Catalonia’s Lightweighting Ecosystem: Innovation, Collaboration and Growth
For the latest issue of the ELCA newsletter, we spoke with Ona Bombí of Cluster MAV to discuss the evolving lightweighting landscape in Catalonia and the region’s growing role in advanced materials and lightweight technologies. Our conversation explored how Catalonia’s industrial ecosystem brings together companies, research organisations and public institutions to accelerate innovation, the challenges of translating research into cost-effective large-scale manufacturing, and the opportunities offered by international collaboration, circularity and digitalisation to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of the region’s lightweighting sector.
What types of companies and organisations are part of Cluster MAV, and how does the cluster facilitate collaboration between industry, research, and public actors?
Cluster MAV brings together a diverse ecosystem of companies and organisations operating along the entire value chain of advanced materials and lightweight technologies. Our members include SMEs, large industrial companies, technology providers, research and technology organisations (RTOs), universities, and public bodies, with a strong focus on mobility, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing. The cluster acts as a neutral collaboration platform, facilitating connections between industry, research, and public stakeholders through thematic working groups, collaborative R&D projects, innovation workshops, and international initiatives. By aligning industrial needs with research capabilities and public support instruments, Cluster MAV helps accelerate technology transfer, foster innovation, and strengthen the competitiveness of its members at regional, national, and European levels.
How does participation in these international projects strengthen your activities and create new opportunities for your members, particularly SMEs?
International participation is vital for moving beyond local markets and accessing global value chains. For our members, especially SMEs, these projects provide visibility and positioning at a European level, often through networks like ELCA. They offer a gateway to Horizon Europe and other inter regional grants that SMEs might find difficult to navigate alone. Furthermore, international cooperation facilitates technology transfer, helping companies reach higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) by collaborating with international RTOs. Ultimately, being part of these consortia allows our members to share the financial and technical risks associated with developing disruptive materials while gaining access to top tier knowledge.
For companies working on mobility and aerospace systems, what are the main challenges ahead in adopting lightweight materials and technologies, and what opportunities do these developments create?
The primary challenge is bridging the gap between early-stage research and mass-market manufacturing. While advanced composites are standard in aerospace, scaling them for the automotive sector requires lowering costs and increasing production speeds. Key technical challenges include multi-material integration and managing the performance complexities of joining different lightweight materials. Additionally, circularity is now a priority; developing efficient recycling processes is essential to align with the European Green Deal.
These challenges create significant opportunities: reducing vehicle weight remains the most robust way to cut emissions, and new manufacturing processes (Industry 4.0) allow for resource-efficient production, positioning European companies as leaders in sustainable mobility. Lightweight solutions also drive innovation in advanced manufacturing, automation, digitalisation, and circular economy approaches. Companies that successfully integrate lightweight technologies can gain a strong competitive advantage and respond more effectively to future regulatory and market demands.
As a member of the European Lightweight Cluster Alliance (ELCA), how does Cluster MAV benefit from cross-regional cooperation and knowledge exchange in lightweight materials and structures?
Membership in ELCA integrates Cluster MAV into a powerful pan-European network representing over 1,200 organisations. We benefit from strategic alignment by participating in specialised Working Groups (such as WG4 on Manufacturing), which ensures our cluster remains at the forefront of European technological roadmaps. ELCA also acts as a “Funding Navigator”, providing tailored support to identify collaborative R&D opportunities for our members.
Regular exchange with other European hubs allows us to share best practices and accelerate the learning curve for our staff and members. Finally, ELCA provides a unified voice before EU policymakers, ensuring the interests of the lightweight sector are represented at the highest level. This cooperation enhances our capacity to support members through joint initiatives, inter-cluster projects, and coordinated access to European funding opportunities. Overall, ELCA strengthens our international visibility, strategic positioning, and impact within the European lightweight ecosystem.
We benefit from strategic alignment by participating in specialised Working Groups (such as WG4 on Manufacturing), which ensures our cluster remains at the forefront of European technological roadmaps.
Many thanks to Ona Bombí, Cluster Manager from Cluster MAV (Advanced Materials Cluster of Catalonia for her contributions and insights.
View issue 7 of our newsletter that features this interview plus more!
To reach out to a member of the network, contact communication@elcanetwork.eu
