EIC takes 12 climate and energy scaleups to Singapore in push for Southeast Asia market access
- ›The European Innovation Council is sending 12 EIC-backed companies to Singapore from 26 to 30 October 2026 under its Global Business Expansion Programme.
- ›The cohort covers climate and energy technologies across industrial decarbonisation, green chemicals, clean energy, AI compute efficiency and sustainable food ingredients.
- ›Preparation begins with an Online Academy from 17 August 2026 that includes market intelligence, pitch coaching and legal and IP briefings for Southeast Asia.
- ›On-site activities combine curated 1:1 meetings, a Private Investor Pitch Tank, corporate visits, participation in Singapore International Energy Week and SWITCH, and the European Innovation Night on 28 October.
- ›The programme aims to open investor, corporate and research connections while keeping innovation and IP anchored in Europe, but commercial outcomes and IP protection challenges are not guaranteed.
EIC mission to Singapore 2026: purpose and overview
The European Innovation Council is running the third business mission of its Global Business Expansion Programme in Singapore from 26 to 30 October 2026. The week is an intensive market access push for a selected cohort of EIC-backed climate and energy innovators. The stated aim is to give founders direct routes to multinational buyers, investors and research partners shaping Southeast Asia's energy transition while ensuring value, innovation and intellectual property continue to be created in Europe.
Who is going and what they bring
The Singapore cohort comprises 12 companies from 10 countries. The group reflects diverse technical approaches across the net-zero economy including catalytic green chemistry, chemical recycling, electrochemical carbon capture, advanced fuel cells, small form factor AI infrastructure, sustainable proteins and alternative oils. Below is a compact reference table of the companies announced by the EIC and a one-line technical summary for each.
| Company | Country | Technology summary |
| Catalyxx | Spain | Catalytic conversion of renewable bioethanol into low-carbon intermediate chemicals such as butanol and higher alcohols |
| DePoly | Switzerland | Chemical recycling that aims to convert hard-to-recycle plastics into virgin-quality materials |
| eChemicles | Hungary | Processes captured CO2 into essential industrial chemicals |
| kraftwerk TUBES | Germany | Next-generation fuel cells designed to deliver clean and flexible power |
| Multiverse Computing | Spain | AI model compression and quantum-inspired software to reduce model size, cost and energy for inference |
| NitroCapt | Sweden | Electrochemical or power-to-X process to produce fossil-free fertiliser from air, water and renewable electricity |
| NoPalm Ingredients | Netherlands | Alternative oils and fats produced without palm plantations to reduce environmental footprint |
| RepAir Carbon | Israel | Ultra-efficient electrochemical carbon capture technology |
| Saltfoss | Denmark | Small modular nuclear or nuclear-derived power platforms adapted for floating installations |
| Solmeyea | Greece | Converts captured industrial CO2 into food-grade single cell protein or biomass |
| VSORA | France | Inference chips and hardware aimed at more energy-efficient AI computation |
| Zparq | Sweden | Ultra-light electric motors to accelerate marine electrification |
These short descriptions paraphrase the companies' public claims. The EIC press material highlights the technological breadth but does not provide independent verification of commercial readiness or market traction for each firm. Some companies have public profiles showing pilot plants or demo facilities. Outcomes in Southeast Asia will depend on financing, regulatory pathways, local partnerships and procurement processes.
Why Singapore and timing
That positioning carries trade offs. Singapore is an entry point to the region but not a replacement for local country strategies. Business in Southeast Asia is heterogenous and requires follow-up country-specific work to translate introductions into purchase orders or pilots. The EIC’s emphasis on preparation, curated meetings and long-term follow-up is designed to mitigate that, however measurable commercial results will require months of local engagement.
Preparation before arrival and mission format
The value of such preparation is clear. Market intelligence and tailored pitch coaching reduce early-stage friction. The downside is that intensive preparation raises expectations. Founders should be aware that pre-arranged meetings and panels will not automatically produce contracts. Converting introductions into pilots or procurement requires aligned procurement cycles, budgets and often local pilots.
Key events and immersion activities
The week includes several public and closed events designed to create multiple touch points for each startup. Among the programme highlights are:
| Event | Purpose | Notes |
| European Innovation Night | Flagship reception to connect cohort with investors, corporates and local talent | Moderated panel, curated networking, evening of 28 October |
| Private Investor Pitch Tank | Closed-door pitching with direct feedback from investors | Sector-matched investors provide targeted feedback |
| Welcome dinner with EU Delegation and Ambassador | Build institutional credibility and kick off business meetings | Helps open doors to government or institutional stakeholders |
| Jurong Industrial Island visit | Site visit to industrial decarbonisation and clean-energy infrastructure | Practical exposure to local industrial clusters and facilities |
| Participation in SIEW and SWITCH | Access to the broader energy and innovation week programming | Enables connections with global delegates and policy fora |
| European Innovation Breakfast | Closing networking session for deeper follow-ups | Relationship driven conversations to finish the week |
Technical approaches in the cohort and what they imply
The cohort mixes platform and hardware technologies alongside process chemistry and bioengineering. For readers less familiar with these areas here are short clarifications of the technical approaches and some of the typical commercialization hurdles innovators face.
What success will look like and the limits of one-week missions
The EIC has framed these missions to maximise the chance of downstream deals by combining rigorous preparation, curated meetings and follow-up. Realistic near-term outcomes include pilot projects, letters of intent, investor term sheet conversations or research partnerships. Measurable revenue scale will normally require longer timelines. Policymakers and programme evaluators should track not only the number of introductions but also conversion rates, the value of signed pilots, IP and data governance arrangements, and whether high-value manufacturing and jobs remain anchored in Europe.
There are additional questions that deserve scrutiny. How will IP be protected in joint pilots with non-EU partners? Will early contracts require transfer of sensitive know-how? Are follow-on services funded to support translation of introductions into procurement? The EIC emphasises long-term follow-up, but effective market entry often requires local entities, regulatory approvals and patient capital.
Practical information and next steps
If you want more detail about the Global Business Expansion Programme or future missions visit the EIC website. The GBE programme also runs an EIC helpdesk. When contacting the helpdesk select 'EIC Global Business Expansion Programme' as the category to speed a response. For those interested in following results, the EIC Business Acceleration Services publishes newsletters and open call digests with news, success stories and invitations to future events.
Final note
The Singapore mission is a valuable opportunity for a carefully selected group of deep-tech companies. The EIC model of pairing structured preparation with curated local introductions addresses many common early-stage barriers to internationalisation. Those benefits are real but not automatic. Success will require sustained engagement after the mission, clear contractual safeguards for IP, and follow-on resources to convert interest into paying pilots or procurement contracts.