Launched in 2020, Fusion Grant is a competition coordinated by NOI Techpark and supported by the business associations South Tyrol Economic Circle and Rete Economia, under the auspices of the South Tyrol Savings Bank Foundation. The aim is to promote concrete forms of cooperation between research institutions at NOI Techpark and companies within the South Tyrolean economic system, as well as supporting young, highly qualified researchers under the age of 40 with scholarships. Nine researchers from a variety of backgrounds and nationalities were selected by local research institutions and companies to work on specific challenges facing the participating South Tyrolean companies for the duration of the project. “Now more than ever, it is important to invest in applied research to promote the development of the local economy and our region,” explains Konrad Bergmeister, President of the South Tyrol Savings Bank Foundation. 

The first edition of the competition will come to an end in a few weeks. The nine projects, which started around a year ago, have produced highly interesting results, with some projects marking the beginning of long-term cooperation. “Fusion Grant is an interesting exchange between industry and research, with a special focus on collaboration with young, highly qualified talent. Through applied research in collaboration with institutions, we are laying the foundations that will enable us to develop new products and increase our sales in the long term,” says Daniele Zatelli, Head of Research and Development at VOG Products, who is enthusiastic about the competition. 

Together with the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (unibz), the fruit processing company has dedicated itself to the highly topical trend of the circular economy, especially in the food industry. The question is: how can by-products from production and processing be profitably reused? Apple farming is a key economic sector in South Tyrol. Some apples are not sold as table fruit but are processed into products such as fruit concentrate, juice or purée. This processing produces by-products, such as apple seeds. The Fusion Grant project by VOG Products and the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano therefore focused particularly on utilising apple seeds and extracting oil from them. “Many by-products from food production contain useful substances that can be used to create new products if the right methods are employed,” explains Alessandra Gasparini, a postdoctoral researcher on the unibz team working on the Fusion Grant project. The young researcher has already worked on utilising plant waste during her career, making her the ideal person for this project. 

“This project is significant not only because it has the potential to develop a new product, but also because it creates added value by transforming it into a desirable product, with a focus on issues such as the circular economy and sustainability,” says Daniele Zatelli. “Through research in this area, we are gaining knowledge that we do not yet have today, and we are confident that we will be able to derive added value from it tomorrow.” 

Fusion Grant is an initial spark for innovative projects. From 6 May 2022, the competition will enter its second round, offering local companies and research institutions the opportunity to apply for participation and funding from the South Tyrol Savings Bank Foundation. To enter the competition, applicants must form a partnership involving a South Tyrolean research centre with an operational research unit based at NOI Techpark, as well as at least one South Tyrolean company employing researchers under the age of 40 with a research doctorate. Additional local, national or international companies and research partners may also be involved.

Further information about Fusion Grant, including details on how to get in touch, can be found at: noi.bz.it/fusion-grant.