Elca

ELCA and European Aluminium Unite for Stronger European Leadership in Lightweight Materials

On Thursday November 21st, the European Lightweight Clusters Alliance (ELCA) and European Aluminium hosted a joint online workshop aimed at strengthening European leadership in lightweight materials and technologies. The event gathered over 25 key players from aluminium and composite sectors, research organisations, and technology providers, facilitating cross-sectoral collaboration and laying the foundation for future Horizon Europe 2025 funding projects.

The two-hour workshop provided a structured platform for participants to identify shared technological needs and discuss innovative solutions to industry challenges. Attendees, including aluminum producers, OEMs, RTOs, and technology providers, were divided into up to four breakout rooms to foster more focused discussions.

Discussions centred on cross-sectoral collaboration opportunities in lightweighting technologies, with a particular focus on composites and aluminium alloys. This initiative is part of ELCA’s broader strategy to facilitate inter-working group activities that drive the conceptualisation of Horizon Europe collaborative projects. By bringing together members from its six working groups—spanning materials development, design, manufacturing, and circular economy—the ELCA network aims to ensure that future project concepts are robust and well-aligned with European Commission funding priorities.

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