EIT Manufacturing, Paris Region, Michelin and FIVES launch an AI challenge

New European AI Challenge offers EUR 500,000 to reinvent industrial design

At VivaTech 2025, France’s biggest tech event, EIT Manufacturing, Paris Region, Michelin and FIVES came together to announce a major new initiative: the “AI for Design in Manufacturing” challenge. With EUR 500,000 in funding to support the winning proposals, the challenge opens this October and calls on startups and innovative SMEs across Europe and beyond to bring forward practical AI solutions for manufacturing.

Alexandra Dublanche, Vice President of the Paris Region, announces the “AI for Design in Manufacturing” Challenge during Vivatech in Paris.

The timing couldn’t be more relevant. European industry is under pressure – rising energy prices, high-cost digital transition and growing competition from low-cost producers. This challenge aims to develop innovative AI-based solutions for the future of manufacturing and, in doing so, help restore Europe’s competitiveness. In France, the manufacturing sector employed about 3.12 million people in 2024, accounting for 4.81% of total employment (Statista).

Strong signal of cooperation 

The announcement was made today at VivaTech by Alexandra Dublanche, Vice President of the Paris Region, and Caroline Viarouge, CEO of EIT Manufacturing. By appearing together, both female leaders sent a clear message: Europe’s transformation needs teamwork and a shared push toward solutions that open up new opportunities for the industry.  

Paris Region, one of the top economic areas known for its strong industrial roots and a large number of small and medium-sized businesses, is providing funding. It will be available to startups and innovative SMEs, either applying on their own or as part of a consortium. Since 2017, the number of micro-entrepreneurs in French manufacturing ecosystem has steadily increased. By 2022, more than 310,000 companies were active in this sector across the country (INSEE).

This is what a strong collaboration looks like – from left to right: Alexandra Dublanche (Paris Region), Cécile Coulombez (Fives), Caroline Viarouge (EIT Manufacturing), David Chades (Fives) and Albin Effernelli (Michelin).

EIT Manufacturing, Europe’s largest industrial innovation community, will be responsible for spreading the word about the challenge throughout Europe, engaging its wide network to make sure the opportunity attracts a variety of ideas and approaches across Europe. 

Industry leaders shape the topics to be addressed 

Michelin, the multinational tyre company, and FIVES, an industrial engineering group – both key players in French industry and partners of EIT Manufacturing – are helping define the technical focus of the challenge. They’ve agreed on the main topics for applicants to work on: data collection and optimisation, data visualisation and creating clear, easy-to-use machine manuals.  

Specific guidelines are still being finalised and will be shared when the challenge officially launches in October. But the message behind this collaboration is already clear: this kind of initiative is worth repeating.