ICIQ has presented its pioneering industrial decarbonisation project in Brussels, at one of Europe’s most important political and economic showcases. Dr Júlia Viladoms, head of the Industrial Decarbonisation Unit at the ICIQ, was one of the key speakers in the first plenary session of the C4T (Cohesion for Transitions) Conference, a forum focused on how sustainability and competitiveness should guide the European Union’s future cohesion investments.
During the debate, which featured high-level representatives from the European Commission and other institutional and regional actors, the need for the cohesion policy not only to meet climate objectives but also to strengthen the competitiveness and strategic autonomy of Europe’s regions was discussed.
Sustainability and economic viability
In her speech, Viladoms emphasised the opportunity that industrial decarbonisation represents for reinventing industry and moving towards a more sustainable, resilient and competitive future, in which CO₂ becomes a resource. In this regard, she cited the ICIQ’s initiative as an example: a project for mobile pilot plants for CO₂ capture and utilisation, funded by the European Union under the 2021-2027 Catalonia FEDER Programme and the STEP (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform) initiative.
“Decarbonisation is not just a climate necessity; it is an opportunity to build a more resilient, innovative and competitive industry. Our mobile pilot plant project demonstrates that excellence in science can offer real, scalable and economically viable solutions for industry. If we want to accelerate this change, it is vital to strengthen collaboration between research centres, the private sector and public authorities”, Viladoms argued.
She also emphasised the importance of collaboration between research centres, industry and public authorities to accelerate the transition from innovation to large-scale implementation.
About the C4T forum
The C4T is a European Commission initiative designed to help Member States and regions leverage Cohesion Policy funds for the energy and climate transition. This fourth edition of the conference has become the benchmark forum for discussing how funds such as the ERDF or the STEP platform can drive critical and clean technologies, ensuring that no European region is left behind in the race towards climate neutrality.
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