Open call – Showcase your innovations to Holcim, Orange and Qemetica during the CEE Deep Tech Summit

The European Innovation Council (EIC) is inviting EIC-backed start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs to join an exclusive business acceleration track, culminating in an EIC Multi-Corporate Day with Holcim Polska, Orange Polska, and Qemetica, with BNP Paribas participating as an observer. The Multi‑Corporate Day will take place during the Deep Tech CEE Summit in Warsaw on 27–28 October 2025, bringing Europe’s ambitious deep-tech founders together with corporate decision-makers to accelerate deployment of market‑ready solutions.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity and APPLY by 25 September

This activity is organised under the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme. Through this initiative, the selected EIC companies receive dedicated training, mentoring, pitch dry runs, and further support ahead of their strategic one-to-one meetings with our corporate partners, ensuring that dialogues at the Multi-Corporate Day quickly turn into concrete opportunities. Additionally, the selected EIC companies will benefit from post-activity support to maximise the impact of their business proposals.

Why apply?

Holcim Polska, Orange Polska and Qemetica are scouting for breakthrough, deployable solutions that align with their strategic roadmaps—spanning low-carbon construction, smart industrial operations, resilient connectivity, trusted digital services and advanced materials. For EIC-backed innovators, this is an exclusive opportunity to move beyond a cold outreach into curated, senior-level meetings where a value proposition can open doors to pilots, partnerships and scaled market entry. With BNP Paribas present as an observer, participants also gain visibility with a leading European financial institution and its networks.

Selected EIC-backed companies will receive:

• Personalised preparatory support, including a group session with the partner corporations, 1-to-1 sessions with business experts, high-quality feedback to adjust the pitch deck, pitch dry run, and a business proposal review;
• Privileged access to high-level decision-makers from Holcim Polska, Orange Polska & Qemetica;
• Knowledge-sharing and networking opportunities;
• Invitation to the exclusive EIC Networking Dinner on 27 October;
• Potential for collaborations, strategic partnerships, or market entry with Holcim Polska, Orange Polska and Qemetica.

Who can apply?

This call is open ONLY to EIC-backed start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs with market-ready or near-market solutions that speak directly to the corporate challenges and innovation priorities below:

Holcim Polska — Building progress for people and the planet

Holcim Polska is exploring partnerships that advance its sustainability and digitalisation agenda across the built environment. Priority themes include:

A) Smart design technologies

Innovations such as 3D printing and automated design processes can enhance construction efficiency, precision, and sustainability.

B) Digitalisation of material flows

• Solutions that improve the traceability, transparency, and reliability of material movements across the supply chain—from sourcing to final delivery.

C) Artificial Intelligence in construction

• Application of AI to optimise construction processes, predictive maintenance, quality control, and overall project management in the construction sector.

D) Smart Factories, quarries, and ready-mix plants

• Concepts such as self-regulating or autonomously operating industrial sites that leverage automation, sensor networks, and real-time data analytics to improve productivity and reduce operational risk.

Orange Polska — Secure connectivity and resilient digital services

Orange Polska seeks innovations that strengthen network resilience and trustworthy digital infrastructure, including:

A) Developing Innovative Communication Technologies

• Establishing resilient alternative connectivity solutions (mesh, non-terrestrial network) to supplement or replace traditional cellular networks in contested environments.

B) Threat Detection and Reliable Surveillance

• Agentic AI, Digital twins or other solutions to improve operational effectiveness in threat scenarios and increase situational awareness, avoiding spoofing and jamming modalities;
• Video analytics algorithms that can detect and counter adversarial image manipulations within video data to ensure reliable real-time surveillance and security operations;
• Innovative services to ensure accurate images, location and communication, including but not limited to satellite and sensing-based ones.

Qemetica — Advanced materials

A) Industrial Coatings for Harsh Environments

• Advanced materials or surface engineering solutions to prevent mineral buildup on industrial equipment operating under extreme conditions
• Protective coatings designed to maintain integrity and performance in high-temperature, alkaline, and abrasive environments
• Innovative approaches to enhance coating durability and reduce maintenance needs in demanding industrial applications.

Please specify which challenge(s) you are addressing in your application.

EIC-backed companies can apply here.

Please acknowledge that the information you provide on the application form will be shared with Holcim Polska, Orange Polska and Qemetica, who will select participants based on strategic fit.

What happens after your application?

Applications will be reviewed by the EIC team and shared with Holcim Polska, Orange Polska, and Qemetica for final selection. Due to the competitive nature of the process, feedback cannot be provided to unsuccessful applicants. Selected companies will receive onboarding information and the full preparation schedule.

If selected, the company commits to:

• Attending all preparatory sessions (in October): including online pitch training, proposal reviews, and coaching;
• Participating in-person at the EIC Multi-Corporate Day in Warsaw on 27 - 28 October 2025;
• Completing a brief satisfaction survey shortly after the matchmaking activity and a business impact survey six months after.

The companies must be represented by C-level executives and will be responsible for arranging and covering their travel and accommodation costs. Failure to comply with the commitments mentioned may result in exclusion from future EIC Business Acceleration Services opportunities.

Cancellation policy

Cancellations will only be accepted in duly justified cases of force majeure. Unjustified cancellations may result in exclusion from future EIC Business Acceleration Services opportunities. For more information, contact our Helpdesk (please select “EIC Multi-Corporate Day with Holcim Polska, Orange Polska and Qemetica” as the subject).

About the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme

This call and service are part of the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme, an initiative supporting EIC-backed companies looking to scale by securing new customers and business partners. To date, more than 1,500 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 corporate partners

Holcim Polska is A global leader in sustainable building solutions, committed to decarbonising the construction industry from beginning to end. With a strong belief in the power of collaboration, we are actively seeking visionary startup partners that align with our bold sustainability and innovation agenda. If your company offers cutting-edge solutions, especially in the areas of digital transformation, AI, or smart automation, we are eager to explore a partnership.

Orange Polska is the leader in the field of telecommunications and digital services (5G, IoT, cloud computing and AI), shaping the development of modern technologies in Poland for years. We consistently invest in expanding network infrastructure, implementing next-generation services, and supporting digital transformation in business and everyday life. We strive for the technologies we implement not only to make life easier but also to inspire the creation of solutions that genuinely impact the development of society, the environment, and business.

Qemetica (formerly CIECH) is a leading European chemical group, powering numerous sectors of the modern global economy. It is the second-largest producer of soda ash and refined soda in the European Union, the largest manufacturer of evaporated salt in Poland, the top supplier of sodium silicates in Europe, Poland’s largest producer of crop protection chemicals, and a leading manufacturer of polyurethane foams in the country. The Group operates production facilities in Poland, Germany and Romania and employs more than 3,000 people across the EU. Qemetica combines a modern business approach with a strong commitment to sustainability. Its business strategy includes ambitious ESG targets, including achieving climate neutrality by 2040. Innovation is a key pillar of Qemetica’s activities—both in production and in delivering advanced solutions to its customers. The company continues to develop its in-house R&D capabilities and actively explores breakthrough opportunities within the start-up ecosystem.

BNP Paribas (observer corporation) offers a universal banking perspective serving corporates, institutions, and individuals in financing, transactions, markets, and securities. Our strategy links technology and industrialisation with sustainability, helping clients transition to a low-carbon economy while enhancing efficiency and customer experience. This positions BNP Paribas as a key partner for fintech, data & AI, risk, payments, ESG/impact, and digital operational innovation, facilitating piloting, integration, and scaling within complex financial ecosystems.

Stay up to date!

The EIC Corporate Partnership Programme is an initiative of the EIC Business Acceleration Services.

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