The European Innovation Council and Holcim, a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions, invite EIC companies to apply for a new EIC Corporate Day, which will include an exclusive pitching and matching session with Holcim decision makers on the 27th and 28th November 2024 in Lyon, France. Holcim is seeking innovative solutions that can significantly contribute to decarbonizing building solutions through new materials, net-zero technologies, smart design, and digitalization, among others.

The EIC Corporate Partnership Programme includes tailored preparatory sessions for the selected EIC companies on their business proposals, pitch and deck presentations by international experts, with the inside guidance of Holcim. On the 27th and 28th of November, the EIC founders will enjoy focused networking opportunities and a dedicated pitching session followed by one-on-one meetings with Holcim’s high-level decision-makers. Finally, EIC companies will also benefit from post-event support to maximise the impact of their business proposals.

Opportunities for selected EIC companies:

• Privileged access to Holcim high-level decision
• Possibility to initiate strategic partnerships with Holcim and enter new
• Personalised support, including a group session with Holcim, 1-to-1 session with business experts, high-quality feedback to adjust the pitch deck, pitch dry-run and business proposal

Who can apply?

Holcim is a global leader in sustainable building, dedicated to decarbonizing the industry from start to finish. It believes in the power of collaboration and is searching for startup partners who share its vision. Holcim would love to explore a partnership if your innovative solutions align with one of its four focus pillars:

Green operations

• - Alternative Raw Materials & Engineered Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCM) (, recycled cement paste, innovative mineral components such as calcined clay, waste from other activities such as slag and fly ash, or traditional mineral components like limestone and gypsum).
• - Alternative fuels used in cement kilns, which include coal, pet coke and natural
• - Net zero technologies (, Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), low-carbon hydrogen, and clean electricity).

Building better with less

• - Low-carbon building (, low-carbon concrete, low-carbon cement)
• - Smart design ( 3D printing)
• - Digitalization (, traceability and reliability of materials flows, artificial intelligence applied to the construction sector)

Circular Construction

• - Reduction, recycling, and reuse of materials (, construction and demolition materials recycling)
• Making buildings sustainable
• - Energy efficient buildings
• - Advanced roofing systems
• - Solutions for long-lasting buildings
• - Smart water management
• - Bioactive concrete

Moreover, Holcim believes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds immense potential to transform the building industry, and it is actively seeking startups that are harnessing AI to create groundbreaking solutions within one of the four pillars of focus.

Please acknowledge that the information you provide on the application form will be shared with Holcim, which will select the participants based on their business interests and strategic goals.

The EIC Business Acceleration Services team will contact all selected applicants once the process is finished. However, this contact does not include feedback or recommendations for those not selected. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application by 22 October.

Commitment required:

Participants must be available for the entire duration of the programme, which includes the preparation phase (online training sessions, pitch checks, and business proposal reviews), the onsite activity (matching, pitching and networking) in Lyon, France (27th-28th November 2024), and follow-up activities. Selected companies must be represented by C-level executives. Additionally, selected participants will be responsible for arranging and covering their travel and accommodation costs.

If you have any objections to the use of your information or any questions regarding the event, please contact us through the email .

About Holcim

Holcim is a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions with net sales of CHF billion in 2023. Driven by our purpose to build progress for people and the planet, our 63,448 employees are on a mission to decarbonize building, while improving living standards for all. We empower our customers across all regions to build better with less, with a broad range of low-carbon and circular solutions, from ECOPact and ECOPlanet to our circular technology platform ECOCycle®. Through innovative systems, from Elevate roofing to PRB insulation, Holcim makes buildings more sustainable in use, driving energy efficiency and green retrofitting. With sustainability at the core of our strategy, we are on the way to becoming a net-zero company with ;C targets validated by SBT.