The session opened with a brief introduction outlining the core purpose of the gathering, setting the stage for an agenda focused on collaborative innovation. Following the opening remarks, guest speaker Airbus delivered an insightful 10-minute presentation highlighting key industry insights, which concluded with a dynamic five-minute Q&A session.

The centrepiece of the event featured 10 rapid-fire pitches from ELCA members. Each organiSation took the floor to showcase their advanced technologies, market interests, and project ideas, with each presentation followed by a focused three-minute question-and-answer slot to dive deeper into the technical offerings.

The primary objectives of this internal session were fully realized as members successfully:

-Pitched and shared cutting-edge technologies and early-stage concepts.

-Explored new collaboration opportunities across the Pan-European network.

-Identified potential joint activities to strengthen European leadership in lightweighting.

Ultimately, the event allowed the network to get to know fellow members better, mapping out mutual necessities and capabilities across the value chain.

The core of the session highlighted a diverse range of cutting-edge technologies and project proposals aimed at advancing lightweighting, circularity, and advanced materials. Ten ELCA members presented their unique capabilities and strategic focuses:

–Maxime Olive (APPLUS): Presented a laser shock platform that enables both non-destructive certification of lightweight multi-material joints and controlled disassembly for easier end-of-life recycling.

–Toni Lara (MARBEL): Showcased a battery pack enclosure concept utilizing a single-material aluminum battery enclosure with fully reversible joints to combine lightweight design with easy assembly and disassembly, improving circularity in future EV battery systems.

–Maxime Ezéquel (ALBATROS): Shared plans for developing a project proposal for the I3 Strand 1 2026 call, focused on circular economy solutions for thermosets and thermoplastics. The project is actively seeking European industrial SMEs interested in technology transfer to reduce their environmental footprint through innovative industrial use cases.

-Marija Vukomanovic (JSI): Highlighted functional textiles incorporating contact-based antimicrobial agents to create high-performance antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal surfaces.

-Manel da Silva (EUT): Detailed the specific methodology followed to develop an aluminum alloy with a significantly lower carbon footprint tailored for high-performance High-Pressure Die Casting (HPDC) applications.

–Blaž Jaklič (JSI): Discussed solid-state thin-film lithium batteries using oxide-based ceramic materials, showcasing expertise in ceramic processing, characterisation, and pulsed laser deposition for on-chip energy storage integration. The research focuses primarily on understanding electrode–electrolyte interfaces to advance next-generation solid-state batteries toward higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs).

-Péter Nigicser (BZN): Introduced a post-processing technology that transforms standard Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D-printed parts into near-isotropic, mechanically reliable components by eliminating weak interlayer bonding, thereby enabling low-cost additive manufacturing for structural lightweight applications.

-Thomas Rettenwander (FIBIONIC): Outlined techniques for the fast and fully automated production of bionic fiber designs, which enable cost-efficient and sustainable composites optimised for mass applications.

-Laurence Boyer (CTTC): Demonstrated advanced ceramics shaped via the Binder Jetting process specifically to manufacture complex, porous structures.

-Cristina Martinez (EUT): Presented on PHES, highlighting the use of flexible, lightweight, low-cost, and scalable printed sensors integrated directly into structures to enable distributed structural health monitoring for early failure detection, improved maintenance, and enhanced safety.

Looking ahead, ELCA, in joint collaboration with the ERCI (European Railway Clusters Initiative), has officially launched the Call for Challenges for the upcoming online ERCI/ELCA Joint Hack&Match Event, scheduled for 21–22 July 2026. Under the theme “Design the Future, Hack the Waste: The Full-Lifecycle Mobility Challenge,” this initiative has also extended to the ZEvRA hackathon series to drive circular mobility solutions across Europe. SMEs, start-ups, and large companies are highly encouraged to participate as Challenge Providers, mapping out technical bottlenecks in eco-design, advanced composites, and battery recovery to be matched with leading European research and technology experts.

Secure your spot: Review participation guidelines, access the official event brochure, and submit your organisational needs directly through the Call for Challenges Submission Link