6th European
Lightweighting
Network Conference
BARCELONA | SPAIN | 7 – 8 October 2026
Science and innovation for exploiting lightweight technologies supporting the European Green Deal objectives
The European Lightweighting Network is an initiative by public authorities from, up until today, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Slovakia and Poland. The purpose of the network is to establish a platform and agenda for common goals concerning the reduction of emissions through reduced weight in products.
Network & Collaborate
Become part of new networking and open collaboration platforms. Meet with other conference attendees -government representatives from different EU countries, and stakeholders from industry and academia.
Get new ideas
Be inspired by best practices to learn how lightweighting has been deployed in other countries and industries.
Establish a lightweight strategy
The overall purpose of the conference is to push the lightweight roadmap forward on a European level by establishing a common European Lightweighting Strategy.
About the organisers
ACCIÓ
ACCIÓ is the Agency for Business Competitiveness of Catalonia, a public body of the Government of Catalonia dedicated to fostering business competitiveness, innovation and internationalisation. ACCIÓ supports companies in adopting advanced technologies and strengthening their position in global value chains, while promoting collaboration between industry, research organisations and public authorities. Through its policy support activities, ACCIÓ contributes to enhancing regional innovation policies and accelerating the uptake of advanced and sustainable technologies across key industrial sectors, including mobility and lightweight solutions.
The Advanced Materials Cluster of Catalonia (MAV)
The Advanced Materials Cluster of Catalonia (MAV) is a private non-profit association, part of the Catalonia Clusters Programme led by ACCIÓ, founded in 2015 to strengthen competitiveness across the advanced materials value chain. It drives innovation and collaboration by creating business opportunities linked to cutting-edge materials and technologies. MAV brings together 84 member organisations, fostering synergies across sectors such as mobility, energy, healthcare, electronics, and construction. With a cross-sectoral approach, it covers materials including polymers, metals, ceramics, composites, textiles, and biomaterials. Its members include large companies, SMEs and research organisations, forming a dynamic ecosystem that drives industrial transformation and sustainable growth.
Eurecat
Eurecat is Catalonia’s leading technology and innovation centre, supporting companies and public institutions through applied research, advanced technological services, and talent development. It brings together multidisciplinary expertise in industrial innovation, digital technologies, sustainability, and biotechnology. Eurecat supports the full innovation cycle, from research and development to technology transfer and market deployment. By transforming scientific knowledge into practical solutions, it strengthens business competitiveness and fosters economic growth. With a strong European and international presence, Eurecat acts as a strategic bridge between research, industry, and society, delivering measurable economic and social impact.
The ELCA network
The European Lightweight Cluster Alliance (ELCA) is a pan-European network that brings together leading clusters, research organisations, companies and innovation actors working in the field of lightweight materials and technologies. ELCA aims to strengthen European leadership in lightweighting by accelerating the adoption of advanced materials and sustainable manufacturing solutions across strategic sectors such as mobility, aerospace, energy, healthcare, construction and defence. The alliance promotes collaboration between industry and research through joint innovation activities, technology transfer, internationalisation initiatives and participation in European projects. By connecting more than 1,200 organisations across multiple European countries, ELCA fosters cross-sector cooperation, supports SMEs in accessing new market opportunities, and contributes to the development of more resource-efficient and climate-neutral industrial value chains.