As we look ahead to 2026, the European business landscape is being reshaped by innovative companies across diverse sectors. From revolutionary materials science to AI-powered enterprise solutions, these 18 organizations are pushing boundaries and redefining what's possible. Here's our curated guide to the companies that should be on every business leader's radar.
GMG is developing groundbreaking graphene aluminium-ion battery technology that could transform energy storage as we know it. Their batteries charge in seconds rather than hours, last for thousands of cycles and eliminate the fire risks associated with traditional lithium-ion technology. With partnerships including Rio Tinto and collaboration with the University of Queensland, GMG has achieved significant milestones including 1000 mAh capacity cells and is working toward commercial production. Their proprietary process converts natural gas into high-quality graphene, positioning them at the intersection of clean energy and advanced materials.
This brilliant group of innovators also creates other essential manufacturing and automotive products like G Lubricant, a concentrate of GMG Graphene that can be added to traditional lubricating oil, especially designed for energy and emissions savings, plus wear prevention. GMG’s Thermal-XR HVAC coating system again brings revolutionary efficiency improvement and power reduction across heat exchange.
Why they matter: As the world demands safer, faster-charging and more sustainable energy solutions, GMG's technology addresses critical pain points in electric vehicles, consumer electronics, renewable energy storage, long-term maintenance and repair, and heating and cooling — some of the biggest challenges of this decade.
Markforged has established itself as a leader in industrial additive manufacturing, producing 3D printers capable of creating parts with continuous carbon fiber, metals and advanced composites. Their technology enables manufacturers to produce end-use parts, tooling and fixtures on-demand, dramatically reducing lead times and costs while increasing design freedom.
Why they matter: As supply chains become more localized and customization demands increase, Markforged's distributed manufacturing capabilities allow companies to produce industrial-strength parts, where and when they're needed.
Layermark’s CMMI Institute takes you beyond Capability Maturity Model Integration and industry benchmarking toward organization-wide transformational change and in particular, focuses on CMMI for AI to standardize and regulate AI usage for enterprises. Layermark is one of only two strategic partners of the CMMI Institute, as it co-develops and delivers solutions with the world’s top-tier lead appraisers.
Why they matter: In a time of such change, Layermark’s appraisal of people, development, services, data, security, safety, supplier management and virtual work environments makes sure you know officially where your business stands.
Nomentia provides a modern SaaS-based cash and treasury management system, processing over 1.2 trillion euros annually with more than 1,400 clients globally. Their cloud-based platform centralizes cash management, payment automation and financial risk management, connecting businesses to over 10,000 banks worldwide. Recent wins include major energy companies like Gasum, a Finnish state-owned energy company operating across the Nordics, selecting their next-generation treasury solutions.
Why they matter: As financial volatility increases and treasury operations become more strategic, Nomentia's comprehensive platform turns treasury from a back-office function to a competitive advantage.
SPS Commerce serves over 120,000 customers across 85 countries, processing transactions for major retailers like Target, Lidl and Home Depot. Their cloud-based platform automates electronic data interchange, order management and supply chain collaboration, while incorporating AI for demand forecasting and inventory optimization. With AI delivering efficiency improvements 10 times higher than traditional methods, they're reshaping how retail supply chains operate.
Why they matter: In omnichannel retail, seamless data exchange is critical. SPS Commerce makes complex B2B integrations simple, helping businesses scale efficiently as they respond to this time of constant change.
c.technology builds AI-powered applications on secure infrastructure. Original equipment manufacturers (more commonly called OEMs) unlock value through white-label mobile apps, dealer and service tools, and comprehensive dashboards — seamlessly connecting factory, field and vehicle owners.
Why they matter: As factories become smarter and more connected, c.technology helps bridge the gap between legacy systems and your modern automation requirements.
Fractalia Cybersecurity empowers service providers across telecommunications, utilities, insurance, banking and beyond to deliver comprehensive digital protection and expert managed security services to their customers. Fractalia’s solutions are specifically designed for small and medium businesses and household users with basic to moderate technical knowledge, making enterprise-grade cybersecurity accessible without requiring advanced technical expertise.
Why they matter: As cyber threats escalate, SMBs and consumers are increasingly vulnerable yet often lack the knowledge for robust protection. Fractalia enables trusted service providers to extend cybersecurity as a value-added service, protecting their customers while creating new revenue streams in an essential and growing market.
Connected enterprise: Communications and collaboration
Recognized as the fastest-growing European unified communications provider by Frost & Sullivan, Enreach operates across 25 countries with more than 1,200 employees and 2.3 million customers. Their converged contact solutions combine Unified Communications as a Service or UCaaS, contact center capabilities and collaboration tools under a single platform, with seamless integration into Microsoft Teams and your other favorite business applications.
Why they matter: As hybrid work becomes permanent, Enreach provides integrated contact solutions that keeps distributed teams connected and productive across Europe.
Viewwave is an international ICT and business consultancy firm specialized in turning data into strategic assets. With deep expertise in Master Data Management and Business Intelligence, they help organizations harness their data through expert project management and integrated IT and business consultancy. Their focus is singular: empowering your data to drive better decisions, streamline operations and unlock business value.
Why they matter: In an era where data is often called "the new oil," many organizations are data-rich but insight-poor. Viewwave bridges this gap, combining technical expertise with business acumen to ensure data doesn't just exist — it works for you, your business and your inevitable AI strategy.
As part of global transport leader Scania, LOTS Group brings innovative solutions to logistics and fleet management, focusing on sustainability and operational efficiency in commercial transportation. LOTS is paving the pathway to net-zero transportation while also supporting the global supply chain, in a way that makes logistics more efficient, saving time, money and the earth.
Why they matter: With mounting pressure to decarbonize transportation, LOTS Group leverages Scania's expertise and infrastructure to deliver practical solutions for sustainable logistics.
As we enter into 2026, expertise and specialization remain pivotal for success in the fast-changing digital landscape. Objective Group exemplifies this principle by equipping enterprises with cutting-edge solutions that leverage the power of Liferay DXP and the WEM.io no-code development platform. Their specialized approach enables organizations to build sophisticated digital experiences without the complexity and cost traditionally associated with enterprise-grade platforms.
Why they matter: As customer expectations for digital experiences continue to rise, enterprises face a critical choice — invest heavily in custom development or settle for inflexible templates. Objective Group offers a third path through expert implementation of powerful platforms that balance flexibility with speed, allowing organizations to deliver premium digital experiences without prohibitive timelines or technical debt.
Squalify brings cyber risk quantification directly to the boardroom, translating technical cyber exposure into financial terms that executives understand and can act upon. Their platform empowers CISOs and risk leaders to communicate risk with clarity, demonstrate the ROI of security investments and drive enterprise-wide risk reduction from a single, unified view. Fast, data-backed and scalable, Squalify bridges the persistent gap between security teams and business leadership.
Why they matter: Cybersecurity has long struggled with a communication problem — technical teams speak in vulnerabilities while boards think in dollars. Squalify solves this by quantifying cyber risk in financial terms, enabling organizations to make clear, defensible decisions about security investments and prioritize what truly matters to the business.
Eoliann provides climate risk analytics that enable financial institutions, insurance companies, infrastructure operators and energy providers to make data-driven decisions that prevent and mitigate climate impacts. Their platform transforms complex climate data into actionable intelligence, helping organizations protect assets, manage exposure and build resilience against an increasingly volatile climate future.
Why they matter: As climate change accelerates, organizations face mounting physical and financial risks that traditional risk models fail to capture. Eoliann gives decision-makers the foresight they need to protect infrastructure, price risk accurately and invest strategically in a climate-uncertain world.
Orbyt is the only invoicing and payment platform specifically designed for invoice-heavy businesses operating at the intersection of high-volume B2C and B2B billing. Their platform addresses the unique challenges of organizations that process thousands of invoices monthly, delivering improved customer experience, accelerated cash collection and deeper financial insights that generic billing systems simply can't provide.
Why they matter: Businesses caught between consumer-scale volumes and enterprise complexity face a billing nightmare — existing solutions are either too simple or too cumbersome. Orbyt is a FinTech filling this critical gap, turning invoice processing from a bottleneck into a competitive advantage through faster payments and better customer experience.
Staying in FinTech, Springtime Technologies is revolutionizing Accounts Payable through AI-enabled automation that truly works. Their intelligent, easy-to-use solutions simplify complex Procure-to-Pay processes, with specialized focus on high-volume, multi-entity and multi-currency invoice processing across global markets. Their next-level automation gives AP managers, process owners and CXOs the insights and control needed to maximize productivity, meet compliance standards and reduce costs. Fortune 500 companies like Bosch, Takeda, Boehringer Ingelheim and DHL trust Springtime to transform AP operations from cost centers into drivers of business value.
Why they matter: Accounts Payable has long been viewed as a back-office necessity rather than a strategic function. Springtime Tech changes this narrative by applying advanced AI to one of finance's most paper-intensive, error-prone processes — turning AP into a source of efficiency, insight and competitive advantage for global enterprises.
Schaman SaaS transforms customer service through automatic diagnosis and resolution that delivers unprecedented efficiency and user satisfaction. Unlike traditional tools that rely on complex, hard-to-update workflows, Schaman takes a radically different approach focused on the root cause of customer interactions. The platform connects in real time with all enterprise systems, gathering objective data to orchestrate personalized diagnosis and resolution. Its centralized intelligence powers all service channels — from chat to voice to self-service — solving both simple and complex problems with equal ease, enabling true digital absorption that legacy systems can't match.
Why they matter: Most customer service platforms force issues through rigid workflows that frustrate both customers and agents. Schaman flips this model by identifying root causes first, then orchestrating the optimal resolution path. The result is faster resolutions, happier customers and service teams that can finally handle complexity at scale without adding headcount.
As sustainability demands continue into 2026, Waterdrop’s reverse osmosis systems deliver efficient solutions for clean, pure water at home. Their products combine sleek, modern design with advanced filtration technology to create a user-friendly experience that integrates seamlessly into contemporary living spaces. Waterdrop's commitment to environmental responsibility shines through in their innovative filter designs and water-saving features, proving that premium water quality and eco-consciousness can coexist.
Why they matter: As concerns about water quality and plastic waste grow, consumers seek alternatives to bottled water that don't compromise on purity or convenience. Waterdrop addresses both challenges — delivering laboratory-grade filtration while dramatically reducing plastic consumption and water waste through efficient reverse osmosis technology.
Globics has partnered with legendary Italian design house Pininfarina to create luxury hybrid watches that blend traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. Their timepieces represent the convergence of heritage design and contemporary innovation.
Why they matter: As consumers seek products that balance timeless design with modern functionality, Globics demonstrates how technology can enhance rather than replace traditional luxury.
What unites these 18 diverse companies is their shared commitment to solving real problems through innovation. Whether they're revolutionizing battery technology, streamlining treasury operations or reinventing everyday products, each represents a different facet of how European businesses are adapting to meet tomorrow's challenges today.
For business leaders, investors and partners, these companies offer more than just interesting technologies — they represent opportunities to collaborate, learn and grow. As we move through 2026, watch how these organizations continue to push boundaries and create value in their respective industries.
The question isn't whether these companies will shape the future — it's whether your organization will be part of that transformation.
