The race toward Net Zero has gained new momentum with the announcement of Mitico and Heath Technologies as the winners of HyAccelerator 2025 – Net Zero Revolution Call4Startup, Snam’s flagship corporate acceleration program focused on pioneering decarbonization technologies.
The initiative, part of Snam’s long-term innovation roadmap, attracted more than 60 proposals from across the globe. Following an intensive Discovery Phase of technical assessments and expert mentoring, the two startups were selected to advance to the Validation Phase, where they will develop pre-feasibility studies for industrial-scale applications. Supported by Snam’s financial and technical resources, the winners will gain access to targeted feedback, expert guidance, and partnerships with key industrial players to explore real-world deployment.
As the world aims to reduce emissions by 43% by 2030 to stay within the 1.5°C global warming threshold, this edition of HyAccelerator reflects the growing need for practical innovation in carbon management and clean hydrogen production—two of the most critical pillars for achieving global Net Zero targets by 2050.
Carbon Capture Reinvented: Mitico’s Granulated K₂CO₃ Technology
Mitico is redefining the boundaries of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) through its proprietary granulated potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) sorption process. This technology captures low-concentration CO₂ emissions from post-combustion gases, providing a scalable, non-toxic and cost-effective pathway for decarbonizing industrial assets.
Industrial emissions account for nearly 20% of Italy’s total greenhouse gas output, making carbon capture a strategic priority. Mitico’s system is designed to retrofit existing plants, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors such as cement, steel, and chemicals, where electrification alone cannot deliver the necessary emission reductions.
Global projections by the International Energy Agency (IEA) indicate that CCUS technologies could contribute up to 15% of total emission cuts required by mid-century. Mitico’s innovation aligns with this global vision, offering a viable industrial tool to support Europe’s low-carbon transition.
Heath Technologies and the Future of Hydrogen
Heath Technologies is developing an innovative hybrid water-splitting process that merges thermochemical and electrochemical steps using the CuCl cycle. This process significantly improves hydrogen production efficiency and reduces costs compared to conventional electrolysis.
Powered by medium-to-high temperature heat, Heath’s approach enables the use of advanced heat sources, including solar thermal systems and next-generation nuclear technologies, to generate low-emission hydrogen. The company’s prototype development is being supported through the Horizon Europe project H2SHIFT (ID 101137953), in collaboration with Politecnico di Torino, under the Testing Line No. 5 “Thermochemical Water Splitting.”
Hydrogen is projected to meet up to 20% of the world’s energy demand by 2050, serving as a cornerstone of the green industrial revolution. Heath’s technology could play a key role in unlocking cost-competitive, low-carbon hydrogen for industries that depend on thermal energy, strengthening Europe’s clean energy infrastructure.
Cross-Border Innovation for the Net Zero Revolution
Snam’s HyAccelerator 2025 – Net Zero Revolution confirms the company’s leadership role in driving energy innovation across Europe. By investing in solutions like those of Mitico and Heath Technologies, Snam not only supports the commercialization of cutting-edge decarbonization tools but also strengthens the continental ecosystem for sustainable industry.
The 2025 edition of HyAccelerator also represents a landmark in European cross-border collaboration. Since 2024, Snam has been an active member of the TSOs Innovation Club, a network of major Transmission System Operators (TSOs) that cooperate to share best practices and accelerate technological innovation in the energy sector.
Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Enagás Emprende, NaTran, Gasunie, Teréga, and the innovation hub H2UB, Snam has formalized its commitment to fostering joint research and technology adoption across national borders. Experts from these organizations contributed directly to the evaluation of startups during the Call4Startup, ensuring a robust, multidisciplinary approach.
This strategic alliance reinforces Europe’s shared ambition to accelerate the energy transition through open innovation. By combining industrial expertise, academic research, and entrepreneurial vision, initiatives like HyAccelerator demonstrate how collaboration can transform climate goals into measurable progress.
Cover: photo by Envato