From energy advantage to industrial power: 2026 will be a defining year for Europe’s cleantech competitiveness
Sara Santocildes joins Cleantech for Iberia
Cleantech scale-up has become one of Europe’s most strategic priorities, to meet climate goals and anchor industrial capacity, energy security and competitiveness in a world defined by geopolitical fragmentation.
Against this backdrop, Cleantech for Iberia welcomes its new Policy Officer, Sara Santocildes, to strengthen the initiative’s policy, institutional engagement and communications work across the region.
With a background in EU public affairs and industrial strategy, Sara brings experience advising cleantech and mobility innovators on how to scale European technologies, while also serving as Director of Institutional Relations at Equipo Europa.
What motivated you to join Cleantech for Iberia?
“I’ve always been driven by the idea that the European Union is not just a political project, it’s an industrial and geopolitical one. For cleantech, this is particularly true as the technologies that decarbonise Europe will also define its competitive position in the world.
Cleantech for Iberia sits at the heart of that mission, building the bridge between innovators, investors and policymakers to make sure the scale-up of clean technologies happens here, not elsewhere.”
Why Iberia, and why now?
“Iberia has something other regions look for: abundant renewable energy. Competitive renewables, interconnection potential, storage opportunities, and growing deeptech talent. Europe needs clean and affordable energy to reindustrialise, and Iberia can provide that foundation and be a key European industrial hub.
The question for the next few years is if we can turn energy strength into industrial strength. That means factories, FOAK projects, scaling infrastructure and capital deployment. If we get this right, Iberia could become one of Europe’s most strategic cleantech manufacturing hubs.”
What makes 2026 especially important?
“2026 will be a decisive year. A new European political cycle, new industrial instruments, and new debate around competitiveness and strategic autonomy. In parallel, Portugal and Spain are entering the implementation phase of key reforms, strategies and investment plans.
The timing aligns. Europe needs cleantech industry, Iberia can offer competitive conditions, and investors are looking for scale-ready opportunities – but policy needs to move the needle. The window is open, but it won’t stay open forever.”
What will you be focusing on first?
“A major focus will be connecting the dots between policy, industry and capital. FOAK and industrial-scale projects need risk-sharing mechanisms, long-term certainty and the right European and national instruments.”
A personal note — what draws you to EU policy?
“I’ve always loved the EU. Not just as a political space, but as a collective social,project. EU policy is where climate, industry and geopolitics come together, and cleantech sits right at that intersection. Working on cleantech today means contributing to the next chapter of the European story: a continent that can innovate, manufacture and compete.”
What excites you most about the coming year?
“Momentum. Europe is openly debating industrial strategy, autonomy and competitiveness. Iberia has the energy advantage to play a strategic role, and the ecosystem is maturing fast.
If we are smart and move quickly, we can build something genuinely transformative for the EU, for the region, and for industry.”
Iberia’s renewable advantage can fuel Europe’s cleantech competitiveness in 2026 and beyond.
We are delighted to welcome Sara to the Cleantech for Iberia team.
