Innovation services

Synthetic data, digital twin modelling, diagnostic devices, and machine learning: these are some of the topics at the heart of the Trilateral Company Mission organized today by Area Science Park, a partner of the Enterprise Europe Network, together with the Jožef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana (Slovenia) and the STEP RI Technology Park in Rijeka (Croatia). A delegation of around thirty professionals from Italian, Slovenian, and Croatian companies took part in the initiative, gathering to share solutions, experiences, and expertise in the field of artificial intelligence applied to healthcare. The meeting provided an important opportunity to discuss artificial intelligence activities with applications in the health sector, as well as the High-Performance Computing (HPC) services that the Laboratory of Data Engineering of Area Science Park makes available to SMEs. There was also strong participation from companies based in the science and technology park, which took part in the pitching session aimed at fostering mutual acquaintance among participants and promoting the launch of new technical and scientific collaborations.

Ultrasound technologies for non-invasive surgery and the “superfoods” of the future, innovative electromagnets, supercapacitors for electric mobility, and satellite optical communication technologies: the national research body Area Science Park announces the five startups selected as winners of the Deep Tech Revolution call, which allocates a total of €1 million in funding to innovative high-tech business projects. Each selected startup will receive €200,000 in funding, half in cash and half in high-tech services supporting research and development activities — including privileged access to Area Science Park’s advanced infrastructures and laboratories — as well as business growth support services. Deep Tech Revolution is a programme launched by Area Science Park to promote and support frontier research and deep tech innovation, with a focus on four key areas: materials science, advanced digital technologies, green energy value chains, and life sciences. The programme will provide non-repayable funding to five entrepreneurial projects selected from dozens of applications submitted from across Italy. Soundsafe Care (Pisa) develops robotic solutions that use ultrasound technologies for extracorporeal surgical procedures without incisions; Yeastime (Rome) applies ultrasound stimulation to optimise microalgae cultivation, increasing productivity and bioactive compounds for food/feed, nutraceutical and industrial biotech applications; Novac (Modena) develops a supercapacitor for automotive applications that acts as a power reserve for battery packs, integrated into vehicles within a carbon-fibre casing to optimise weight and volume; Magnetic Future (Bologna) develops a new class of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) switches designed to facilitate the adoption of superconducting electromagnets in high-impact sectors such as nuclear fusion, wind energy, space propulsion and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); SatEnlight (Milan) proposes the use of advanced optical technologies to increase the speed, reliability and security of satellite data transmission. « The Deep Tech Revolution programme represents an ambitious challenge within Area’s strategic framework, arising from the convergence of the organisation’s long-standing experience in innovation and venture creation with recently developed scientific research capabilities,” explained Caterina Petrillo, President of Area Science Park, who added: « The initiative supports high-risk ideas and projects which, precisely because of their innovative nature, often encounter difficulties in attracting investors. In this context, the role of Area Science Park as a public research organisation can be crucial in creating the conditions for these initiatives to emerge and grow, absorbing part of the risk that the market is sometimes not yet willing to take on». The programme. The support programme will last twelve months, and its main added value is that the startups leading the funded projects will gain privileged access to Area Science Park’s technological and research infrastructures and laboratories for the first time. The offering includes laboratories for instrumental analysis, structural, cellular and molecular biology — in particular the Genomics and Epigenomics Laboratory and Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste — as well as equipment for analysing nanomaterials and innovative energy materials through the Electron Microscopy Laboratory. It also includes the High Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure with the Data Engineering Laboratory, and the network of demonstrators of the Digital Innovation Hub. The programme will also feature international study visits, allowing participants to connect directly with leading global innovation and research ecosystems through visits to centres of excellence and meetings with experts, entrepreneurs and researchers. In addition, training and capacity-building bootcamps and networking activities will be organised through dedicated events and meetings aimed at fostering collaboration, investment opportunities and strategic growth through connections with key stakeholders. Applications. During the open call period, 187 expressions of interest were submitted by startups, university spin-offs and research groups that registered in order to apply for the call. A total of 80 projects eventually completed the application process, coming from across the country and representing almost three quarters of Italian regions (14 out of 20). Two main hubs stand out: Lazio and Friuli Venezia Giulia, both with 15 projects each. In Lazio, most projects originate from Rome (13), while in Friuli Venezia Giulia they are mainly concentrated in Trieste (8) and Udine (6). In Northern Italy, strong participation came from Emilia-Romagna (10) and Veneto (8) — driven respectively by the university hubs of Bologna (6) and Padua (5) — as well as Lombardy (6, with Milan accounting for 5) and Piedmont (4). Central Italy, beyond the Roman hub, also shows solid participation with Tuscany (8, including 6 from Pisa) and Marche (1). From Southern Italy, 11 projects were submitted, led by Apulia (5, including 4 from Bari) and Abruzzo (3), alongside Campania (2) and Sicily (1). Overall, this geographical distribution reflects a widely distributed ecosystem, combining major metropolitan hubs and regional innovation centres with medium-sized provinces, demonstrating truly widespread participation across the national territory. « We were truly impressed by the quality of the proposals submitted,” commented Pablo Garcia Tello, Head of the EU Projects and Initiatives Development Section at CERN in Geneva, who chaired the evaluation committee responsible for assessing the projects and selecting the five startups awarded the funding. « They demonstrate not only an exceptional level of scientific and technological excellence, but also a strong commitment to translating these results into tangible benefits for society. The initiative appears very solid and promises significant developments in the future». The Startups Soundsafe Care (Pisa) Project: ØSCAR 2.0 – A robotic device for non-invasive tissue mechanical ablation Soundsafe Care is an accredited spin-off of the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa that integrates robotics and ultrasound technologies to redefine surgical standards. The “Zero Scar” (ØSCAR 2.0) project operates in the field of life sciences and advanced medical technologies, focusing on innovation in non-invasive surgery. The company is developing cutting-edge devices capable of performing precise extracorporeal procedures, eliminating the need for surgical incisions while protecting surrounding healthy tissue through localised robot-assisted tumour ablation. For the development of the project, the startup will use chemical and phenotypic characterisation services, the High Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure, and digital business environment analysis services. Yeastime (Roma) Project: US4BIOMA – Ultrasounds for Bioeconomy of Microalgae Based in Rome, Yeastime develops deep-tech solutions aimed at optimising biotechnological production processes through ultrasound stimulation. The US4BIOMA project operates in the life sciences sector by implementing innovative systems for microalgae cultivation. By integrating ultrasound modules into different reactor configurations (phototrophic and heterotrophic), the startup aims to increase biomass productivity and enhance the accumulation of high-value bioactive compounds. These compounds have applications in sectors such as novel food products, animal feed, nutraceuticals and industrial biotechnology. Yeastime will access services including genomics and epigenomics analysis, structural biology, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and digital market analysis. Novac (Modena) Project: SCARF – Structural supercapacitor pack for automotive applications embedded in a reinforced carbon fibre shell Novac is an innovative startup based in Modena active in the research and development of new materials for energy storage. The “SCARF” project aims to optimise a structural supercapacitor designed to be coupled with battery packs in the automotive sector, providing an additional power reserve for vehicles. Novac’s proprietary technology enables the supercapacitor to be integrated directly into a carbon-fibre shell, exploiting vehicle volumes that are typically unused and allowing a reduction in the size of the main battery. The project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of scalable production for high-value markets. Services requested include atomic force microscopy (AFM), support in materials science and nanotechnology, and advanced technological analyses related to energy and critical raw materials. Magnetic Future (Bologna) Project: SuperSwitch – Scalable HTS Switching Devices for Efficient Superconducting Power Systems Magnetic Future is a deep-tech spin-off from Mercatorum University and the University of Bologna, established to accelerate the adoption of superconducting electromagnets in high-impact sectors such as nuclear fusion, wind energy, space propulsion and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The project aims to validate a new class of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) switches, essential components for flux pumps, innovative power supply systems that significantly improve the energy efficiency of superconducting magnets. The initiative lies at the frontier of applied superconductivity and power conversion technologies for the energy transition. The startup will benefit from HPC infrastructure and advanced analytical services in the fields of energy, hydrogen and critical raw materials. SatEnlight (Milano) Project: SatEnlight – Unlocking the full potential of Optical Communications SatEnlight, a Milan-based startup at the forefront of terrestrial and satellite communications, proposes the use of advanced optical technologies to increase the speed, reliability and security of data transmission. Thanks to two exclusive patents for an optical reception system based on orbital angular momentum (OAM), the company aims to transform the sector. The technology uses so-called optical vortices to multiplex multiple data channels onto a single laser beam, dramatically increasing bandwidth efficiency. SatEnlight’s mission is to establish a new standard for high-performance space communications. The development programme includes digital business analysis services and access to the High Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure.

Support cities and regions across the Mediterranean in their fight against climate change by promoting swift, joint action to mitigate further adverse environmental, social, and economic impacts. This is the core objective of the INFIRE project — INnovative FInancing solutions for climate planning of REsilient and carbon neutral living areas — which brings together 10 expert partners with highly complementary skills. They are working together to build a long-term support framework to strengthen the capacity of public authorities in the participating regions to develop, implement, and monitor holistic policy solutions and tools for climate adaptation and carbon neutrality. To this end, the Train-the-Trainer (TtT) workshop was held at Area Science Park, bringing together technical partners from seven Mediterranean countries for two days of learning, peer exchange, and hands-on activities. The goal was to consolidate tools and methodologies that will be transferred to pilot municipalities in the next project phase, set to launch in the final months of 2025. Key topics aimed at strengthening public authorities’ competencies were addressed: from understanding the main public and private funding schemes — including innovative models such as public-private partnerships (PPPs) and citizen-led initiatives — to the criteria for selecting the most suitable financial instruments based on the specific features of different interventions. Operational aspects related to green bonds and climate bonds were also explored in depth, including eligibility criteria, issuance procedures, investor requirements, and reporting obligations, with specific attention to the needs of smaller municipalities. Finally, substantial focus was placed on building strong and efficient data management systems, which are essential for monitoring and evaluating local climate adaptation actions. Participants worked on indicators, data quality, and interoperability, developing critical skills to ensure decisions are based on reliable evidence. For more information about the INFIRE Project, click HERE.

The creation of a more efficient entrepreneurial ecosystem, a network of business acceleration programs, and new support services for enterprises and startups. These are some of the objectives achieved by the EU4EG – “EU for Economic Growth”,project, started in 2021 to relaunch North Macedonia’s economy and strengthen its competitiveness in the context of the country’s accession to the EU. Area Science Park was among its partners. In particular, the organisation contributed to the capacity building of Macedonian companies by creating an online training platform and offering specialist support to companies and start-ups. EU4EG officially concluded on November 26 in Skopje with an exhibition that brought together all the project’s partners, key institutions, and other stakeholders. Among the speakers was Luca Mercatelli of Area Science Park (Institutional Relations Office), who presented three successful cases of research-industry cooperation: a training grant model for companies located in the Science and Technology Park, the Deep Tech Revolution call to support innovative businesses, and support for participation in EU funding programs. The protagonists of the exhibition were 24 startups and 25 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises that benefited from funding provided by the project. They presented the results achieved over the past four years in terms of innovation, from the purchase of new machinery to the development of new production methods. Coordinated by the German Federal Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), EU4EG involved Area Science Park, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate, and the Central European Initiative (CEI). For more information, visit: EU4EG – EU for Economic Growth – Area Science Park.