FBK and Trentino Sviluppo together to build the company of tomorrow

Progetto Manifattura in Rovereto held a joint meeting of Fondazione Bruno Kessler’s BoD and Trentino Sviluppo’s BoD, in the presence of Autonomous Province of Trento Vice President Achille Spinelli, to reflect on how to shape the business of tomorrow. The meeting focused in particular on how to support young talents along the long journey that leads from laboratory research to the creation of innovative startups and the development of their ideas.

“The Autonomous Province of Trento,” said Vice President and Councillor for Economic Development, Labour, Family, University and Research Achille Spinelli, “is strongly focused on fostering a research and innovation ecosystem capable of generating growth, competitiveness, and added value. Alongside the plan to support the industrial and manufacturing sector, developed in collaboration with business associations and trade unions, we have allocated significant financial resources to this area. In addition to the €142.6 million for the University of Trento, we are funding the Proof of Concept program, aimed at promoting the creation of startups and enterprises based on research carried out with FBK. We are convinced that this is the right path: building the company of tomorrow is not a slogan but a concrete direction for action. The role of our economic system will be decisive, as will that of the many young people and external partners who choose to invest in our region, together with FBK, Trentino Sviluppo, and other enterprises.”

The Proof of Concept (PoC) program launched by Fondazione Bruno Kessler in its first edition marked the starting point of this pathway, taking ideas originating in research laboratories toward innovative startups and market-ready solutions. The selected teams received pre-seed funding of up to €80,000 and, with the support of Hub Innovazione Trentino, access to a training program to develop new skills, guidance from experienced tech-transfer coaches and mentors, and access to FBK’s network of corporations, startups, and innovation partners.

This program represents the first concrete step toward creating new startups, but it will now be crucial to collaborate across the Trentino innovation ecosystem—working in synergy with Trentino Sviluppo—to support their growth and access to the technology market.

“Bridging the gap between our laboratories and the most dynamic markets, while attracting investments and partnerships through collaborations with centers of excellence in tech transfer and venture capital, is one of the pillars of FBK’s 2024–-2027 Strategic Plan said FBK President Ferruccio Resta. “In the first edition of the PoC by FBK program alone, more than 130 researchers and technologists participated, with nine teams funded for a total investment of €600,000, contributing to the creation of new startups and the enhancement of intellectual property.”

In this context, Trentino Sviluppo plays a key role in connecting the world of research with that of production, guiding the most promising ideas and technologies to market. Through open innovation initiatives, incubation, and support for industrialization, the provincial development agency fosters collaboration among researchers, startups, and established companies, creating the conditions for an ecosystem where innovation can grow and generate both economic and social value. This synergy with Fondazione Bruno Kessler and other regional stakeholders helps transform research results into concrete business opportunities, strengthening Trentino’s competitiveness.

“The challenges companies face today are many,” emphasized Giuseppe Consoli, President of Trentino Sviluppo. “That is why it is necessary to innovate and build alliances. In this scenario, our agency must act as an entrepreneurial catalyst, ensuring that the best ideas generated in research centers like FBK can be turned into successful market initiatives. To this end, we offer advanced facilities and services for business establishment, access to our technological expertise, integration into supply chains and clusters, support for accessing financing or qualified personnel, and a renewed approach to internationalization to seize opportunities for partnership and growth abroad.”

The development plan led by FBK and Trentino Sviluppo also includes, among various projects, the creation of the new Hydrogen Hub to be built in the industrial area of Rovereto. The new facility will cover 6,000 square meters of indoor space (including laboratories, technical support areas, and offices) and 13,000 square meters dedicated to outdoor testing and prototyping. It will host FBK’s Center for Sustainable Energy along with new industrial ventures.