Open innovation paths

The Foundation’s research has always been driven by two core principles: scientific excellence and impact on society and the market. These elements are deeply interconnected, as the knowledge generated by blue-sky  research becomes a driver of innovation and creates tangible value. This occurs through the intersection of scientific expertise, research results, and the socio-economic fabric—fostering mutual exchange, the co-development of technologies, and the birth of high-impact solutions.

Vision

FBK’s vision, as articulated by President Ferruccio Resta, is highly ambitious: “FBK’s mission is to act as a strategic link between research, technology, and the market, contributing to the creation of an ecosystem capable of generating value. Now we want to take a step further: expand our impact, involve new partners, and lay the foundations for the country’s growth together.”

In practice, transforming scientific excellence into concrete value involves partnerships with public and private stakeholders, internal entrepreneurship programs, and the use of FBK laboratories, which enhance the technological portfolio both quantitatively and qualitatively.

These efforts are structured through multiple channels for research valorization, including corporate partnerships, spin-offs, and tools for intellectual property protection.

Relations with companies

For FBK, collaborating with companies is not only a means of self-financing but also a way to receive valuable feedback on technologies in development and gather ideas for future research. At the same time, companies are increasingly turning to FBK, driven by the need to keep pace with rapid innovation cycles and a mature open innovation paradigm.

To meet these needs, FBK offers itself as a scientific partner, supporting companies through various forms of collaboration—from targeted problem-solving to long-term research alliances. Companies benefit from the dedicated Corporate Relationship Office, which facilitates dialogue with researchers, supports the evolution of partnerships, and promotes a culture of collaboration between research and industry.

FBK’s strong positioning is demonstrated by its partnerships with over 80 companies annually. These include sectors such as manufacturing, ICT, infrastructure, transport, sensors, and energy. Partners range from major corporations like Marcegaglia, RFI, UFI, Dedagroup, and Sony to numerous national and local SMEs, all supported with tailored tools and facilities to harness innovation as a growth strategy.

Spin-offs and ecosystem

FBK believes in the potential of its talent and technologies to generate high-impact spin-offs. The Foundation actively fosters the transformation of research into new ventures and supports ecosystem stakeholders with its technological expertise.

To nurture future spin-offs, FBK has launched the Proof of Concept (PoC) program—a six-month initiative offering pre-seed funding of up to €80,000 per team, along with personalized training, coaching, and validation of both technology and market readiness.

In its inaugural 2025 edition, the PoC program selected 9 teams from 37 applicants, working on technologies ranging from AI and energy transition to sensors and advanced materials.

FBK collaborates with venture capital, incubators, and accelerators to strengthen the national innovation ecosystem by providing technical support, access to research infrastructures, and state-of-the-art expertise.

Patents

Patents are a key instrument for protecting the intellectual property generated by FBK researchers, both independently and in collaboration with external partners.  They also serve as a catalyst for technology transfer, generating impact and fueling new waves of innovation locally and internationally.

FBK currently holds a portfolio of over 60 patented technologies, available for commercialization or further development through dedicated partnership agreements.

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Learn More – FBK website new dedicated section

To explore innovation opportunities at and with FBK, a new section on the institutional website offers a comprehensive overview of related activities. It serves as a starting point for engaging with research partnerships, spin-offs, entrepreneurship programs, patents, and labs.

Featuring highlights of achievements, dedicated news, a technology portfolio, and collaboration models, the online resource also introduces key contacts for initiating discussions and submitting ideas. Innovation is a process of continuous exchange— and when powered by scientific excellence, it drives value and competitiveness across the entire system.