Twin City EdTech Testbed
Ends on
Call for Applications
Twin City EdTech Testbed
The Twin City Future Innovation Manufacturing Hub (2C FIMH) invites EdTech startups, businesses and innovation teams from across Europe to apply for its EdTech Testbed Call.
This programme offers startups the opportunity to test and demonstrate their solutions with real users, including students, teachers, and employees in training facilities.
Selected teams will showcase their solutions on-site in Austria or Slovakia and receive direct feedback from target users, helping refine their products and unlock new business opportunities.
Up to five EdTech teams will be selected to participate.
Programme Overview
The programme provides a real-world test environment for EdTech teams developing innovative learning technologies.
Selected teams will conduct on-site demonstrations or pilot tests with their target audiences in Austria and/or Slovakia.
On-site pilots will take place between September and December 2026.
Participation in the programme is free of charge.
Application deadline: 15 May 2026 (23:59 CET)
What Selected Teams Receive
Selected teams will receive in-kind support, including:
· A free testbed environment to validate solutions with real users
· Immediate user feedback and insights to refine products
· Travel and accommodation reimbursement for on-site demonstrations (for selected teams based outside Austria and/or Slovakia)
Strategic Focus Areas
The programme calls for:
· Teams registered in Europe
· Teams working on EdTech solutions
· Teams with a functional prototype or working mock-up
· Solutions related to STEM / MINT education:
o Science
o Technology
o Engineering
o Mathematics
o Informatics / Computer Science
o Natural Sciences
Selection Priorities
Preference will be given to:
· EdTech hardware teams
· Early-stage teams with minimum TRL 6 or higher
· Solutions supporting STEM / MINT education
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit:
- A completed application form
- Pitch deck
- Company logo
- Company registration certificate (for established companies)
Working language: English
Additional languages: German or Slovak are considered an advantage.
Selected teams are invited to demonstrate their solutions on-site in Austria and/or Slovakia. If a team is unable to attend in person for any reason, it is possible to arrange for proxy trainers to conduct the on-site demonstration on their behalf. In such cases, teams must inform us in advance of the expected duration of product training required for the proxy trainers.
Selected teams will be required to sign cooperation agreements with EIT Manufacturing at the end of the programme.
Please note that EIT Manufacturing and programme partners will not purchase products from participating startups.
Selection Process
1. Eligibility Check
Applications are reviewed to ensure they meet all eligibility requirements.
2. Shortlisting
Each eligible application is evaluated by three independent reviewers. The 10 highest-ranked teams will be shortlisted.
3. Pitch & Jury Evaluation
Shortlisted teams will present their solutions during an online Pitch Day on 17 June 2026.
A jury will select up to five teams to join the programme.
Pilot Demonstrations
The five selected teams will conduct on-site demo pilots lasting up to five days at schools or training facilities in Austria or Slovakia.
The duration and format of the pilot will depend on the complexity of the product.
Contact
For questions regarding the call, please contact:
Markus Kleinfercher
Senior Project Manager
markus.kleinfercher@eitmanufacturing.eu
About the Programme
The Twin City EdTech Testbed Call is developed and organised within the framework of the Twin City Future Innovation Manufacturing Hub, a cross-border initiative supported by the Interreg VI-A Slovakia–Austria Programme and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.