"Cleantech leadership: who is blending the cocktail?"
The European Union (EU), spurred by Spain and Portugal, stands poised to lead in clean technologies. Years ago, Europe’s pledge to reach net zero emissions by 2050 marked a visionary call to action. Since then, concerted efforts have advanced this goal.
In her 2024 reappointment speech, Úrsula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, reaffirmed this commitment. She set a 2040 target: a 90% reduction in emissions from 1990 levels, enshrined in the European Climate Act. At the begining of 2025, she also unveiled a Clean Industrial Deal. She posed a decisive question: Will we be shaped by external events, or will we unite to steer our future?
The cleantech industry understands this well. To shape our destiny, we need four elements: technology, capital, political support, and public-private partnerships. We have the resources to lead and achieve energy independence. But speed is crucial. Rather than succumb to pessimism, we must change the narrative. We hold the power to do so. Climate change challenges offer opportunities to boost competitiveness, attract talent and investment, and raise awareness. Gathering these elements isn’t enough; the cocktail must be appropriately blended.
There are signs that this blend is building up. Over the next twelve years, EU Member States will see their funds quadruple, with a mandate to invest 25% of these revenues in promoting clean technologies. At the begining of 2024, the Council and the European Parliament agreed on the Net-Zero Industry Act. This act aims to boost the EU’s industrial capacity for manufacturing technologies that support the transition to net zero, offering a significant opportunity to reindustrialize the continent and strengthen strategic autonomy.
Our Achilles’ heel remains the scalability of innovation. While the EU produces 30% of the world’s scientific papers, only 7% of marketready innovations originate here. We lead in creativity, but others often reap the benefits.
To achieve our goals, we need innovative mechanisms to maximize investment. Some of our partners, like banks, are already moving in the right direction. Institutional support in the public sector is vital. Only these institutions can reduce uncertainty for private investors and minimize risks through grants, loan guarantees, tax incentives, or public-private financing.
A vibrant innovative ecosystem is crucial for the rise of clean technologies in the Iberian Peninsula. In recent years, investment in emerging cleantech in Spain and Portugal has increased sixfold. Today, there is a critical mass of investment funds specializing in cleantech, and international innovators like Stegra, Malta, Rondo, and Matteco are setting up factories here. Cleantech for Iberia unites leading investors and innovators in clean technologies for the first time. Together, they aim to create a more cohesive Iberian ecosystem, foster co-investment, and boost deal flow. This initiative also bridges the gap between the cleantech community and institutions.
The energy transition presents an excellent opportunity for our reindustrialization. We have the chance to lead in clean technologies, a journey that demands co-leadership and public-private cooperation. At Cleantech for Iberia, we are committed to changing the narrative, moving away from criticism and pessimism. We recognize that this pivotal moment calls for courage, determination, and leadership to drive the advancement of clean technologies.
