LafargeHolcim hosts European open innovation day for green construction

The European Innovation Council (EIC) and LafargeHolcim, the world’s global leader in building solutions, are proud to launch their joint EIC Corporate Day dedicated to sustainable construction. With both organizations committed to building a net zero future, they are gathering some of the most innovative start-ups in Europe in their first digital forum together. LafargeHolcim partners with hundreds of start-ups around the world in a unique open innovation ecosystem to scale up breakthrough ideas in green construction.

The European Commission’s EIC Corporate Days connect Europe’s most innovative companies and innovators with executives and decision makers from a cross section of Europe’s largest companies. In this event the start-ups will pitch their innovative ideas in sustainable construction, waste management and digitalization directly to LafargeHolcim for acceleration support. The event’s start-ups come from Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Ukraine, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy and Romania. Together with the EIC LafargeHolcim offers these start-ups a range of business acceleration services to bring the best ideas to market.

Edelio Bermejo, Head of Innovation for LafargeHolcim: “The EU aims to become a net zero region by 2050 – with an expected 1 trillion euro investment to make this happen. With such an ambitious objective, innovation partnerships between the public and private sectors are critical to accelerate this transition and scale up impact.

At LafargeHolcim, we are committed to building a net zero future, with our Europe region leading the way with over CHF 160 million dedicated to advancing this goal. Our innovative partnership with EIC plays a critical role in accelerating this vision.”

Jean-David Malo, Director of the European Innovation Council: “More than ever, innovation is central to Europe’s ability to generate new jobs and sustainable growth. We need innovative ideas to tackle the major societal challenges that Europeans are facing. During the COVID-19 pandemic we have continued our EIC Corporate Days online with some of Europe’s biggest corporate players. This way we continue to offer ‘smart money’ to our innovators; funding, but also the possibility to connect with big players around Europe.

Bridging the gap between start-ups and large companies is a vital strategy for business acceleration and growth. Today we give the possibility to innovators to turn their ideas into reality, therefore creating jobs and growth for the benefit of citizens. It is an absolute win-win situation for everyone: the start-ups obtain synergies, connections and forge new business opportunities, while the corporates can identify new emerging technologies and scout interesting new start-ups.

The EIC is grateful that LafargeHolcim has decided to go on this digital journey with us. It clearly shows their innovative nature and willingness to be on the forefront of new digital solutions.”

For more information on the EIC Corporate Day with LafargeHolcim, please check the EIC Community.

PRESS CONTACTS

EIC, Communications
Jasper Havermans,
+ 49 172 8154207
Jasper.havermans@eura-ag.de

LafargeHolcim
Eva Mairinger
+41 58 858 8711
eva.mairinger@lafargeholcim.com

About EIC
The European Innovation Council supports top-class innovators, entrepreneurs, small companies and scientists with bright ideas and the ambition to scale up internationally. It brings together the parts of Horizon 2020 that provide funding, advice and networking opportunities for those at cutting edge of innovation. Support to innovators, entrepreneurs, small companies and scientists under the European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot goes far beyond a grant provision. The EIC offers several business acceleration services that help speed up the pace of innovation, including business coaching and flagship services like EIC Corporate Days and EIC Investor Days, where highly innovative SMEs can take advantage of pitching and partnering opportunities with investors and corporates.

About LafargeHolcim
As the world’s global leader in building solutions, LafargeHolcim is reinventing how the world builds to make it greener and smarter for all. On its way to becoming a net zero company, LafargeHolcim offers global solutions such as ECOPact, enabling carbon-neutral construction. With its circular business model, the company is a global leader in recycling waste as a source of energy and raw materials through products like Susteno, its leading circular cement. Innovation and digitalization are at the core of the company’s strategy, with more than half of its R&D projects dedicated to greener solutions. LafargeHolcim’s 70,000 employees are committed to improving quality of life across more than 70 markets through its four business segments: Cement, Ready-Mix Concrete, Aggregates and Solutions & Products.