Open Stakeholder event: "Accelerating CCUS Deployment by Connecting Policy, Industry, and Innovation"

On 14 October 2026, the COREu project, with the support of HERCCULES, hosted an open stakeholder event in Trieste, Italy. The event gathered over 140 participants representing different areas of the carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) value chain, providing a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge, share perspectives and strengthen collaboration towards accelerating CCUS deployment in Europe.

The first day provided a platform for dialogue between policymakers, researchers, industry representatives and technology providers, addressing the main opportunities and challenges for scaling up CCUS in Europe. Discussions covered policy and regulatory frameworks, cross-border cooperation, infrastructure development and industrial implementation, drawing on experiences from Norway, Italy, Greece and beyond.

HERCCULES was represented by Chiara Artini (LEAP) and Elisa Guasti (Clust-ER Greentech), who presented the project and its stakeholder engagement activities. Their contribution highlighted the importance of connecting research and innovation with industrial needs and engaging stakeholders to support the development and deployment of CCUS solutions.

The programme combined institutional and technical panel discussions featuring experts from across the European energy and industrial sectors. A key message emerged throughout the sessions: accelerating CCUS deployment requires close collaboration across the entire value chain, supported by effective policies, enabling infrastructure and coordinated action at European and national levels.

The day also included visits to two COREu partner facilities in Trieste. At Saipem, participants explored an underwater drone equipped with CO₂ sensors for monitoring applications, while at Gas Vessel Production (GVP), they learned about innovative high-pressure CO₂ cylinders designed for multimodal CO₂ transport. These visits offered practical insights into technologies supporting the development of integrated CO₂ transport and storage solutions.

The event concluded with a networking dinner, creating further opportunities to exchange knowledge, strengthen partnerships and identify areas for future cooperation. For HERCCULES, the meeting reinforced the value of stakeholder engagement and collaboration with complementary European initiatives in advancing innovative CCUS solutions and supporting Europe's decarbonisation objectives.