diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 689b87412ff519cbb121bfce9aae5467f8892a6a..d6835a85d4778fd8a9853f9b510d519e57905de0 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -241,6 +241,18 @@ docker-push:
       exists:
         - Dockerfile
 
+trigger_aura_tests:
+  stage: release
+  needs: [docker-push]
+  trigger:
+    project: aura/aura-tests
+    # TODO dm 2024-06-07: for test purposes only. Should be set to "main" before final merge"
+    branch: feat-adding-ci
+    strategy: depend
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH
+      when: manual 
+
 release_job:
   stage: release
   needs: