Open call – Build the future of mobility and automotive with STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by Plug and Play

The European Innovation Council  (EIC) invites EIC-backed startups and scaleups to apply for this EIC Multi-Corporate Day and tackle the challenges of leading corporates from the automotive and automation sectors like ZF, Eberspächer, DXC Technology, Mothershon, OP mobility, SEAT and Togg.   

This exclusive business acceleration initiative, delivered in partnership with Plug and Play, will provide selected EIC beneficiaries with a customised programme of tailored preparation and dedicated support. The objective is to maximise business opportunities with key decision-makers from major mobility and automotive companies. 

Selected participants will finally engage in targeted networking and pitching activities during STARTUP AUTOBAHN Expo Summit—one of the leading events in the startup and scale-up ecosystem—taking place in Stuttgart, Germany, on 4–5 June 2025. This Expo Summit brings together prominent industry players, including Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volkswagen or Volvo. 

Apply by 27 April 2025

The services provided by the EIC to the selected EIC-backed companies includes dedicated training, mentoring, pitch dry runs, and further support to present their solutions in an in-person pitching and matching session on 4-5 June with the corporations' decision-makers during STARTUP AUTOBAHN Expo Summit.  

STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by Plug and Play, is an innovation platform specializing in connecting startups with leading corporations in mobility, production, enterprise, sustainability, and beyond. Founded in 2016 by Mercedes-Benz in collaboration with Plug and Play, ARENA2036, and the University of Stuttgart, the initiative has executed more than 500+ pilot projects and successfully implemented innovative solutions in series production.  

Today STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by Plug and Play has grown to 23 partners from across industries and borders: Mercedes-Benz AG, University of Stuttgart, Arena 2036, DXC Technology, ZF, Porsche, Motherson, Bosch, Schaeffler, STMicroelectronics, Bridgestone Mobility Solution, NXP Semiconductors, Cummins, AGC, Hyundai, Eberspächer, Forvia, Sekisui s-lec, OPmobility, Novelis, GF Casting Solutions, Amber Enterprises India, and Togg. 

Why Apply 

If selected, you will receive: 

• Personalised preparatory support, including a group session with the corporates, a 1-to-1 session with business experts, high-quality feedback to adjust the pitch deck, pitch dry run, and business proposal review.  

• An invitation to the Startup Autobahn EXPO on 4-5 June in Stuttgart, including tickets and participation in a networking dinner. 

• Privileged access to high-level decision-makers. 

• Knowledge-sharing and networking for future business.  

• Possibility to initiate collaborations, strategic partnerships, or enter new markets. 

Who can apply?  

This call is open ONLY for EIC-backed Startups/Scaleups/SMEs. 

Involved corporations are seeking for disruptive technologies and innovative solutions provided by EIC-backed startups that can be applied to the mobility, manufacturing, and automotive sectors, with a focus on digitalization, AI-driven automation, sustainable solutions, and enhanced performance across various applications. Please find here attached the detailed breakdown of each of the challenges. 

Challenge #1 Material flow / automation program 

ZF is searching for low-cost and automated solutions for its production sites to reduce the high personnel workload, especially in interface-heavy processes like material transport, unloading/loading, shelving, and other repetitive manual tasks. The goal is to automate as many of these steps as possible and to centralize or systematize decision-making—ideally supported by artificial intelligence (AI). 

Challenge #2: Plant Intelligence / Digital Twin for Plant Managers and Brownfield Factories 

Eberspächer is looking for AI-powered solutions that can create a real-time digital twin of the plant—an intelligent overlay that connects available production data into a dynamic system view. Despite the availability of production data, plant managers lack an integrated, real-time view of the current state of their operations. Information is often fragmented across systems, dashboards, and reports, requiring manual analysis and interpretation. 

SEAT is is searching for transforming systems and production processes to leverage the potential of digital twins, including: PE- Maximum Efficiency Configuration of a Production Line, PK-Pünktchen Simulation, PF-Predictive Maintenance, PP- Rapid Fahrweise Preparation with AI, PL-Digital Twin for the management of the Martorell Campaign, PV-Flexible Job-Shop scheduling prototype shop.

Challenge #3: Dynamic Bottleneck Analysis in Manufacturing 

Eberspächer is looking for solutions that enable a dynamic and continuous bottleneck analysis, driving transparency and performance optimization on the shopfloor—ideally in combination with production scheduling tools to realize end-to-end operational excellence. 

Challenge #4: Artificial Intelligence  

DXC Technology is seeking AI solutions that leverage intelligent agents and AI-ready data to automate business processes, improve data quality and governance, and drive innovation. 

Challenge #5: Quantum Computing 

DXC Technology seeks solution to harness quantum computing for logistics optimization, applies quantum machine learning to large-scale data challenges, and explores quantum resilience in testing RSA encryption. 

Challenge #6: Blockchain 

DXC Technology is seeking for blockchain solutions for digital asset tokenization while exploring DeFi, stablecoins, digital identity, and ESG-driven applications. 

Challenge #7: Functional paints for exterior applications 

Motherson is looking for innovative paint or surface coating for different applications such as Surface coating optimized for sensor application (radar or lidar), surface coating optimized for light integration. Focus on applications like hidden until lit and adaptive surface coating like tinted on demand or changeable colors 

Challenge #8: Software defined vehicle  

Togg is looking for solutions that help transform traditional, hardware-centric OEM processes into software-driven, agile structures. The focus is on enabling a true Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) approach—across internal teams, supplier collaboration, and product management—by adopting software product management principles end-to-end. 

Challenge #9: Electric vehicles

Togg is seeking advancing electric vehicle technologies with integrated powertrain solutions, cutting-edge battery and electrification technologies to enhance energy efficiency and vehicle range. 

Challenge #10: New Polymers, Smart Materials, Advanced Batteries, and Thermal Management

OPmobility, a leading Tier-1 automotive supplier, produces highly innovative and advanced components and modules to the world's leading OEMs. Driven by a strong commitment to innovation and the advancement of sustainable mobility, OPmobility is actively seeking partnerships with startups and exploring solutions in New Polymers, Smart Materials, Advanced Batteries, and Thermal Management to accelerate progress in this field.

These are additional challenges from other major automotive industry players present at the STARTUP AUTOBAHN Expo Summit

Challenge #11: Automatic Data Labeling for Automotive Applications 

Advanced solutions for automating the data labeling process while maintaining high accuracy and reliability for automotive applications. 

Challenge #12: Secure Data Exchange Platform for AI Model Training 

Secure environment to share sensitive intellectual property (particularly CAD data) with startups for AI training purposes.  

Challenge #13: AI-Driven CAD Model Generation 

AI systems capable of generating high-quality CAD models via text prompts or other simplified inputs 

Specify which challenge you are interested in in your application.

EIC-backed companies can apply here. 

Please acknowledge that the information you provide on the application form will be shared with corporate partners who will select the participants based on their business interests and strategic goals.  

What happens after your application? 

The EIC team will contact all selected applicants once the process is finished. However, this contact does not include feedback or recommendations for those not selected. 

If selected, participants must be available for the entire duration of the programme, which includes the preparation phase (online training sessions, pitch checks, and business proposal reviews), the event days (in-person) on 4-5 June 2025 in Stuttgart, Germany, and follow-up activities. Selected companies must be represented by C-level executives. Additionally, selected participants will be responsible for arranging and covering their travel and accommodation costs. 

All participants are expected to fill out a brief satisfaction survey shortly after the matchmaking opportunity, and a business impact survey after six months. Failure to do so may lead to exclusion from future EIC Business Acceleration Services.

Cancellation policy 

Cancellations will only be considered in duly documented cases of "force majeure". Unjustified cancellation can lead to exclusion in future EIC Business Acceleration Services business opportunities. For additional information, please refer to our Helpdesk (please choose "EIC Multi-Corporate Day with Startup Autobahn”). 

About the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme 

This call and service are part of the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme, an initiative of the EIC Business Acceleration Services supporting EIC-backed companies looking to scale by securing new customers and business partners. From 2017 to 2025, the Corporate Partnership Programme organised 74 Corporate Days and Multi-Corporate Days, facilitating 2,493 one-to-one meetings and 103 successful business deals between large European corporations and EIC-backed innovative companies. These initiatives have involved over 120 corporate partners. 

About the EIC Business Acceleration Services 

This opportunity is brought to you by the EIC Business Acceleration Services. To explore other opportunities to connect with the largest corporations in Europe, keep an eye on our events page.

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