A new European challenge will connect startups with Hitachi Construction Machinery and major industry players including CRH, Ferrovial, Loxam and Leonard, as the sector looks for scalable answers to autonomy, site intelligence and life-cycle decisions.
Hitachi Construction Machinery is bringing its LANDCROS Innovation Studios startup challenge to Europe for the first time, opening a new route for technology companies aiming to test solutions on real construction, quarrying and mining operations. Applications opened on 31 July 2026 and will run until 30 September 2026, with selected startups invited to pitch in Amsterdam on 3 December 2026.
Construction and mining companies are under growing pressure to do more with fewer resources: labour shortages, safety expectations, fuel efficiency, fleet utilisation and tighter project margins are pushing contractors, rental companies and materials producers to look beyond conventional machine upgrades. Increasingly, the next productivity gain may come from software, data, automation and better decision-making around the equipment itself.
Through LANDCROS Innovation Studios, the company is building an open-innovation ecosystem designed to connect its group companies, customers, startups and industry partners. Earlier editions of the challenge were held in the United States in 2024 and Australia in 2025. Europe now becomes the next testbed, with its dense construction markets, mature rental sector, active quarrying operations and strong regulatory focus on safety and sustainability.
The LANDCROS Innovation Studios Challenge Europe 2026 is focused on three themes identified by Hitachi Construction Machinery’s operational teams and validated with industry partners.
The first is autonomous operations. Here, the company is looking for technologies that can reduce dependence on labour, limit operational variability and improve safety through automation. In practical terms, that could involve systems that help machines operate with greater consistency, reduce operator exposure in difficult environments or support more predictable site workflows.
The second theme is site intelligence and planning. This area targets startups that can turn site data into better simulations, decisions and learning loops. For contractors and mine operators, the value is clear: better planning can reduce rework, improve productivity and help teams understand what is happening on site before problems become expensive.
The third theme, life-cycle decision intelligence, focuses on the full equipment journey. Hitachi Construction Machinery wants solutions that help customers buy more effectively, operate machines more intelligently and replace assets at the right time using data rather than assumption, an aspect particularly relevant for fleet owners and rental companies, where asset utilisation, maintenance timing and residual value can have a major impact on the TCO
The challenge is being supported by CRH, Ferrovial, Loxam and Leonard, VINCI’s innovation and foresight platform. The partners will promote the programme through their networks, take part in the selection process and Demo Day, and may consider co-piloting proof-of-concept projects with selected startups.
That partner structure gives the programme a practical edge. Startups often struggle to move from promising technology to field validation, especially in sectors where machines, sites and operating conditions vary widely. By bringing OEM expertise together with contractors, rental specialists and materials companies, the challenge is designed to expose new solutions to real operational needs rather than abstract innovation targets.
Selected startups will gain access to Hitachi Construction Machinery experts and data resources, as well as the opportunity for a paid pilot tailored to their proposal. The programme is free to apply for, with no commission or equity requirement.
Francesco Quaranta, President and CEO of Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe, said the challenge reflects the company’s ambition to move further into solutions.
“We want to grow as a true solutions provider, and we believe some of the best ideas for our machines and sites are already out there. Bringing this challenge to Europe is a direct way to find the startups behind those ideas and build with them.”
CRH Ventures, which will support the programme from the building materials side, said the initiative could help identify technologies with direct relevance to quarrying and mining operations.
“CRH Ventures is pleased to partner with Hitachi Construction Machinery to scout high-potential startups developing innovative solutions for quarrying and mining operations, with a view to identifying and fast-tracking opportunities that can deliver real-world impact across CRH’s business, whilst reinforcing our position as an active driver of innovation in the building materials sector,” said Murari Perumalsamy, Head of CRH Ventures.
Ferrovial Construction also framed the programme as part of a wider industry move toward collaboration.
“Ferrovial Construction is pleased to participate in the LANDCROS Innovation Studios Challenge Europe 2026 as part of our commitment to open innovation and collaboration across the construction ecosystem,” said Luis Amorim, Head of Open Innovation at Ferrovial Construction. “We look forward to working with Hitachi Construction Machinery, startups and industry partners to accelerate solutions in areas such as safety, automation, sustainable equipment, connected fleets and digital innovation that can help transform the future of construction.”
For Leonard, the programme is an opportunity to connect startups with the operational complexity of modern jobsites.
“Leonard, VINCI’s innovation and foresight platform, is pleased to join Hitachi Construction Machinery’s startup challenge to explore how innovation can make on-site operations more intelligent, efficient and sustainable — from site planning, logistics, machinery and equipment to resource efficiency and life-cycle decision-making,” said Carmen Rouanet, Head of Partnerships and Development at Leonard.
Beyond the challenge itself, the initiative comes as Hitachi Construction Machinery prepares for a broader brand transition. The company plans to change its trade name to LANDCROS Corporation and its corporate brand to LANDCROS on 1 April 2027. Its open-innovation platform therefore offers a preview of how the group wants to position itself: not only as a manufacturer of excavators, wheel loaders, compaction equipment and mining machinery, but as a provider of data-led and service-oriented solutions across the equipment life cycle.
For startups, the European challenge offers access to a sector that is difficult to enter but increasingly open to change. For contractors, quarry operators, rental companies and fleet managers, it signals where the next wave of construction equipment innovation may come from: not only larger machines or more powerful engines, but smarter systems that help sites plan better, operate safer and make more confident decisions over the full asset life cycle.
Applications for the LANDCROS Innovation Studios Challenge Europe 2026 are open until 30 September 2026.
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