Trelleborg forges new partnerships at EIC Corporate Day
26th May 2021
On 25th and 26th May 2021, the European Innovation Council (EIC) and Trelleborg Wheel Systems, a key global supplier of tyres and complete wheels, proudly participated in a joint EIC Corporate Day to generate new ideas and evaluate potential synergies with dynamic and innovative start-ups funded by the EIC.
The European Commission’s EIC Corporate Day connects Europe’s most innovative start-ups and executives and decision-makers from a cross-section of leading European companies.
During the event, 14 start-ups – from Italy, UK, Spain, France, Portugal, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Romania, Sweden and Israel – pitched their ideas and innovations in the following four categories: Connected tyres & vehicles for specialty tyre applications; Green & renewable materials for production; Marketing digital solutions for B2B industries; and Smart factories & production processes digitalisation.
Alongside the EIC, Trelleborg Wheel Systems offers the companies a range of business acceleration services to bring their best ideas to the market.
Paolo Pompei, President Trelleborg Wheel Systems, says: “At Trelleborg, innovation is crucial to our strategy. Our roadmap not only relies on our own knowhow, but on the expertise and collaboration of promising and innovative companies, making it essential for us to meet with start-ups through events like the EIC Corporate Day.
“Sustainability is another important pillar of our strategy. Just last February, we pledged to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50% by 2025. We are therefore constantly seeking out new materials, production processes, and energy generation methods to achieve this ambitious goal.
“Furthermore, over the last years we’ve rapidly accelerated the expansion of our portfolio by offering digital products and solutions to reinforce our premium offer. At Trelleborg, we know that our future begins with the decisions we make today, and we’re pleased to continue paving the way alongside the EIC.”
Jean-David Malo, Director of the European Innovation Council, says: “More than ever, innovation is central to Europe’s ability to generate new jobs and sustainable growth. We need innovative ideas to tackle the major societal challenges that Europeans are facing.
“A year has passed since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and we continue to offer online events to meet the expectations of all the participants. This way, we carry on giving access to ‘smart money’, funding, but also the opportunity to connect with big players around Europe.
“Bridging the gap between start-ups and large companies is a vital strategy for business acceleration and growth. We need to turn start-ups’ ideas into reality. It is an absolute win-win situation for everyone; the start-ups obtain synergies, connections and forge new business opportunities, while the corporates can identify new emerging technologies and scout interesting new start-ups.
“The EIC is grateful that Trelleborg Wheel Systems has decided to go on this digital journey with us, as we all consider that the key to the future is through sustainable and innovative solutions.”