Twin City Hub: connecting innovation, talent and industry in the cross-border area Bratislava – Vienna
SAPIE Forum 2026 once again confirmed that Slovakia has a strong potential to build a modern innovation ecosystem based on collaboration between startups, schools, industry and the public sector. For the Interreg SK-AT Twin City Hub project, the event was an exceptional opportunity to present concrete activities that support the development of innovation and connect actors in the Bratislava-Vienna cross-border area.
The Twin City Future Innovation Manufacturing Hub project aims to support the innovation environment in the cross-border area of Slovakia and Austria. It aims to create a strong community of actors who together shape the future of industry, education and technology entrepreneurship.
During the SAPIE Forum 2026, the Twin City Hub presented several initiatives in the Expo Zone:
Sprint & Roadshow Series: from idea to prototype
One of the activities presented was the Sprint & Roadshow Series, an initiative aimed at incubating and accelerating the development of hardware prototypes. The program supports teams and innovators in transforming their ideas into working solutions ready for testing and further development.
Such activities are key to meeting the Twin City Hub project’s objectives because they help:
- Accelerate the transfer of innovation into practice,
- promote technology entrepreneurship,
- connect startups with experts and industry,
- develop cross-border cooperation between Slovakia and Austria.
Practical mentoring, workshops and networking activities create an environment in which innovation can grow more effectively and with real impact.
Impressions
Photo: Jaroslav Repta
Twin City EdTech Testbed: Innovation on site at schools
The Twin Cities EdTech Testbed program allows for pilot testing of edtech prototypes directly in schools.
This initiative connects education with technological innovation while promoting:
- modernising the learning environment,
- involving schools in innovation processes,
- collaboration between startups, educators and students,
- rozvoj digitálnych kompetencií mladých ľudí.
Fostering talent and building a culture of innovation among young people is one of the strategic priorities of the Twin City Hub project. The Bratislava-Vienna region has the potential to become an important hub for technology education and experimentation with new forms of learning.
Industry meets Makers: open innovation in practice
An important part of the presentation was also the Industry meets Makers format, which creates a space for open innovation and collaboration between businesses, startups, students and the technology community.
Planned events were also part of this initiative:
- Twin CIty Future Tech Bootcamp in Hainburg.
- Best of Industry meets Makers presentation of technology solutions in Vienna.
These activities show how cross-border cooperation can deliver concrete results:
- new technological solutions, ideas and other perspectives
- cross-sectoral and cross-border partnerships,
- testing innovative approaches
- connecting talent with industry needs,
- opportunities for young people and budding entrepreneurs to work in a real environment with real tasks and corporate teams
The Twin City Hub thus actively supports the emergence of a community where innovations are not created in isolation, but in collaboration.
A strong community as a foundation for innovation
One of the biggest benefits of the SAPIE Forum was the opportunity to meet people who shape the Slovak innovation ecosystem. Community building is one of the basic pillars of the Twin City Hub project.
The cross-border region Bratislava – Vienna has a unique combination of:
- technology talent,
- universities and research centres,
- startup community,
- industry partners,
- investors and experts.
The Twin City Hub helps to connect these elements and create the conditions for long-term collaboration and sustainable innovation growth.
Meet Twin City Hub at Manufacturing Day 21.5.2026 in Vienna.
