The Hague, September 7. Today Unknown Workforce Technologies, Unknown Group’s Venture Engine® dedicated to making physical work safer and healthier is delighted to announce a partnership with EIT Manufacturing, an innovation community supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.

Both partner organizations are aligned on adding unique value to European products, processes and services and inspiring the creation of globally competitive and sustainable manufacturing. Furthermore, they share a common belief that innovative startup solutions are the key to unlocking Europe’s potential as an impact-driven manufacturing powerhouse of the future.

EIT Manufacturing, through its Co-location Center Central (CLC Central), and Unknown Workforce Technologies will work together to provide innovation and business creation opportunities in Europe for deserving startups from around the world. By leveraging Unknown’s global network in 110+ countries and proprietary scouting intelligence platform, this partnership will have a finger on the pulse of manufacturing innovations globally and be in the best position to aid innovative solutions in scaling to the EU. 

Focus areas include flexible and low environmental footprint manufacturing systems, digital collaborative solutions for teams, human-machine co-working and technologies such as VR/AR, Predictive Maintenance, Exoskeletons, Smart Wearables, Advanced Robotics and physical protection.

Furthermore, both organizations bring to the table considerable networks of startup solutions, industry-leading corporates, academic and scientific experts and investors to help startups to land pilots and collaborations.

Jochem Cuppen, Partner at Unknown and Director of Unknown Workforce Technologies said: “We are very happy to be partnering up with a leading manufacturing network like EIT Manufacturing. We both have big ambitions for the future of the manufacturing industry in Europe and are aligned on the belief that startup-corporate collaborations are the best way to achieve them”.

Wolfgang Kniejski, Senior Business Creation Manager at EIT Manufacturing CLC Central said: “Our cooperation with the Unknown Group contributes significantly towards bringing European manufacturing stakeholders together in innovation ecosystems that add unique value to competitive and sustainable manufacturing”.

As a first step, in November 2021, both Unknown Workforce Technologies and EIT Manufacturing will co-host a dealmaking event for 8 promising European startups with leading corporates, governments and investors. Further details will be provided closer to the event.

About Unknown Group

Unknown is an early-stage venture capital and business development firm, supporting founders and industry leaders to successfully bring innovations to the market: a “Venture Engine®”. With a fresh approach delivering venture success, lining up the industry and creating a pool of solutions ready to be adopted by the market.

With the Unknown Workforce Technologies Venture Engine®,  Unknown has created a portfolio of companies committed to make physical work safer and healthier – with this portfolio they reach over 1.5 million workers. Together with industry leaders, Unknown selects the best ventures worldwide and brings them forward – investing and actively supporting them to bring their solutions to market with a vast network of leading corporates.

For Press Enquiries:

Rayhaan Imam

rayhaan@unknowngroup.com

About EIT Manufacturing

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) strengthens Europe’s ability to innovate by powering solutions to pressing global challenges and by nurturing entrepreneurial talent to create sustainable growth and skilled jobs in Europe. The EIT is an EU body which is an integral part of Horizon Europe, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The Institute supports the development of dynamic pan-European partnerships – EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities – among leading companies, research labs and universities. 

EIT Manufacturing is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. It is one of eight innovation communities within EIT. The others are EIT Climate-KIC, EIT Digital, EIT Food, EIT Health, EIT InnoEnergy, EIT Raw Materials, and EIT Urban Mobility. EIT Manufacturing’s main goal is to bring European stakeholders focused on manufacturing together in innovation ecosystems that add unique value to European products, processes and services and inspire the creation of globally competitive and sustainable manufacturing. EIT Manufacturing brings together more than 65 organisations (universities, research institutes and business).

For Press Enquiries:

Christina Bertholdt

christina.bertholdt@eitmanufacturing.eu