NATIONAL SKILLS COMPETITIONS
Game on! Our National Skills Competitions are live! After months of learning, testing and building new skills, this is the moment students step up, take on real challenges and show what they can do. It is where the energy of the project comes to life, and where the road to the International Skills Competition in Alba officially begins. For the winning teams, this is the chance to go from national contenders to international finalists.
Since December 2025, our students have been exploring the Digital Twin on Smart Manufacturing e-learning platform and now they will have the chance to apply their knowledge in a practical, team-based competition inspired by real smart manufacturing scenarios. From virtual commissioning and predictive maintenance to cybersecurity, robotics and green transition, participants will tackle the kinds of challenges shaping the future of industry.
These competitions are designed to showcase the new Digital Twin technician profile and help students connect their training with the needs of the labour market. They are not just about technical performance, but also about problem-solving, teamwork, presentation skills and the ability to develop innovative solutions in a realistic industrial context.
Where and When
The 2026 National Skills Competitions will take place in five partner countries:
Derio, Spain
Politeknika Txorierri
05 May 2026
Heraklion, Greece
Hellenic Mediterranean University
13 May 2026
Alba, Italy
APRO
27 May 2026
Gothenburg, Sweden
Göteborgs Tekniska College
27 May 2026
Ruse, Bulgaria
“Angel Kanchev” University of Ruse
04 June 2026
At each national event, teams will compete locally while following a shared competition format and common evaluation criteria developed within the project.
Participation Details
Who can participate
The competition is open to teams of 4 students from Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Spain and Sweden. Each VET or higher education institution may enter more than one team. If at least one team member is under 18, the team must be accompanied by a teacher.
To be eligible, each team member must have completed at least 2 modules on the Digital Twin on Smart Manufacturing e-learning platform during the pilot phase, excluding the introduction / prerequisite modules. Where a module contains several levels or courses, completing at least one of them is enough to qualify.
What to expect
Each competition will run over 8 hours and will challenge teams to solve a study case based on an industrial machine and the content of the Digital Twin training platform. Participants will work through a series of assignments linked to key learning areas such as:
virtual commissioning
Virtual Maintenance
Business intelligence and predictive maintenance
AR/VR applications
cybersecurity
robotics
green transition
entrepreneurship and presentation of solutions
The challenge combines technical exercises and presentations, encouraging teams to demonstrate both solid technical understanding and strong collaboration. Participants may consult e-learning materials, but all solutions must be original and developed during the competition itself.
How teams will be evaluated
Teams will be assessed on the basis of:
technical accuracy
Correct, precise and well-justified execution of the assigned tasks.
problem-solving ability
Ability to analyse challenges and develop effective, practical solutions.
clarity of presentation
Clear, structured and understandable explanation of the team’s solution.
teamwork and organisation
Effective collaboration, task coordination and good time management.
number of topics successfully solved
Extent to which the team completes and solves the required topic areas.
Evaluation will be carried out by a joint committee of partners and experts to ensure fairness, consistency and high-quality feedback.
Key Benefits
Why join
The National Skills Competitions are a unique chance to turn digital learning into real performance. Participants will test themselves in an international project environment, gain visibility for their skills and explore how Digital Twin technologies are used in modern manufacturing.
Winning teams will earn the opportunity to represent their country at the International Skills Competition in Italy, with travel and accommodation covered by the national organisers. In addition, second- and third-place teams will receive a plaque in recognition of their achievement, while the top three finishers in the International competition will win short-term mobility study visits to major tech and engineering companies.
Ready to compete?
If you are a student in vocational or higher education and want to prove your skills in smart manufacturing, innovation and Digital Twin technologies, this is your moment. Complete the required modules, build your team and get ready to compete for national recognition and an international experience.
Registration Details
Register Your Team for the National Competition
Taking part in the National Skills Competition is an opportunity for students to put their Digital Twin knowledge into practice in a real team challenge. The competition brings together participants from vocational and higher education to work on industry-inspired tasks linked to smart manufacturing, innovation and problem-solving.
Use the form to register your team for the national event in your country. Please make sure all required fields are completed correctly, including the participant details and eligibility information from the Digital Twin e-learning platform. Once the form is submitted, the organisers will review the registration and follow up with further information if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are planning to join the National Skills Competition, here are the main things you should know before completing your team registration.
