AI Adoption Program: from use case identification to the activation of real pilots

On January 14, INDPULS held a key session of the AI Adoption Program: From Industrial Use Case to AI Pilot, conceived as a meeting point between real industrial needs and technology solutions based on artificial intelligence.

The session focused on pitch presentations by the selected startups and technology SMEs, as well as matchmaking meetings with INDPULS’ industrial partners, with the goal of connecting specific operational challenges with innovative solutions and launching the first AI pilots in industrial environments.

The event took place at La Casa de la Llum de Simon and brought together INDPULS’ industrial partners and the 10 finalist startups and technology SMEs of the program for an intensive working day, captured in this summary video.

AI for new products & business models

The day opened with the masterclass AI for new products & business models, delivered by Albert Esplugas. The session provided a strategic perspective on how artificial intelligence is redefining product innovation and opening the door to new business models in industry.

The central message focused on redesign. Beyond automating existing tasks, artificial intelligence becomes truly transformative when it enables the rethinking of processes, structures and value propositions. This vision acted as the guiding thread throughout the day and directly connects with the objective of the program.

Pitch session of the finalist startups and technology SMEs

Following the masterclass, the presentation session of the 10 selected startups and technology SMEs took place. The finalist companies presented their AI solutions to INDPULS’ industrial partners in response to use cases previously identified and prioritised through structured working sessions with the partners. This process was carried out in collaboration with Albert Esplugas and partner LTC Marlex, bringing a strategic, methodological and results-oriented approach.

The presentations showcased solutions designed for effective integration into industrial environments, with a clear alignment to business objectives. The proposals addressed areas such as AI-driven decision-making, R&D support, competitive intelligence, corporate knowledge management, operational optimisation and the automation of commercial processes.

One-to-one matchmaking: from proposal to pilot

The day concluded with one-to-one meetings between the finalist startups and technology SMEs and INDPULS’ industrial partners. This matchmaking space made it possible to further explore the technical feasibility, value creation and scalability of the proposed solutions.

These meetings mark the start of the program’s execution phase, where proposals are translated into real AI pilots, deployed in industrial environments and aligned with specific operational needs.

Final meeting of the AI Adoption Program 2025–2026

The AI Adoption Program will continue until February 25, when the winning startups and technology SMEs of this edition will be announced, bringing to a close a key phase of analysis, alignment and activation of the first artificial intelligence pilots in industrial settings.

This project is supported by the Departament d’Empresa i Treball – Generalitat de Catalunya (RETECH) and by the Next Generation EU funds.