On 21 May 2026, Manufacturing Day returns to Vienna as part of ViennaUP, Europe’s largest decentralised startup festival. Organised by EIT Manufacturing East, the event brings together more than 500 participants from over 50 countries, including startups, corporates, investors, researchers and policymakers.
This year’s theme, “Invest to scale,” focuses on a defining challenge for the manufacturing sector: how to transform innovation into competitive, resilient and globally operating companies.
From innovation to industrial scale
While early-stage innovation in Europe is strong, many manufacturing ventures struggle to move beyond pilot projects. Barriers include access to growth capital, industrial infrastructure, regulatory complexity, talent and collaboration across the ecosystem.
Manufacturing Day 2026 explores this transition from innovation to scale. The programme examines what enables some companies to expand globally, while others stall, and how ecosystems can better support industrial growth.
Keynote: shaping the next industrial revolution
The keynote will be delivered by David Mindell, Professor of Aerospace Engineering at MIT and co-founder of Unless.
An expert in autonomous systems and industrial transformation, David Mindell combines engineering, historical insight and entrepreneurship. His work highlights how new technologies are reshaping production, supply chains and the nature of industrial work. His keynote will explore how manufacturing is entering a new industrial era, where digital and physical systems are increasingly interconnected and where scaling requires both technological innovation and a new generation of skilled builders.
Insights from industry and investors
The panel discussion will bring together leading voices from investment and industry to explore the realities of scaling manufacturing ventures. At its core is the question of how capital, industrial partnerships and strategic alignment must come together to enable long-term growth in capital-intensive sectors. Inga Grieger, Managing Director at BMW i Ventures, works at the intersection of venture capital and industry, supporting over 60 portfolio companies and fostering collaboration within the BMW ecosystem. Her experience underlines a key challenge: scaling manufacturing startups requires not only funding, but also deep integration into industrial value chains and long-term commitment from strategic partners.
She will be joined by Arnaud Villers d’Arbouet, CEO and co-founder of Mecaware. His company develops technologies to recycle strategic metals from battery waste, contributing to a circular and sustainable manufacturing economy. His perspective highlights the importance of responsible investment, industrial execution and the ability to move from innovation to large-scale production. Together, the panel will examine how investment strategies, founder-investor dynamics and ecosystem conditions influence which companies successfully scale, and what is needed to build globally competitive manufacturing ventures in Europe.
Startups and corporates take the stage: pitching for innovation
A key highlight of Manufacturing Day 2026 is the pitching session, where both startups and corporates take the stage. Selected startups will present their solutions to an audience of investors, industry leaders and experts, showcasing innovative approaches to sustainable and advanced manufacturing. The session will culminate in the Green Innovation in Manufacturing Award, with a cash prize of EUR 5,000 provided by the Vienna Business Agency, recognising solutions with strong potential for industrial scale, environmental impact and market relevance.
In addition, leading corporates will present their current innovation challenges and startup calls, offering concrete collaboration opportunities. This dual format creates a direct link between industrial demand and entrepreneurial solutions, fostering partnerships that are essential for scaling manufacturing innovation.
A platform for collaboration
Manufacturing Day offers dedicated networking opportunities, enabling participants to connect through targeted 1:1 matchmaking sessions. These exchanges support partnerships that are essential for scaling manufacturing innovation.
As global competition intensifies, Europe’s ability to scale manufacturing innovation is critical to its economic resilience. Manufacturing Day 2026 provides a platform to align investment, policy and industrial capabilities and to help build the next generation of world-class manufacturing companies.
Register here: www.manufacturingday.eu
