European startup competition

Let’s tap into the potential for synergies from the space industry and the manufacturing sector – based on industry challenges that span both space and manufacturing, the space meets manufacturing startup competition will shed light on multi-market solutions and accelerate their application in cross-sectoral environments.

space meets manufacturing is collaboratively organised by NL Space Campus,  SBIC Noordwijk and EIT Manufacturing.

The principle is simple: there will be real-life industry challenges from the space and manufacturing sector and startups from both the manufacturing and space sector are invited to submit their solutions.

• Manufacturing challenges → space solutions
• Space challenges → manufacturing solutions

Startups can present their solutions to companies and companies get to know new technologies that can solve their challenges. If it’s a match, it can result in a pilot project.

The challenges

Challenge 1 by ArcelorMittal: Predictive tool for weldability – Development of a predictive tool that quantifies both operational weldability (the likelihood of producing acceptable welds without critical defects) and technical weldability (properties of the weld zone after the thermal cycle: hardness, toughness, phase composition) for (C-Mn) steels and provides process parameter recommendations.

Challenge 2 by ArcelorMittal: Multi-purpose structural optimisation tool – Development of a software solution that couples parametric CAD models with automated FEA and multi-objective optimisation (e.g., stiffness vs. weight, payload vs. cost), including material selection and manufacturing constraints, to generate manufacturable design alternatives systematically.

Challenge 3 by ESA: Non-destructive inspection (NDI) methods – Reduce cost and lead time of Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) for (large-series) spacecraft manufacturing.

Challenge 4 by ESA: Serial production technologies for hardware and (space) electronics – Reduce cost and lead time for space electronics Hardware, to support trend towards larger series commercial spacecraft.

Challenge 5 by Technoport/ESRIC: Bridging terrestrial technologies to space applications – Turn space resources into reality with solutions to advance Space Resource Utilization (SRU) across prospecting, extraction and manufacturing. The focus is about adapting technologies for extreme environments, from autonomous surveying and excavation to producing oxygen, water, propellants and construction materials, enabling practical and scalable offworld resource use.

Download the PDF and get more information about the challenges: Challenges for startup competition

If you represent a startup and are interested in submitting a solution proposal for the challenges, submit your solution until 3 November to take part in the competition: to the submission portal (external link)

Terms and Conditions_space meets manufacturing

Who is space meets manufacturing for?

Startups
If you are from a young, innovative company with relevant solutions for the European space or the manufacturing industry, take the opportunity to broaden your reach, convince companies of your solution and start a pilot project!

Apply as a solution provider until 3 November 2025 to the industrial challenges and get the attention of industrial representatives for your solution. You could be one of the selected startups to pitch at the final competition and benefit from mentoring as well as the opportunity of a consequential pilot project with the challenge owners.

As a finalist you will be invited to pitch at the final competition on 27 November 2025 at SBIC Noordwijk. An expert jury will evaluate the pitches and award the best team.

As a winner of the competition, you have the chance to receive attractive prizes such as the SBIC community membership, an EIT Manufacturing internationalisation package as well as an invitation to present at events in 2026.

Corporates
If you are from an established European company from the space or the manufacturing industry and seek innovative solutions to improve your company’s resilience, efficiency and sustainability, talk to us!

You want to be visible during and around the event? Become a sponsor of space meets manufacturing and get additional recognision of your organisation in the space and manufacturing ecosystems. Reach out to Silvia Grätz from EIT Manufacturing ([email protected]) or Raul Voeten from NL Space Campus ([email protected]). We are happy to have you on board!