The energy transition depends not only on the development of new technologies, but also on the ability to transform that innovation into viable business projects and scalable industrial solutions. This was one of the main themes of discussion at Energía Connecta, a meeting held yesterday at the BStartup Barcelona Hub, which brought together start-upsInitiatives to boost innovation, capital, and companies in the energy sector were brought together to analyze how innovation processes can be accelerated in a sector that is particularly complex from a technological and regulatory perspective. The event, promoted by the Energy Efficiency Cluster of Catalonia, with the collaboration of BStartup by Banc Sabadell and the support of ACCIÓ, focused on the mechanisms that connect technological talent, capital, and industry to facilitate the scaling of new energy solutions.

Barcelona hosted the ConnectAI Industry Congress this week, on Wednesday the 28th and Thursday the 29th, at CosmoCaixa, with a clear ambition: to transform artificial intelligence into a truly useful tool for Catalan industry, or, as the organizer put it, "a lever for competitiveness." Far from futuristic speeches or pyrotechnic demonstrations, the congress, sponsored by Ayesa, LC Pack, Orange Empresas, and Amphos21, was conceived as a forum to discuss practical applications, efficiency, and impact, with the explicit aim of moving "from fascination to action." ConnectAI, held in the Catalan capital—which the organizers champion as the country's industrial and technological epicenter—brought together companies, research centers, government agencies, and technology providers under three major cross-cutting themes: industry, technology, and knowledge. It also brought together more than 700 companies from the Catalan technology industry, represented by clusters such as water, the packaging, energy and the digital industry. The common thread throughout all the sessions has been the idea that AI is not an end in itself, but a lever for transformation to address very specific challenges in day-to-day business.

The ConnectAI Industry Congress will be the meeting point for experts, executives, and innovation leaders on January 28th and 29th. CosmoCaixa in Barcelona will host the event, organized for the first time by four clusters. The Digital Cluster of Catalonia, the Energy Efficiency Cluster of Catalonia (CEEC), the Catalan Water Partnership (CWP), and the Packaging Cluster are leading an initiative that will analyze the use of artificial intelligence in Catalan industry, with the support of the Government of Catalonia. More than 500 international leaders, companies, and pioneering projects will share strategies, experiences, and real-world solutions that will shape the roadmap for the new industry in Catalonia. The event will be an opportunity to discuss how to apply AI to industry effectively and sustainably. Artificial intelligence has become a key driver for rethinking processes, anticipating decisions, and optimizing critical resources such as water, energy, and materials. AI presents a unique opportunity to enhance competitiveness and industrial sustainability, as well as to transform how we produce and innovate. In light of this new paradigm, CongressAI will delve deeply into a technology that is changing the industrial landscape.

The event, presented by journalist Laura López, featured two roundtables moderated by Antoni Bassas. The first brought together the Director General of Energy for the Government, Marta Morera; the Director of Endesa in Catalonia, Enric Brazis; the Northeast Regional Delegate of Redeia, Trinidad Sala; and the Technical Director of Energy for Catalonia and the Balearic Islands at Veolia, Oriol Morell. They all agreed on the need to accelerate the transformation of the electricity system, as well as the importance of more efficient and stable regulation, improved public-private collaboration, and an environment that facilitates investment in renewables.

The annual event for industry, business, and research is becoming a fixture on the Catalan calendar as a driving force for innovation in the energy sector. The Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC), the Catalonia Energy Efficiency Cluster (CEEC), and the Energy for Society R&D&I Network (XRE4S), with sponsorship from the Catalan Energy Institute (ICAEN), co-organized the seventh edition of Innovation Day, bringing together research talent and entrepreneurs. deep tech and the Catalan business and industrial fabric.

Efficiency, self-consumption and digitalization will be some of the central themes of the day Industrial Energy Transition: Driving Competitiveness, Efficiency & ProfitabilityThe event, which will take place next Wednesday, November 5th, at the Gran Via venue of Fira de Barcelona, is organized by Fira de Barcelona and the Catalan Energy Efficiency Cluster (CEEC). It will bring together companies with high energy consumption in their production processes to address practical solutions to the challenges of the energy transition. The day will be an exclusive meeting point for managers and energy decision-makers in industrial environments, where they will share real-world experiences, success stories, and strategies that are already making a difference in leading companies. The program, which has the support of the Ministry of Industry, will analyze the electrification process, the role of self-consumption, and the impact of energy costs in energy-intensive sectors. The event aims to boost operational efficiency, competitiveness, and energy resilience.

The aim of the meeting is to provide attendees with concrete tools to boost operational efficiency, competitiveness, and energy resilience in a context marked by cost volatility and new regulatory requirements. The various sessions will cover topics ranging from the impact of energy bills on Spanish industry to the most innovative technological solutions applied in industrial environments. A highlight of the sessions will be a roundtable discussion with representatives from companies such as ROCA Group, DOW Chemical, Alimrall, and Alier, who will share real-world experiences on energy efficiency management within their organizations. In addition, companies like Schneider Electric, Veolia, and Endesa will present cutting-edge solutions that are transforming energy management in the industrial sector. The event will conclude with the presentation of the study "Socioeconomic Impact in Spain of a Competitive Electricity Bill in Industry," prepared by the consulting firm PwC Spain, which will offer a quantitative view of the benefits of an efficient energy policy for the national productive sector.

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The acceleration of the deployment of renewable energy in Catalonia was the theme of the event organized last Tuesday by the newspaper ARA and the Efficient Energy Cluster of Catalonia (CEEC), with the support of the Catalan Energy Institute (ICAEN). With the provocative title "Without Fear of Renewables," the event brought together voices from the government, the business world, and the region to address the challenges, opportunities, and collective strategies for addressing a key issue for the country's future.

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