Enagás Emprende hosted the EIC Multi-Corporate Day, a European event that connected deep-tech startups with large corporations to drive innovative solutions in decarbonisation and the energy transition, accelerating the identification of pilot projects and new collaboration opportunities at an international level.
Our Enagás Corporate University (UCE) became, on 28 and 29 April 2026, the hub of European industrial innovation by hosting the EIC Multi-Corporate Day. This high-level event, developed under the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme, brought together 18 disruptive startups and SMEs from 9 countries, all supported by the European Innovation Council (EIC).
Jesús Saldaña, Managing Director of Business Development and Affiliates at Enagás S.A., opened the event together with Ana Casaca (EIC Board Member), highlighting that initiatives like this accelerate strategic connections that would normally take months to materialise. The objective is clear: to transform energy challenges into tangible industrial projects and scale entrepreneurial talent towards Net-Zero solutions.
A bridge to real business outcomes
The activity was designed to foster collaboration between deep-tech innovators and heavy industry leaders, including Enagás, Holcim, Iberia, Repsol, Terresis, Exolum and Sacyr. The startups, previously selected by the All4Zero corporate members and prepared through an EIC coaching programme, participated in:
- In-person pitching sessions: Presentation of solutions addressing the challenges proposed by the corporations.
- Structured 1:1 meetings: Sessions with Enagás experts to assess technical integration and operational feasibility in real industrial environments.
Four key areas of innovation
The exchange focused on identifying pathways for pilot projects and strategic partnerships across several challenges such as:
- Circular waste recovery: Especially for the aviation sector.
- Maritime decarbonisation: Deployment of low-carbon molecules and port infrastructure.
- PFAS reduction: Removal of contaminants in industrial wastewater.
- Waste heat recovery systems: Reuse of energy in high-intensity processes.
Cutting-edge solutions for our challenges
Among the 18 participating companies, our technical teams had the opportunity to explore technologies such as ELCOGEN (solid oxide technology for hydrogen production and high-efficiency green marine fuels), STOFF2 (electrolysers with energy storage) and EH Group (fuel cells for ports).
As highlighted by Emilio Martínez, Head of Entrepreneurship and Open Innovation at Enagás, the event has been key in shortening the path from technology scouting to the definition of proof-of-concept projects. The EIC will continue to provide follow-up support over the next six months to monitor progress and help turn these initial discussions into commercial agreements and well-defined pilot trials.
