Lightweighting in the Catalan Industrial Ecosystem: Strategic Advancements and Future Challenges
For the latest issue of the ELCA newsletter, we spoke with Riánsares López Monzón from the OPTIMA Office (ACCIÓ) to discuss the strategic role of lightweighting in Catalonia’s industrial ecosystem. Our conversation explored how advanced materials and innovative manufacturing are transforming the automotive and aerospace sectors, the importance of public policy initiatives like the National Pact for Industry and the LIGHTWEIGHT-EU project in fostering international collaboration, and the critical need to align innovation with sustainability targets and battery electrification to ensure Catalan companies remain globally competitive.
How is lightweighting currently positioned in Catalonia, and which industries are most active in this field?
In Catalonia, lightweighting is still emerging as a subsector within the broader advanced materials ecosystem. While it is not yet a fully consolidated sector on its own, it already relies on solid industrial and technological capabilities. More than 760 organisations are active in advanced materials, and a number of them focus specifically on lightweight solutions. Technology centres such as Eurecat are working on composite materials, and research infrastructures like the ALBA Synchrotron are working on the advanced characterisation of high-performance materials.
The MAV Cluster, Catalonia’s Advanced Materials Cluster, also plays an important role with a dedicated working group on lightweight materials and active participation in European initiatives such as the AMULET project.
In terms of application, the automotive sector is currently the most active. Companies are using reinforced polymers, composites, and lightweight alloys to reduce weight and improve energy efficiency. A good example is the collaboration between AYATS and MEL COMPOSITES on lightweight composite window frames for buses. The aerospace sector is also moving in this direction, with companies such as PANGEA AEROSPACE working with AENIUM and DIONDO on additively manufactured titanium alloys, and COMPOXI developing ultra-lightweight components for engines and landing gear.
How important is lightweighting for the OPTIMA office? In your view, how is lightweighting contributing to the transformation of industry in Catalonia?
The ÒPTIMA Office is an industrial policy initiative launched by the Government of Catalonia under the National Pact for Industry 2022–2025. Its mission was clear from the start: to support the automotive sector in its transition towards sustainable and connected vehicles. Reducing vehicle weight is essential to improve energy efficiency, cut ghg emissions, and maintain industrial competitiveness. For this reason, lightweight materials are a key part of our support strategy.
In Catalonia, lightweighting is still at a relatively early stage, but even at a small scale, it is already contributing to industrial transformation. Technology centres such as Eurecat carry out applied research on composites and advanced manufacturing processes and, together with other organisations, take part in innovative projects aimed at transferring solutions to the market. One example is the Fatigue4Light project, which also involved CIMNE and UPC and tested the use of lightweight materials in chassis components. For ÒPTIMA, lightweighting is not just an innovation topic; it is an enabling technology that helps modernise Catalonia’s industry and prepare companies for future challenges.
What types of support does ACCIÓ provide to companies working on lightweighting innovation and related fields? What has worked well? Where do you see room for improvement?
ACCIÓ offers a broad portfolio of services and funding programs covering innovation, industry, internationalisation, and entrepreneurship. Through the ÒPTIMA Office, we act as a one-stop shop to ensure that companies in the sector are aware of these opportunities and do not miss out on them. Our support is structured around three complementary areas. First, we closely monitor trends in the automotive sector to focus our actions on those areas with the greatest potential impact. Second, we work directly with companies, identifying their needs and helping them access not only ACCIÓ programs but also relevant national and European funding schemes. Finally, we strengthen the sector’s connection to its wider ecosystem by linking companies with clusters, technology centres, and European networks, encouraging collaboration and innovative projects.
This integrated approach has worked well, as it helps match business needs with available support while also creating strategic connections. The main area for improvement remains better alignment between policy instruments and the specific needs of the lightweight materials sector—an issue we are already addressing through the forthcoming National Pact for Industry 2026–2030 and through the results of the LIGHTWEIGHT-EU project.
As a project partner in the Lightweight EU project under Interreg Europe, what types of project results are you aiming to achieve for Catalan companies? How do you see lightweighting maintaining its relevance in Catalonia in the coming years?
LIGHTWEIGHT EU is a European INTERREG project in which the ÒPTIMA Office is a partner, having started in May 2025. Its main objective is to improve public policy instruments that support the lightweight materials sector. What makes this initiative particularly valuable is the opportunity to exchange good practices with more advanced regions and to build connections that help Catalan companies integrate into international value chains and collaborative projects. Ultimately, our aim is to strengthen Catalonia’s position within the European lightweighting ecosystem.
Looking ahead, lightweight materials will remain highly relevant. On the one hand, European regulatory pressure on emissions reduction and energy efficiency is not going away. On the other, the electrification of transport requires compensating for the added weight of batteries.
Given that the automotive sector is the third most important industrial sector in Catalonia, with its value chain contributing close to 10% of regional GDP, lightweighting will continue to be strategically important for the economy. Its inclusion in the forthcoming National Pact for Industry further reinforces this role and provides a stable framework of support for companies and investors.
What are the main challenges facing lightweighting innovation in Catalonia today, and how can Catalan companies remain globally competitive?
Today, innovation in lightweight materials in Catalonia faces several challenges. First, there are technological hurdles: developing and scaling advanced materials such as composites or lightweight alloys, and adapting complex manufacturing processes, is still demanding for many companies. There are also economic challenges, including the high cost of R&D and limited access to funding. In some cases, public policies are not yet fully aligned with companies’ real needs.
And, of course, global competition in this field is intense. To remain competitive internationally, Catalan companies need to strengthen collaboration both within and beyond the local ecosystem, bringing together startups, SMEs, and large firms. Working at the European level and making use of funding programs such as Horizon Europe is also essential. Finally, reinforcing technology transfer by linking innovation with production and focusing on strategic niches such as automotive and sustainable mobility will be key to maintaining a competitive edge.
To remain competitive internationally, Catalan companies need to strengthen collaboration both within and beyond the local ecosystem, bringing together startups, SMEs, and large firms.
References
Mel Composites. “MEL COMPOSITES and CARROCERÍAS AYATS COLLABORATE on LIGHTWEIGHT COMPOSITE WINDOW FRAMES to SUPPORT EU VEHICLE WEIGHT REDUCTION TARGETS.” Mel Composites, 27 June 2025, https://melcomposites.es/en/project/mel-composites-and-carrocerias-ayats-collaborate-on-lightweight-compositewindowframes-to-support-eu-vehicle-weight-reduction-targets/ .
Departament d’Empresa i Coneixement / IDOM. “Més de 760 Empreses Del Sector Dels Materials Avançats Sumen Una Facturació de 2.660 Milions d’Euros I Ocupen Més de 6.000 Persones a Catalunya.” Govern.cat, 2020, https://govern.cat/gov/notes-premsa/386189/mes-de-760-empreses-del-sector-dels-materialsavancats-sumen-unafacturaciode-2660-milions-d-euros-i-ocupen-mes-de-6000-persones-acatalunya
Many thanks to Riánsares López Monzón, from the OPTIMA – Public Office for the Transformation of the Mobility and Automotive Industries. Directorate General for Industry | ACCIÓ Government of Catalonia for her contributions and insights.
View issue 7 of our newsletter that features this interview plus more!
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