Innovation for mountain contexts. Intermediate results and perspectives of the iNEST -Spoke project

How will the economy, society, habitat, energy production and consumption, and logistics change in mountain contexts subject to climate change and socio-environmental transformations? What opportunities does the NRRP offer to territorial enterprises willing to face new challenges in this unprecedented context? On Monday, April 22nd, at the NOI Techpark in Bozen-Bolzano, representatives of the Competence Centre Innovation Ecosystems for Mountain Contexts will present the intermediate results and perspectives of the Spoke1 projects to partners and the business community. These projects are funded by the NextGenerationEU programme and managed by the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano.

The Free University of Bozen-Bolzano is one of the partners of the iNEST consortium, funded by the NextGenerationEU programme of the European Union, for which it serves as the implementing body for Spoke 1, Ecosystems for Mountain Innovations. This initiative aims to promote industrial research, innovation, and technology transfer activities in the interdisciplinary field of mountain ecosystems. Its main objective under the PNRR is to develop new products, processes, and lifestyles that consolidate or maintain local traditions, ensuring the survival and demographic viability of mountain contexts from an economic, environmental, and social perspective.

On Monday, April 22nd, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., a conference will be held at the NOI Techpark in Bolzano (seminar area). It will be attended by the 100 professors and researchers working on the iNEST-Spoke1 project, funded by the European Union's NextGenerationEU programme, for the creation and management of the innovation ecosystem in mountain contexts. Besides the researchers - coordinated by Prof. Fabrizio Mazzetto (unibz) - from the Universities of Bolzano, Ca' Foscari, Udine, Padua, and Verona, and Eurac Research in Bolzano, several companies are also involved in the project, having received funding through the first round of cascade calls (cascade funding).

The progress of the project one year after its launch will be presented during the morning session. Of particular interest to local businesses will be the second part of the morning, which will include the presentation of the second call for proposals for businesses and a panel discussion on innovation in mountain areas, quality of life and habitat, economic resilience of production systems, energy systems, and logistics. In the afternoon, the work will continue with technical tables (parallel sessions) where research and innovation topics, new ideas, and new methodological approaches for each of the research strands of the iNEST-Spoke1 project will be discussed in detail.

The event is open to all individuals and organizations interested in the topics covered by the iNEST-Spoke1 project: institutions, research centers, and private companies. The latter will receive an update on the upcoming funding opportunities (totalling 1.5 million euros) that will be available through the second cascade call, expected to open at the end of April.

To participate (free of charge), please register by Monday, April 15, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. via this link: https://bit.ly/Iscrizione_convegnoiNest2024_spoke1

The program for the day can be found on this page: https://bit.ly/iNEST_convegno2024_spoke1

The event will be held in Italian.