At this year’s Manufacturing Performance Days (MPD) 2025, EIT Manufacturing offers manufacturing companies a unique opportunity to share their real-world challenges through startup-driven innovation. The initiative is part of the Access2Tech (A2T) session, taking place on June 4, 2025, in Tampere.

EIT Manufacturing invites companies to submit concrete manufacturing challenges - ranging from automation and sustainability to digital transformation and other pressing needs. Based on the submitted challenges, EIT Manufacturing will scout and select top European startups to develop and pitch tailored solutions live at the event.

Here’s how the process works:

Describe your challenge – Clearly define a current problem or development need your company is facing. Send it over to Business Development & Innovation Manager, Riku Kokkonen (riku.kokkonen@eitmanufacturing.eu) or fill in this form (https://forms.office.com/e/JXERwdX6cQ).

Join MPD 2025 – Attend the Access2Tech session on June 4, 10-12 in the location Tampere Hall - Riffi to hear live pitches from selected startups offering targeted solutions to your case.

Submitting a challenge is free of charge and does not commit your company to using any of the proposed solutions.

“We’re offering manufacturing companies a chance to transform their challenges into concrete opportunities,” says Riku Kokkonen from EIT Manufacturing. “By connecting real needs with real solutions, we aim to spark meaningful collaborations and accelerate innovation and growth across the sector.”

EIT Manufacturing, Europe’s leading innovation community for the manufacturing industry, builds strong connections between industrial companies, agile startups, and forward-thinking investors to drive impactful transformation across the sector.

In addition to the A2T session, EIT Manufacturing will also organize:

Access2Finance (A2F) – June 5, 15:00–17:00 Tampere Hall, Riffi

This session connects manufacturing-focused startups and scaleups with venture capitalists, corporate investors, and M&A professionals. It’s an opportunity to explore the latest trends and discover emerging investment opportunities in the industry.

MPD 2025 will bring together international leaders, innovators, and decision-makers from across the manufacturing ecosystem.

Manufacturing companies are encouraged to submit their challenges as early as possible to ensure the best possible match with relevant startup solutions.