This workshop will bring together a small, yet very energetic group of world-renown experts in electrocatalysis to discuss activation of small molecules of importance to energy technology: hydrogen oxidation and evolution reactions (HOR/HER), oxygen reduction or oxygen evolution reactions (ORR/OER), CO2 electro-reduction (CO2ER) and nitrogen reduction reaction (N2RR). The focus of the program is on platinum group metal-free (PGM-free) catalysts or several types: metallic allows and composites, oxide, carbide, nitride, phosphide and mixed ceramic nanostructure, 2D catalysts such as MXenes, chalcogenides, graphene, transition metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) catalysts and other materials with atomically dispersed metals. Presently, large programs in US, Europe and Japan has been set on by major funding agencies to advance this class of materials towards practical applications. Despite the technology push, there is no common understanding neither on the mechanism of their action, nor on the structure of the catalytic active sites. Open discussion among invited speakers from across the world will advance our understanding of these electrochemical systems and will benefit chemical energy conversion science and technology.