diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index f746ef31b9bd6e5214c6e0edd9b564dc49d24a0e..7779dbdff2d1f7b2e787a4ac082751af6322b9b7 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -133,6 +133,18 @@ 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: