A crucial gathering to learn about the progress of innovation initiatives, discover the stories and potential of member companies in the business community, share experiences and insights for the future, within the framework of the "Collaborate to Compete" model.
In summary, this was the goal achieved at the third networking event organized by Federated Innovation @MIND on December 12th at the Swiss Corner in Milan. The event was moderated by Giacomo Cavalli of Cariplo Factory and opened with a speech by President Tommaso Boralevi on the network's achievements in 2023 and the growth prospects of a network that now boasts over 40 member companies.
The spotlight was on the companies, organized into 12 thematic areas - from Life Sciences to Fintech, from Security & Defense to Proptech - which, over the past year, have initiated more than 100 joint innovation projects. Some of these initiatives were presented at the networking event, and we briefly summarize them here.
• Modular Prefab Construction System: Mapei, Wood Beton, Saint-Gobain, and Lendlease collaborated on this initiative - detailed by architect Marco Franceschetti of Wood Beton - wich aims to create new hybrid prefabricated elements with a focus on sustainability and circular economy, thereby improving the quality of life and professional experience of operators and generating a positive impact on the environment
• Rethinking School Spaces: Wind Tre, Schneider Electric, Valore Italia, Saint-Gobain, and ELT Group collaborated on this initiative, led by Matteo Tarantino (Assistant Professor of Università Cattolica di Milano), aiming to create participatory classrooms of the future - sustainable, smart, inclusive - now entering the phase of involving local schools after years of intense design and experimentation.
• Circular Innovation For Healthcare, led by SYNLAB Italia and Bracco in collaboration with IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi Sant’Ambrogio (Gruppo San Donato), is a project initiated by the Circular Economy Lab. Introduced by Giovanni Bugnotto, Head of Circular Innovation at Cariplo Factory, the initiative is currently in the Call for Startup phase to define a scalable and replicable best practice at the international level for managing water resources in hospital wastewate
• District Intelligence Platform of Tim, Cisco, and Schneider Electric. Presented by Andrea Natale, Business Development Manager at Schneider Electric, the initiative involves the development of a platform for the multi-level collection, management, analysis, and processing of data to accelerate sustainable development and decision-making for entire urban areas, starting specifically from the MIND Milano Innovation District
• Call for Proptech Solutions BuildingSMART is the Call for Solutions promoted by ABB, Schindler Italia, Lendlease, and Würth Italia, aimed at creating a Proof of Concept (POC) in MIND with the best entities and innovative projects to promote the creation of a new generation of smart and sustainable buildings. The initiative was described by Matteo Marinelli, Innovation Manager at Lendlease.
• Inclusivity in MIND: Presented by Alfredo Sassi, CEO of H-Ventures Solutions, this initiative by Sapio Life aims to increase awareness and promote understanding of autism and learning disorders through medical consultations and innovative technologies.
In the second phase of the event, before the final networking aperitif, ample space was dedicated to sharing the stories of startups belonging to the Federated Innovation Business Community, comprising over 150 innovative entities actively participating in innovation initiatives initiated by network member companies. Noteworthy contributions were made by Oscar Chu Ortega, Development & Partnership EMEA of Hidonix, Francesco Paolo Russo, CEO & Founder of To Be Srl, Davide Buscato, Co-founder of Busforfum.com, Francesco Trovato, CEO of Paperbox Health, Patrizia Bertolesi, CMO & Co-Founder of Nantoo, Emiliano Verga, Senior Digital Ecosystems Manager of Cefriel, Marco Pizzini, CEO & Founder of Metagate Srl e Benedetta Merlo, CEO of 3BEE.
The startups present at the event - ranging from biodiversity protection technology to indoor geolocation, sustainable mobility to learning disorder care - are a small but significant example of the aggregative capacity of a network like Federated Innovation. Here, companies of different sizes, sectors, and stages of development can innovate together, thanks to the demonstrated effectiveness of the "Collaborate to Compete" model and the availability of a unique ecosystem in Italy and the world, such as the MIND Milano Innovation District.