A milestone moment in the Collider journey

On 21 May 2026, the EuroTeQ Collider 2026 at TUM reached its climax with the local Finish event at the Entrepreneurship Center in Garching. After five and a half intensive weeks of challenge-based learning, all Collider teams came together to pitch their projects and celebrate how far they had come. Building on the EuroTeQ Alliance’s mission to modernize engineering education in Europe, the Collider once again showed how diverse teams can turn complex real-world challenges into actionable solutions.

From problem exploration to entrepreneurial mindset

Over the course of the Collider, multidisciplinary teams from across TUM worked on bold challenges provided by industry partners, universities and NGOs, all aligned with the 2026 theme “Enhance Connections for Sustainable Futures.” Their journey led them through deep problem exploration and stakeholder mapping, idea generation and testing, inclusive design and SDGs, and reflection on financial sustainability and entrepreneurial mindset.

Workshops on topics such as agile project management, design thinking, storytelling and pitch presentation supported the participants in developing robust solutions and helped them translate their learning into convincing presentations at the Finish event. Regular feedback sessions with coaches, external experts and challenge collaborators provided continuous input and enabled teams to refine their concepts step by step.

Pre‑selection and bold reflection videos

Before the Finish, teams went through a pre‑selection event in which only a subset advanced to pitch live in Garching. Teams that did not move forward at this stage were invited to stay engaged by creating short reflection videos on their learning journey, team development and personal growth.

These reflection videos highlighted how much development happened beyond the final solution: from navigating team dynamics and uncertainty to building confidence in pitching and embracing an entrepreneurial mindset. During the Finish event, a special Reflection award was given to one team whose video stood out for its honesty, courage and depth of insight into the Collider experience.

Finish event: teams take the stage

At the Finish event in Garching, the pre‑selected teams presented their projects to an audience of peers, mentors and an independent jury. In their pitches, they demonstrated not only technical creativity, but also how they engaged key stakeholders, integrated the SDGs and designed their concepts for long-term sustainability and impact.

The jury evaluated the projects based on innovation, feasibility, societal relevance and team reflection, ultimately selecting three winning teams whose projects will represent TUM in the next stages of the EuroTeQ journey.

Winning teams for the EuroTeQaThon (Copenhagen, 13–15 June 2026)

• MIRA supported by Mobilfunkinfrastrukturgesellschaft (MIG)

• ATHENA SE supported by Airbus

• ECOMETRIX supported by Siemens

Winning teams for the Ignite Bootcamp, Barcelona (20–24 July 2026)

• “Most ready to market” team, nominated for the Ignite Bootcamp at IESE Business School in Barcelona:

PLANT TILES supported by LB Systems

Audience Award

• Team that received the biggest amount of “EuroTeQ money” distributed by the audience during the Finish event:

GREEN PULSE supported by Munich Re and

GREEN TOOLKIT supported by Elisabeth Ignasiak Consulting

Pathways beyond the Finish: EuroTeQaThon and Ignite Bootcamp

The three winning teams from TUM have now qualified for the EuroTeQaThon, a 4‑day event that connects students, challenge collaborators and experts from all EuroTeQ universities. There, they will further develop and pitch their solutions in an international arena, explore synergies with projects from other countries and receive feedback from a high‑level jury.

In addition, one “most ready to market” team from TUM will participate in the Ignite Bootcamp at IESE Business School in Barcelona from 20–24 July 2026, joining selected teams from all EuroTeQ partner universities. This intensive, fully funded entrepreneurial program focuses on validating business models, refining go‑to‑market strategies and equipping participants with the tools they need to bring their ideas closer to real-world implementation.

Continued support for motivated teams

The Finish event marks the end of the formal Collider weeks, but not the end of the journey for motivated teams. Beyond the EuroTeQaThon and Ignite Bootcamp participants, other groups are encouraged to continue working on their ideas and will receive ongoing support. Their main contact, Diane Baumer, Project Coordinator and responsible for amplifying impact, will follow up individually with teams, assess their needs and point them towards relevant opportunities in the TUM ecosystem and the wider EuroTeQ network.

This long‑term perspective reflects the core ambition of the EuroTeQ Collider: to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and enable participants to develop sustainable projects that create meaningful impact across Europe. By combining a demanding, practice‑oriented learning experience with concrete pathways for continuation, the Collider helps ensure that promising concepts can evolve beyond the course timeline and move one step closer to real-world application.