Win the EELISA Co-Creation Workshop, your EELISA Test Space, and the EELISA Prototype Contest at JOSEPHS – The Open Innovation Lab in Nuremberg, Germany

To encourage customer-centric innovation and to support the startups, researchers, and innovators within its excellent European innovation ecosystem, EELISA calls for participation in the 5^th EELISA prototype contest. Applications from all EELISA institutions and incubators connected to EELISA institutions (see the full list below) are welcome!

What you can get!

Up to 25 applicants with the best prototypes (or prototype ideas) will qualify to participate in the four-day EELISA Co-Creation Workshop at JOSEPHS – The Open Innovation Lab in Nuremberg, Germany that will take place from 8 to 11 December 2026. The co-creation workshop will be led by JOSEPHS’ open innovation experts and will also feature innovation experts from the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (NIM) and FAU’s startup consulting services. This collaboration will greatly help the participating startups, researchers, and innovators to create more successful ideas, products, and services. The first three days of the workshop are an open innovation methods training: You will learn how to innovate in a customer-centric way, how to best position your prototype in the market, and how to get valuable feedback from potential customers. In addition, you will receive pitch training, and all of this will prepare you for the final day of the workshop, when you will set up your own test space and have the opportunity to get real feedback from potential customers in a public event: The final of the EELISA Prototype Contest at JOSEPHS. The invited public and experts from JOSEPHS, the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions and FAU will test your prototypes, give valuable feedback, and vote for the winner of the EELISA Prototype Contest 2026. Expand your innovation skills and network! Let’s innovate together!

Eligible Prototypes

Eligible prototypes must fulfill the following criteria:

• • Prototypes can be consumer goods, tangible ideas, concepts, or apps. These prototypes may be physical, digital, or hybrid.
  • Prototypes should be of interest to the general public.
  • The prototypes must be suitable to be tested in English (or German).
  • The prototypes must be suitable to be brought or sent to JOSEPHS by the workshop participants.
  • Prototypes should not be heavier than 100 kg, not need more than approximately four square meters of test space, and not be higher than 2 meters.
  • Prototypes should be operational with regular technical infrastructure (Wi-Fi, electricity, etc.).
  • Hazardous goods are not eligible.

Funding

The costs for the EELISA Co-Creation Workshop at JOSEPHS from 8 to 11 December 2026 will be covered by EELISA at FAU with the support of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Travel costs to Nuremberg and subsistence costs outside the workshop have to be covered either by the participants or by the EELISA local office at each EELISA institution. In case of being selected as a participant, please contact your EELISA local office to ask about the possibility of receiving travel and subsistence support to attend the event if you have to travel from outside the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region.

WHEN

From 8 to 11 December 2026

WHERE

EELISA Co-Creation Workshop at JOSEPHS in Nuremberg, Germany (including the EELISA Test Spaces and public final of the EELISA Prototype Contest on the last day of the workshop)

APPLICATION DEADLINE

1 November 2026

Notification about admission: No later than 6 November 2026