Discover Vienna: Manufacturing Edition 2025

From 8 May to 13 May 2025, Vienna became the hotspot for manufacturing innovation, hosting the fifth edition of Discover Vienna: Manufacturing Edition.

The programme, co-organised by EIT Manufacturing East and the Vienna Business Agency, aimed at connecting Central and Eastern European startups with leading Austrian manufacturing companies.

This year’s cohort included 15 startups from four countries, each selected for their potential to contribute to the digital and green transformation of the manufacturing sector. Over the course of five days, they were introduced to the Austrian and Viennese markets through a curated programme of networking, expert-led sessions, and direct engagement with corporates and ecosystem stakeholders.

The programme kicked off at the ViennaUP Homebase on Karlsplatz, where city officials formally welcomed the international participants. That sense of momentum carried into Manufacturing Day 2025 on 9 May, held in the historic Sofiensäle. With more than 500 attendees, the event served as the flagship gathering for the manufacturing sector during ViennaUP. Under the theme Collaborate to Innovate, the day brought together industrial leaders, innovators, and researchers for a series of keynotes, panels, and matchmaking sessions.

One of the highlights was BoostUp! East 2025: Energy Transition, a pitching competition spotlighting eight startups from six countries who pitched to win a €5,000 prize from the Vienna Business Agency. Over 260 meetings were conducted during the event, reflecting the eagerness of participants to explore collaboration opportunities.

Discover Vienna: Manufacturing Edition 2025 participants, BoostUp! East 2025 and EIT Manufacturing BD&I Team. Photo credit: (c) Matthias Heschl

Equipping startups for market success

While visibility is key for any startup, execution is what determines market success. That’s why on 10 May, participating startups joined an intensive B2B sales workshop, led by Andreas Gams, Ecosystem & Key Account Manager at EIT Manufacturing East. The session provided practical guidance on navigating industrial sales cycles and decision-making processes. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience, Andreas offered a structured framework that startups could apply in their business development activities.

B2B Sales Workshop. Photo credit: (c) EIT Manufacturing East

The programme continued on 12 May with Corporate Sessions, featuring key Austrian industrial stakeholders such as MAGNA, Frequentis, A1 Digital, voestalpine Böhler Aerospace. They presented their open innovation needs and collaboration opportunities directly to the startup participants. These sessions, complemented by contributions from the Vienna Business Agency and the Austrian Business Agency, allowed startups to explore concrete partnership prospects within the Austrian manufacturing ecosystem.

The final day of the programme, 13 May, brought the cohort to the aws Connect Day at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO). With over 1,400 participants and dozens of themed matchmaking blocks, startups jumped from one 15-minute speed meeting to the next, speaking with corporates, investors, and scaleup mentors alike.

Connect Day Matchmaking. Photo credit: (c) Vogus

By the end of the week, each of the 15 participating startups walked away with more than just contacts. They gained exposure to the inner workings of Austria’s advanced manufacturing scene, sharpened their commercial narratives, and, in some cases, planted the seeds for future pilots and partnerships. The programme successfully reinforced Vienna’s position as a gateway for industrial innovation in Europe, while supporting the broader mission of strengthening European manufacturing competitiveness.

Interested in joining next year’s cohort? Stay tuned for updates from EIT Manufacturing East and the Vienna Business Agency.