Open Call – Join the EIC Multi-Corporate Day with OMV Petrom, Romgaz, Confind, and Bonatti

The European Innovation Council (EIC), in collaboration with OMV Petrom, Romgaz, Confind, and Bonatti, invites EIC startups to apply for the EIC Multi-Corporate Day, to be held in Bucharest, Romania, on 9-10 April 2025. Aimed at driving innovation in the energy sector, this new high-impact partnership opportunity with Romania's largest oil & gas actors is organised under the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme.  

Apply by February 19 

Why apply? 

Selected EIC companies will benefit from: 

• Tailored training, mentoring, and pitch preparation support ahead of the Multi-Corporate Day, including a group session with OMV Petrom. 

• High-level business 1-to-1 matchmaking sessions with privileged access to high-level decision makers within OMV Petrom, Romgaz, Confind and Bonatti. 

• Industry insights and networking to unlock new opportunities and gain access to new markets. 

• Post-matchmaking support to help maximise business outcomes. 

About the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme’s partners 

OMV Petrom is the largest integrated oil and gas group in Southeast Europe, with an annual hydrocarbon production of approximately 41 million boe in 2023. The Group has a refining capacity of 4.5 million tons annually and operates a high-efficiency 860 MW power plant. OMV Petrom is present in the oil products retail market in Romania and neighboring countries through 787 filling stations.  

Romgaz is the largest natural gas producer in Romania and one of the largest in Eastern Europe. The company has an annual natural gas production of approximately 5.3 billion m3. Romgaz operates six branches, including two production branches, an underground storage branch, and a special operations branch. The company is headquartered in Mediaș, Romania, with an annual revenue of €1.88 billion.  

Confind is a leading supplier of equipment and services for the oil and gas industries in Romania. Based in Ploiești, Romania, Confind provides a range of services including industrial leasing, supply chain management, and wholesale. With an annual revenue of €47 million, Confind operates actively in the European Union and the Middle East.  

Bonatti is an international contractor providing services to the energy industry with over 75 years of experience. With an annual revenue of €849.4 million abd headquartered in Parma, Italy, Bonatti operates on four continents, offering services ranging from engineering and construction to the operation and maintenance of plants and pipelines.  

Who should apply? 

The call for applications is only open to EIC-backed SMEs, startups, and scaleups. 

OMV Petrom, Romgaz, Confind and Bonatti are looking for disruptive technologies with applications in the oil and gas sector, focused on enhancing operational efficiency, sustainability, and digital transformation. OMV Petrom, Romgaz, Confind, and Bonatti are particularly interested in Startups, SMEs and Scaleups with a minimum TRL of 6 and with innovations that align with at least one of the following focus areas: 

Leveraging A.I. for the Oil & Gas Industry 

• AI-Enhanced Turbine Operation (real-time adaptive management, predictive maintenance and optimized scheduling, A.I.-Driven turbine inspection and structural health assessment, Enhanced energy dispatch and demand forecasting) 

• AI-powered Digital twin for hydro power plants 

• Equipment health monitoring (predictive maintenance of assets, operational efficiency, improving safety standards, optimizing maintenance costs) 

• AI-driven business process optimization, automation, and advanced data analytics 

Scaling remote & automated operations 

• Remote monitoring for processes in low-complexity facilities (e.g., oil gathering parks) 

• Internal oil and gas inspection for non-piggable pipeline 

• Emissions monitoring of methane emissions within oil and gas facilities 

Energy production systems 

• Valorization of natural gas from isolated sources (Local conversion to electricity for onsite use, Combined electricity and heat generation (CHP systems), Alternative innovative uses tailored to specific site needs) 

• Renewable energy integration for field operations (small-scale renewable energy solutions that combine high efficiency with low-cost implementation) 

Retail and Marketing 

• Unified solutions for power supply and e-mobility services (one offer/one contract/one invoice) for B2B consumers 

• Increasing efficiencies in grid power balancing and EV recharging 

Please specify the topic you are interested in within your application. 

How to Apply 

✔ Deadline: 19 February 2025 

✔ Application link

✔ Selection: By applying, you acknowledge that the information you provide on the application form will be shared with OMV Petrom, Romgaz, Confind, and Bonatti. The partners will select the participants based on their business interests and strategic objectives. Only selected applicants will be contacted. 

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 event days (in-person) on 9-10 April 2025 in Bucharest, Romania, 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. 

About the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme 

The EIC Corporate Partnership Programme supports EIC-backed companies looking to scale by securing new customers and business partners. To date, more than 1 200 EIC-backed start-ups and scale-ups, together with over 2 500 high-level representatives from more than 100 large companies, have taken part in the programme, resulting in significant impacts on organisations, tracking progress, and closing deals, often within 6 months. 

About the EIC Business Acceleration Services 

This opportunity is brought to you by the EIC Business Acceleration Services. To explore other opportunities to connect with the largest corporates in Europe, keep an eye on our events page. 

All participants are required to complete a brief satisfaction survey shortly after the matchmaking opportunity and a business impact survey after six months. Failure to do so may lead to exclusion from future Business Acceleration Services. 

Cancellation policy 

Cancellations will only be considered in duly documented cases of "force majeure". Unjustified cancellation can lead to exclusion in future Business Acceleration Services business opportunities. For additional information, please refer to our Helpdesk (please choose "EIC Multi-Corporate Day with OMV Petrom" as the subject).