIC Corporate Day with Galp: innovation opportunities and practical requirements
The European Innovation Council and Galp, the Portuguese energy group, are running an EIC Corporate Day on 17 and 18 July 2024 in Lisbon. The event combines targeted pitching, tailored preparatory coaching and one-to-one meetings between selected EIC-backed companies and senior Galp decision makers. The call targets market-ready innovations that can materially reduce, avoid or remove CO2 emissions and help accelerate the energy transition.
What the opportunity offers to selected companies
The programme is part of the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme and is positioned as a route to commercial conversations with a major energy company. Selected companies will receive a structured package that includes preparatory sessions, pitch coaching, a dedicated pitching slot at the Lisbon event, and follow-up support to refine proposals after the meetings. The organisers highlight access to high-level Galp decision makers, networking with the Unicorn Factory Lisboa platform, and potential funding routes including Galp's corporate venture capital vehicle and Energy Impact Partners.
Who can apply and selection process
Applications are open to EIC companies working on technologies and services linked to energy transition, energy efficiency and decarbonisation. Applicants must state which of the specified focus areas their solution addresses. The information submitted will be shared with Galp, which will select participants based on its strategic interests. The EIC Business Acceleration Services team will contact selected applicants. Applicants will be informed of the outcome by 21 June 2024.
Galp's priority focus areas explained
Galp listed specific topics where it says it is particularly interested in innovations. These span upstream and downstream energy technologies and services. Below are the areas with brief explanations and practical notes on maturity and challenges that applicants should consider.
| Focus area | Examples requested by Galp | What this means in practice | Typical maturity and key barriers |
| Hydrogen, biofuels and sustainable fuels | Synthetic fuels, biofuels, renewable gases, HVO | Technologies that produce low carbon fuels or enable their distribution and use across industry and transport. | Electrolyser scale up, feedstock sustainability, lifecycle carbon accounting and supply chain logistics remain critical challenges. |
| Battery value chain | Battery chemistry innovation, recycling, swapping systems, analytics | Materials, cell chemistry and circular economy solutions that reduce cost and improve sustainability of batteries. | Commercial scale recycling and alternative chemistries face capital intensity, regulatory scrutiny and supply chain dependencies. |
| Smart mobility solutions | Connected and autonomous vehicle services, smart charging, fleet management | Software and hardware systems to reduce transport emissions and optimise energy use at service stations and fleets. | Integration with legacy vehicle fleets, interoperability, cybersecurity and scaling pilots to national deployments are common obstacles. |
| Renewable energies | Wind, solar, agrivoltaics, forecasting and curtailment | Generation, agrivoltaic systems that combine farming and solar, and software for better forecasting and grid integration. | Grid integration, balancing variable generation and permitting for land use are recurrent barriers to deployment. |
| Carbon capture and utilisation | Subsea CO2 separation, direct air capture, energy storage, CCU, digital tools | Technical solutions to capture CO2 from point sources or the atmosphere and to store or convert it. | High energy costs, questions over permanence, permitting and uncertain commercial models limit uptake. |
| Energy and cost optimisation | Operational improvements, data optimisation, emission monitoring, storage optimisation, improved oil recovery | Software and process innovations that reduce operational emissions and improve energy efficiency. | Demonstrating robust ROI, integrating with existing industrial systems and securing pilot customers are frequent hurdles. |
Application deadline, selection timeline and practical notes
The deadline to apply is 16 June 2024. Applicants will be informed of the outcome by 21 June 2024. The event takes place on 17 and 18 July 2024 in Lisbon. Selection is driven by Galp's business interests as well as the quality and market readiness of applications. Note that the EIC Business Acceleration Services will notify selected companies but will not provide feedback to companies that are not selected.
Funding and partnership pathways referenced
The event references potential access to funding from Galp CVC and Energy Impact Partners. Galp CVC refers to corporate venture capital managed by Galp to invest in strategic startups. Energy Impact Partners is a private investment firm focused on decarbonisation technologies. Both channels can offer follow-on capital but they use independent investment criteria and are not a guarantee of funding from participating in the Corporate Day.
About Galp and the role of the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme
Galp describes itself as an energy company offering a range of energy products from renewable electricity to natural gas and liquid fuels. It is an oil and gas producer with solar operations in Iberia and direct activities in about 10 countries. Galp appears on sustainability indexes and is positioning itself toward lower carbon solutions while continuing traditional hydrocarbon operations. That dual role is common among incumbent energy companies and is why startups should understand potential strategic objectives when engaging.
The EIC Corporate Partnership Programme is designed to help EIC-backed companies scale by creating introductions to large corporates, procurers and investors. The programme says it has facilitated thousands of one-to-one meetings and multiple deals since 2021. Corporate Days like the Galp event are typically used by large buyers to scout piloting partners and by startups to find anchor customers or pilot opportunities.
Practical considerations and a cautious read of claims
Corporate matchmaking events can accelerate commercial conversations but do not guarantee contracts or investment. Promises of funding or strategic partnerships should be validated and understood in contractual terms. Participants should ensure they have clear nondisclosure protections in place before sharing sensitive technical or commercial information. Applicants should also weigh the cost of executive travel and time against realistic outcomes from a short in-person pitch and a few follow-up meetings.
Practical next steps for interested EIC companies
If you are an EIC-backed company that matches the described focus areas and you are market ready, prepare an application before the 16 June deadline. Be explicit about which topic you address. Expect selection to prioritise strategic fit with Galp. Ensure your team can commit a C-level representative to attend in Lisbon and budget for travel and accommodation. Limit proprietary detail on the initial application and clarify confidentiality needs in follow-up exchanges.
Final assessment
The EIC Corporate Day with Galp offers meaningful access to a major energy corporate and structured preparation that can increase the odds of securing pilots or commercial agreements. Companies should however maintain realistic expectations, protect sensitive information and understand that access to corporate venture funding or procurement is not automatic. Properly preparing a concise, evidence-based pitch and clarifying commercial and IP terms early will increase the chance of converting meetings into business outcomes.