Manufacturing solutions to compete for EIT Awards 2025

Innovation in manufacturing is not confined to the factory floor – it is transforming society, economy and communities across Europe. From predictive maintenance and quality assurance tools powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to collaborative robots (cobots) performing tasks alongside their human counterpart, the EIT Manufacturing community is working on diverse innovations for a truly human-centric manufacturing. These solutions enhance efficiency, quality and sustainability, extending to carbon capture and closing material loops – essential in shaping the future of manufacturing in Europe.

This is why EIT Manufacturing is thrilled to announce three nominees who will compete for the EIT Awards 2025. The EIT Awards is an annual competition organised by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) to celebrate the entrepreneurial and societal achievements of the EIT Community. Every year, it gathers entrepreneurs and changemakers from the EIT Community, Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem, to connect, share knowledge and showcase how Europe’s brightest minds are tackling pressing challenges head-on.

Meet EIT Manufacturing nominees for the EIT Awards 2025

This year, the EIT Manufacturing community will compete in three categories: Changemaker, Innovation Team and Venture Award. The EIT Changemaker Award is dedicated to innovators who have completed EIT education programmes and are making a significant impact on the community. The EIT Innovation Team Award is awarded to EIT Community-funded projects that are developing groundbreaking solutions for the industry, society and environment. The EIT Venture Award spotlights startups with solutions and products that address societal challenges. The EIT Awards will culminate with the EIT Public Award, where anyone can cast a vote to support their favourite nominee.

Meet innovators changing the status quo in manufacturing!

Robot Study Companion unlocks students’ potential: Meet EIT Changemaker Award 2025 nominee

Farnaz Baksh is an Inventor at TutelEdge OÜ and a Junior Research Fellow at the University of Tartu. Combining her passion for research and entrepreneurial mindset, she came up with an idea for the Robot Study Companion during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the lack of interaction and support felt daunting for students to stay motivated and organised in their studies.

The Robot Study Companion serves as an engagement tool for emotional resilience and structured learning support. Its open-source and accessible design allows others to build, adapt, improve and replicate, whether in universities, homes, or community spaces.

Baksh has been part of the EIT Manufacturing community through a number of education programmes, including the STRADA Women in Manufacturing programme, an EIT Manufacturing mentoring programme supporting women in manufacturing. She is currently enrolled in the EIT Manufacturing Doctoral School, where she will gain more in-depth knowledge and practical skills to advance her entrepreneurial journey.

Unlocking data with AI on the shop floor: Meet EIT Innovation Team Award 2025 nominee

Ann LoCicero is the CEO of the smartFAB startup and an Activity Leader of the AI Industrial Analytics project. As an entrepreneur, LoCicero sees the value of data to improve factory operations, where people on the shop floor are not burdened with technical artificial intelligence (AI) solutions but empowered to be proactive and streamline operations.

Siloed systems, disconnected analytics tools and poor integration between machine learning and human expertise are among the most common challenges manufacturers face. The gap is ever more acute for SMEs, which lack the resources, talent and infrastructure to adopt traditional AI tools. The AI Automated Industrial Analytics platform enables human-in-the-loop decision-making on the shop floor. Now, operators, engineers and managers can detect issues early, take proactive action and align production with broader performance and sustainability goals.

The AI Industrial Analytics project is supported by EIT Manufacturing as part of the Call 2024 for Innovation proposals, while Ann LoCicero is a mentor in the STRADA project.

Plug-and-play solution reduces chemical waste: Meet EIT Venture Award 2025 nominee

Charlotte Stigen Låstberg is the CEO and Founder of Digiclean Solutions startup. While conventional maintenance methods follow fixed routines regardless of actual needs, Låstberg had a vision for a more tailored and automated approach. Digiclean Solution’s system provides traceability, real-time decision support and full integration with existing production systems, making it ready for the Internet of Things (IoT).

A plug-and-play, AI-driven real-time monitoring system for process fluids that helps cut the use of chemicals by 69%, reduce chemical waste and operational costs and sets a new standard in chemical cleaning.

Låstberg participated in the EIT Manufacturing Venture Building Programme, which opened new growth opportunities for the team with mentorship and access to a network of investors.

What’s next for nominees?

Now, the nominees will pitch to the jury. After that, the shortlisted nominees will have the chance to take the stage in Budapest on 25 November for the final pitch and award ceremony of the EIT Awards 2025.

All the best of luck to the EIT Manufacturing nominees!