The Twin City Future Innovation Manufacturing Hub is being operated under the project code 404101DXL3 and implemented as part of the Interreg VI-A Slovakia–Austria funding program, financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Project Budget: 2.509.280,18 €
ERDF Funding: 2.007.424,14 € 

Co-Funding Lower Austria: 57.522,73 € from the Granting Body Niederösterreichischer Wirtschafts- und Tourismusfonds based on the funding contract number WST3-F-5030641/014-2023.

2C FIMH is a cross-border initiative to promote innovation, cooperation and sustainable growth in the manufacturing sector between Austria and Slovakia. By involving key players from industry, science, administration, and civil society, the project aims to create a resilient and competitive manufacturing ecosystem in the Vienna-Bratislava Twin City Region.

Over the course of two years, pilot activities on incubation, education, and cooperation will be carried out to promote cross-border collaboration between universities, companies, and start-ups. Through targeted activities such as exploratory trips, pilot programs, and recommendations, the project is building a solid foundation for a joint innovation strategy between Austria and Slovakia.

To drive impact, the project focuses on these key objectives: 

• Providing strategic direction through a jointly developed handbook that outlines actionable recommendations for a cross-border innovation strategy in the manufacturing sector. 
• Securing long-term political commitment by facilitating the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding among key stakeholders. 
• Creating a sustainable innovation infrastructure by establishing and operating the Twin City Hub in Vienna and Bratislava as a central platform for ongoing collaboration. 
• Fostering continuous knowledge exchange across borders through expert groups, thematic workshops, and exploratory visits to strengthen networks and share best practices.

Future Incubation: Piloting new Support Models 

As lead partner of the Future Incubation work package, accent — in collaboration with EIT Manufacturing, Slovak Alliance for Innovation Economy (SAPIE), and Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU)— designs and pilots several new support models to accelerate cross-border innovation: 

• Sprint formats to help startups prototype and scale their solutions across borders. 
• Roadshow formats to better connect startups and businesses at the regional level. 
• A call system to help identify and support high-potential initiatives. 
• A cooperation model to lay the groundwork for a future cross-border incubator. 

The accent Makerspace serves as a central location for interregional collaboration, where start-ups can jointly develop prototypes and drive innovation. 

Outlook on Project Results

The project results include ongoing cross-border cooperation between organisations, formalized through agreements and partnerships, and jointly developed solutions taken up or scaled by organisations, such as the handbook for a cross-border innovation strategy, the Memorandum of Understanding, and various pilot support models.

From Prototype to Production: Apply to Our New Acceleration Programme

We are launching a new pilot programme for hardware startups to help teams turn prototypes into scalable, manufacturable products. The application phase was accomplished in December 2025. A new application phase will be launched in summer 2026.

Running from February to June 2026, the 2C FIMH Sprint & Roadshow Series offers selected teams a unique opportunity to advance their prototypes through hands-on sprint days, expert mentoring, and curated visitsto leading manufacturing partners.

Designed specifically for hardware-driven innovators from Slovakia and Austria, the programme equips teams with practical methods to refine their prototypes, strategic insights for scaling towards production, and valuable cross-border connections – laying a solid foundation for future manufacturability and growth.

The 2C FIMH Sprint & Roadshow Series programme is open to  early-stage startups and innovation teams that have a working prototype or functional mock-up.

Startups interested in the programme were invited to an Open Day at the accent Makerspace in Tulln to explore our facilities and learn how the 2C FIMH Sprint & Roadshow Series can support their team in developing, testing, and scaling hardware prototypes.

For more information please contact Reka Dancsecs.

Project Partners: EIT Manufacturing East (EITM) (Lead-Partner), Slowakische Technische Universität Bratislava (STU), accent Inkubator, Industry meets Makers, Verein Industrie 4.0 Österreich – die Plattform für intelligente Produktion, Stadt Wien – Magistratabteilung 23, Slovak Alliance for Innovative Economy (SAPIE) 

Strategic Partners: Capital of the Slovak Republic Bratislava (BA), Trnava self-governing region (TSK), Bratislava self-governing region (BSK), Technisches Museum Wien (TMW), Junior Achievement Austria (JA AT), Junior Achievement Slovakia (JA SK), Wirtschaftsagentur Burgenland (WAB), Impacthub Vienna (IHV), Slovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information (CVTI SR), Wirtschaftsagentur Wien (WAW)

Learn more on the project website

Explore the INTERREG SK-AT 2021-2027 programme website

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See more details in the project catalogue