Applications open for Discover Vienna: Manufacturing Edition 2025

The fifth edition of “Discover Vienna: Manufacturing Edition” is back and it will again take place during ViennaUP’25 – the biggest decentralised startup festival in Europe. This year’s edition of the programme is designed for scaleups in the manufacturing sector with a geographical focus on CEE countries.

Aims

• The programme aims to find the best solutions for sustainable, resilient, and socially impactful manufacturing.

Focus Areas

• Submissions need to fit one of the following EIT Manufacturing strategic focus areas:
  • AI & data – Enhance competitiveness thanks to smart automation and virtualisation solutions
  • Industrial metaverse – Accelerate the setup of production lines or the training of operators
  • Circular economy – Unlock new business models addressing resource scarcity and environmental challenges
  • Net zero industry – Achieve emission reduction targets through innovative solutions
  • Renewable energy – Local grid integration to limit fluctuating energy prices and stay competitive

Benefits

• Participants of Discover Vienna: Manufacturing Edition compete for dedicated support services provided by EIT Manufacturing East and the Vienna Business Agency. The dedicated support services are detailed as follows:
  • Intensive programme in Vienna during the ViennaUP’25 festival (08.05.2025 – 16.05.2025). The programme includes:
    • Dedicated mentoring and coaching support with focus on business development provided by EIT Manufacturing East;
    • Five days all-expenses-paid stay in Vienna during the ViennaUP’25 festival (teams based in Vienna excluded);
    • Intensive access-to-market programme to get acquainted with the dynamics in the Austrian and Viennese markets provided by the Vienna Business Agency and EIT Manufacturing East;
    • Deep dive sessions and introductions to leading Austrian industrial corporates;
    • Free participation in leading networking events – “aws Connect Day” and “Manufacturing Day”
    • B2B sales training by seasoned experts
    • Visibility and international publicity through marketing & public relations efforts surrounding Manufacturing Day and Discover Vienna: Manufacturing Edition 2025
  • Winners will also gain access to EIT Manufacturing’s pan-European innovation network and enjoy visibility and international publicity through EIT Manufacturing’s and Vienna Business Agency’s communication channels.

Eligibility Criteria

• Company should not be older than 8 years;
• Company must be incorporated in any of the following countries: Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia;
• Applicants have to prove revenue traction (existing reference customers);
• Submissions need to fit at least one of EIT Manufacturing strategic focus areas,

Ineligibility Criteria

• Startups that participated in previous editions of Discover Vienna are not eligible for the programme participation.

Assessment Criteria

• Addressed market needs/customer pain points;
• Product/service innovativeness;
• Value proposition (product/solution);
• Market and competition;
• Team, expertise, and entrepreneurial drive;
• Strategic alignment to the strategic focus areas.

For more information, visit EIT Manufacturing IC East.