Mediaroom

• The CLEPA Innovation Awards took place in Brussels on 4 December, also marking CLEPA’s 65th anniversary
• Attended by over 240 participants, the ceremony included a political discussion with representatives from the European Commission, Parliament and industry

Brussels, 5 December 2024 – The ninth CLEPA Innovation Awards showcased ground-breaking ideas in green and digital technology across the automotive supply industry. The event awarded 12 Top Innovators and included talks with high-level EU policy makers on the future of transport.

“The CLEPA Innovation Awards shine a light on the latest innovations from automotive suppliers and highlight the outstanding efforts within our industry,” said CLEPA Secretary General Benjamin Krieger. “By focusing on digital and green mobility, we’re addressing pressing EU needs for transforming business practices towards faster, more advanced, and diverse solutions.”

Since 1959, CLEPA has been a key voice for automotive suppliers in Europe, and this 65th anniversary milestone brought together key policy makers Signe Ratso, Deputy Director-General, DG for Research and Innovation (European Commission), MEPs Andrea Wechsler (EPP) and Danuše Nerudová (EPP). They joined CLEPA President, Matthias Zink and Deloitte’s Elmar Pritsch on stage for a panel discussion on the key drivers for this industry to stay competitive and continue leading innovation.

Matthias Zink, who is CEO Powertrain & Chassis at Schaeffler, will mark his first year as CLEPA President in January 2025. He stressed the need for technology openness and stronger EU business growth:

“As our industry undergoes its transformation, we need appealing business conditions and clear pathways to achieve our goals. This means having regulations that welcome all technologies, cut down on foreign dependence, and help us reach climate targets faster.”

Elmar Pritsch, Global Software-defined Vehicle Leader at Deloitte, added “a European framework for digital type approval can be regarded as a game changer for the entire automotive industry: The compliant deployment of new vehicle features via efficient over-the-air updates would enhance road safety considerably.”

Explore this year’s top innovations, and other materials here: Home – CLEPA Innovation Awards

Top Innovators 2024

Digital

• Autocrypt – Cyber Security Testing Platform – CSTP
• Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH – Smart Cockpit Virtualization
• FORVIA HELLA – Intelligent Power Distribution Module (IPDM) with Integrated Electronic Fuse (eFuse)
• Marelli – h-Digi® microLED
• Aurora Labs – Line-of-Code Intelligence (LOCI)
• C2A Security – EVSEC: Automated Risk-Driven Product Security Platform

Green

• Cabot Corporation – New Universal Circular Black Masterbatches with Certified Sustainable Material
• Continental Reifen – Ultracontact NXT
• DuPont – BETATECH™ Thermal Interface Material
• ZF Friedrichshafen AG – I²SM: In-Rotor Inductive-Excited Synchronous Machine
• NUTAI – ELYGREEN H2 – Test Bench for SOEC/SOFC Systems
• WeavAir – EV Battery Watchdog

About CLEPA  

CLEPA, the European Association of Automotive Suppliers based in Brussels, represents over 3,000 companies, from multi-nationals to SMEs, supplying state-of-the-art components and innovative technology for safe, smart and sustainable mobility, investing over €30 billion yearly in research and development. Automotive suppliers in Europe directly employ 1.7 million people in the EU.  

Interested in more information?  

You can contact us at communications@clepa.be