MWC Open Innovation Challenge 2026

2–5 Mar 2026 | Barcelona, Spain

ChallengeUpdated on 6 February 2026

Automated Maintenance & Autonomous Monitoring for Industrial Complexes

Open Innovation Sr Analyst at REPSOL

Móstoles, Spain

About

What we’re looking for:

  • Horizontal robotic coating for large storage tanks capable of operating on roofs and floors, addressing practical barriers like cable/tube length from the control unit and discontinuous surfaces due to weld seams. (Comparable to state‑of‑the‑art tank coating robots, adapted for horizontal use.)

  • Robotics for underwater weld inspection.

  • Robotized tank inspection suited to complex industrial environments.

  • Automated flange opening solutions (we are open to collaborations with research centers for development).

  • Robotic welding of field pipelines (proven experience in petrochemical environments). We are seeking robotic welding solutions that can be reliably deployed and scaled during routine plant shutdowns, enabling faster, safer and more consistent welding operations in real industrial conditions.

  • Autonomous monitoring technologies: quadruped inspection robots (preferably ATEX or systems that safely shut down on gas detection); camera‑based monitoring (including thermographic), drones, and other robots that integrate with existing plant systems; plus, pipeline corrosion detection technologies.

What we offer:

  • High‑volume deployment potential (>€1M) for scalable painting/maintenance applications in tanks.

  • Paid development / pilot projects (from ~€40k) to build and test prototypes or run pilot studies together.

  • Access to real‑world testing environments, a strong network of partners, and follow‑on contracts or long‑term collaboration if pilots succeed.

Topic

  • Robotics

Type

  • Proof of concept/pilot testing
  • Co-development
  • Client-provider collaboration (commercial agreement)

Organisation

REPSOL

Corporation

Madrid, Spain

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