The new Europe-wide startup competition Space Meets Manufacturing seeks to unlock the synergy potential of innovation activities between two key sectors at the final on 27 Nov. From the entries received by the early November deadline, the organisers – EIT Manufacturing, NL Space Campus and SBIC Noordwijk – are now pleased to reveal the finalists. Eleven eligible startups will take to the stage at SBIC to demonstrate their solutions to the industry challenges. The jury will pick a winner at the invite-only event and you can meet the finalists afterwards during the open-to-all Network & Drinks evening (register here).
Two industries joining forces to foster innovation
Based on cross-sectoral industry challenges from both space and manufacturing, the competition will shed light on multi-market solutions and accelerate their application in cross-sectoral environments. The collaboration of the space and manufacturing ecosystems will increase knowledge and encourage technology transfer based on real industrial needs and to foster business growth for the European industry. The companies that provided the challenges include: ArcelorMittal, European Space Agency and Technoport/European Space Resources Innovation Centre.
At the final of this exciting competition, the startups will present their solutions to the jury and leading companies will discover new technologies that can solve their challenges. Following the pitches, the winner will be selected and there could be a possibility that the top solution will result in a pilot project.
Earlier launch event revealed the industry challenges
The competition challenges were revealed and further information provided at the launch event on 9 Oct in the Netherlands. The providers of the industry challenges from the space and manufacturing sectors also presented the challenges on stage at SBIC Noordwijk.
The five challenges that were set are relevant for both the space sector and the manufacturing industry. They range from a predictive tool for weldability and a structural optimisational tool to non-destructive inspection for spacecraft and serial production of space electronics/hardware, as well as a challenge bridging terrestrial technologies to space applications.
Competition organisers:
Startups heading to the live final in the Netherlands
Now, the excitement is mounting as the competition final approaches. Representatives of the eleven European finalists will be travelling to the Netherlands to pitch to the jury. On stage, they will expand on their innovative challenge solutions that connect space and manufacturing through advanced materials, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twin technologies.
We are pleased to introduce the eleven finalists below:
- Denkweit (Germany) | denkweit.com – Specialising in AI-based imaging and non-contact magnetic field measurement, particularly for industrial quality control and diagnostics
- ESOS Wind (Germany) | esos-wind.de – Combining technical expertise with innovative processes to improve reliability and reduce costs in renewable energy infrastructure with AI solutions
- GeDy TrAss (Italy) | gedytrass.com – Focusing on advanced sensing and diagnostic solutions, particularly for structural and material health monitoring, such as in aerospace or factory settings
- IndustryApps (Germany) | industryapps.net – Empowering manufacturers with AI, digital twins and modular solutions through its open-standards platform, turning siloed data into actionable insights
- Novo AI (Germany) | heynovo.ai – Offering generative AI, real-time machine monitoring and predictive insights to help optimise production, reduce downtime and improve resource efficiency
- Resoniks (Netherlands) | resoniks.com – Developing high-precision measurement instruments and sensor systems for better monitoring and quality control in both space and manufacturing contexts
- Sightwise (Germany) | sightwise.ai – Developing a synthetic-data-based machine vision platform for industrial inspection with technology that accelerates AI training and improves defect detection
- Spaider Space (Luxembourg) | spaiderspace.com – Providing secure, mission-grade AI agents for aerospace applications, operating with high autonomy and supporting critical workflows
- Tumi Robotics Space (Luxembourg) | tumirobotics.com – Building AI-driven robotic inspection systems capable of operating in extreme and confined environments to assess structural integrity
- Uncharted AI (TBC) | uncharted-ai.com – Leveraging advanced AI and digital mapping or computer vision to address complex challenges in navigation, anomaly detection or autonomous exploration
- Warden Machinery (Luxembourg) | warden.lu – Specialising in building robust, automated machinery systems with mechanical design and smart automation for industrial environments
Competition finalists:
Innovative solutions in the spotlight at SBIC Noordwijk on 27 Nov
The companies selected for the final were chosen for their strategic fit, the innovativeness of the solution and the potential for their solutions to solve the respective challenge. In the lead up to the final, the startups will receive mentoring to craft their ideas in preparation for the pitch session on stage after which the jury will announce the winning team.
EIT Manufacturing senior manager Silvia Grätz comments: “Through this competition, we are not only shining a spotlight on breakthrough startups – we are building bridges. Bridges between sectors, between technology and industry, between innovation and implementation.”
The competition final on the afternoon of 27 Nov is an invite-only event. If you are interested in joining the event, reach out to EIT. There is still a chance you can meet the finalists if you join the networking event following on from the final: get details here.
▶️ Discover all about the competition via the the EIT website
🏆 Startups will pitch at the final & award ceremony on 27 Nov
DETAILS OF EVENT
Competition final & award ceremony
Where & when
Date: Thu 27 Nov 2025
Time: 14:00 to 17:00
Location: SBIC Noordwijk
Post-event: Network & Drinks at SBIC; register via NL Space Campus website (see here)
Competition sponsors:
