AI4Industry Matchmaking: connecting industrial challenges with digital solutions

i2CAT Research Centre and the Catalonia Digital Cluster are promoting the AI4Industry Matchmaking session on Friday, 23 January 2026, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Hub Social – Fundació Bofill (C. Girona, 34, Barcelona).

This initiative is part of the Catalonia AI 2030 Strategy and features the participation of the Digital Catalonia Alliance, with funding from the RETECH programme.

The activity aims to connect real-world industrial challenges with regional digital capabilities, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, automation, and IoT. The challenges presented stem from the Digital Transformation of Industry Barometer, led by the Catalonia Digital Cluster, which identifies the needs and priorities of the Catalan manufacturing sector.

The Digital Catalonia Alliance drives the participation of its member companies to foster business generation and the technological transfer of innovative solutions that support the digitalisation of the industrial sector.

Key highlights of the session

• Presentation of prioritised industrial challenges, with a clear explanation of the context and associated needs.

• Matchmaking dynamics to facilitate direct meetings between industrial companies and technological startups/SMEs with potential solutions.

• Guidance on funding opportunities to help resulting ideas evolve into solid projects.

• Presentation of the AI4Industry call, which will allow the formed consortia to access co-creation sessions with expert support.

And after the matchmaking? This event is the starting point of the initiative, as it aims to activate the connection between supply and demand, identify potential consortia, and lay the foundations for project ideas to evolve into real solutions to be defined in a subsequent phase. This second phase consists of co-creation sessions facilitated and delivered by experts in innovation, industry, and AI. Through these, selected consortia will receive up to 4 hours (2 sessions) of guidance and support to mature their project ideas.

[Click here for more information about the AI4Industry matchmaking]

PROGRAMME

09:30 am – Registration and accreditation

10:00 am – Welcome and presentation of the session

• Introduction to the programme, the RETECH framework, and the objectives of the session.

10:10 am – AI4Industry Project: opportunities and benefits for companies

• Presentation of the mission, objectives, and main actions of the AI4Industry project.

10:30 am – Presentation of industrial challenges

• Briefing on the priority challenges identified within the industrial sector.

10:45 am – Matchmaking – Part 1

• Short group meetings to explore matches and synergies between industry and digital solutions.

11:35 am – Break 11:50 am – Funding opportunities and public calls

• Presentation of competitive programmes and support lines for AI and industrial digitalisation projects.

12:20 pm – Matchmaking – Part 2

• Second round to validate ideas, advance project lines, and identify potential consortia.

13:00 pm – AI4Industry Call

• How to participate in the call to access co-creation sessions and develop collaborative projects.

13:15 pm – Closing remarks