Innovation makes its way

Designed to strengthen the entrepreneurial mindset of researchers and PhD students, the PoC by FBK – Test Your Idea! program was launched at the end of 2024. In the months that followed, participating teams took part in an intensive training program and gained access to a qualified network of companies and investors. The aim was to help them develop the skills needed to build a solid business model, define a clear and compelling value proposition, and prepare for Pitch Day, which was held on April 4, 2025.  On that occasion, the teams presented their projects to a jury to obtain funding and gain access to further mentoring opportunities focused on structuring and sustaining their research-based business ideas.

The numbers of the first edition

Out of 37 applications received, 17 projects were selected for the initial phase of the program. Among these, the 9 projects with the highest potential were eligible for funding of up to €80,000 each. These funds were used to cover personnel costs, engage suppliers or external consultants, purchase equipment and materials, and more generally to carry out the planned activities.

The technologies developed span a wide range of fields, from artificial intelligence and advanced sensors to applications in healthcare, industry, energy, and new materials.   More than 60% of participants are under the age of 35, highlighting the vitality of the ecosystem. Many of the selected proposals demonstrated not only strong innovative potential but also a high level of technological maturity.

The program continued with laboratory simulations and testing activities, alongside ongoing meetings with mentors and external experts. These provided personalized and targeted support to help teams validate their initial assumptions or adjust their approach as needed, ultimately identifying the most effective solution to be implemented operationally and brought to large-scale production and commercialization in the shortest possible time. One number stands out above all: a total of 800 hours of coaching were delivered.

“With this initiative,” FBK President Ferruccio Resta said, “our research community now has a program that enhances the talent ready to step up and generate value and new opportunities for the region.”

PoC by FBK: TRL, Mindset, and Career Opportunities Between Research and Business

On December 12, 2025, three teams from the first edition of the program were invited to present updates on their projects, sharing lessons learned, progress achieved, and new challenges ahead with colleagues.

Danilo Ropele from the Technology Transfer Office introduced the teams, which are active in different disciplinary areas and address diverse market challenges. Despite these differences, all three shared a common experience: satisfaction with the journey and the results achieved through a process of trial and error. Their progress included increasing the TRL of their business ideas, launching fundraising efforts to continue development, and putting their solutions through a real-world reality check.

The program made it possible to significantly increase the maturity of ideas and technological platforms through customized training and coaching programs for each team—also carried out in collaboration with HIT. Coaches and mentors supported participants in strengthening technical, entrepreneurial, and soft skills, contributing to the overall consolidation of their projects.

Flex Productions, with David Novel, researcher with the Center for Sensors & Devices – Micro and Nano Characterization and Fabrication (MNF) facility

Micro-ID-Gym, with Andrea Bisegna and Laura Cristiano, Center for Cybersecurity

xPerception, with Fabio Poiesi, Head of the Technologies of Vision (TeV) Unit at the Center for Digital Industry

People, technology, and the target market,”Ropele emphasized, “are the three pillars of the PoC. It’s a professional growth journey that helps participants broaden their skill sets, experiment with new ways of working, and steer the technologies they develop toward meaningful social impact.”