Introduction to the Initiative

This summer marked the beginning of 59 groundbreaking projects aimed at revolutionizing the Italian industry through innovation and sustainability. These initiatives are part of two cascading calls from Mics (Made in Italy Circolare e Sostenibile), a partnership funded by the Ministry of University and Research (Mur) under Mission 4 of the Pnrr. A total of 21.5 million euros has been allocated to 87 companies and 26 research organizations and universities to develop projects that integrate rapidly and span across various sectors such as fashion, furniture, and automation-mechanics.

Objectives and Funding

The primary goal of these projects is to lay the foundation for a new model of Made in Italy, emphasizing advanced digital technology, data analysis, and the circularity of raw materials, supply chains, production processes, and ideas. These new projects add to the 77 ongoing initiatives already activated by Mics, which boasts a total funding of 125 million euros, including 114 million from Pnrr funds and 11 million from private investors. This represents the highest amount ever allocated for research projects in the field of circular and sustainable economy in Italy.

Focus on the South

A significant portion of the funding has been directed towards the South of Italy and the Islands. Over 60% of the funds and more than 50% of the projects are being developed in these regions. Elisa Negri, the scientific coordinator of Mics, expressed surprise at the high level of participation and the quality of the proposals, which were innovative, concrete, and had clear objectives with great potential for application. The prominence of the South and the Islands is partly due to the higher score assigned for 'territorial quota,' which accounted for just over 10% of the total score. This success is also attributed to a substantial communication effort aimed at these regions, reflecting Mics' goal of having a significant impact in these areas.

Project Distribution and Sectors

The projects funded by the two calls cover a wide range of sectors. The first call, dedicated to research organizations and universities, offered 4.8 million euros, funding 17 out of 32 submitted projects. The second call, aimed at companies, had a budget of 16.7 million euros and funded 42 out of 148 submitted projects. The average funding granted was approximately 380,000 euros, covering 70% of the project costs.

The projects are distributed across various sectors, with a notable focus on transversal applications.
Of the 59 winning projects, 25 have the potential to impact multiple sectors, including automotive, aerospace, agri-food, and agriculture.
The fashion sector attracted 36% of the funding with 22 projects, while automation received 14% with seven projects.
The furniture sector, with five projects, received 10% of the funds.

Key Areas of Research

Two main areas of research have emerged as the most covered: new intelligent and sustainable materials, and additive manufacturing. Elisa Negri highlighted the high quality of the projects in the fashion sector, emphasizing the need to rethink the global operations of this industry. She also pointed out the importance of advanced automation and artificial intelligence in manufacturing, stressing the need for Italy to keep up with global technological advancements. The focus is on promoting collaborative automation that interacts with humans, enhancing productivity, quality, and reducing costs and resource usage.

Upcoming Roadshow

Following the success of the calls, a roadshow titled 'Innovation on the Move. Building the Future of Made in Italy, Step by Step' is set to begin on September 17th in Rome. This 11-stop tour aims to engage entrepreneurs, managers, researchers, and institutions, fostering collaboration and innovation. Marco Taisch, president of the Mics Foundation, emphasized the importance of connecting the expertise of over 900 researchers involved in Mics with the entrepreneurial excellence of Made in Italy across the country. The roadshow is one of the tools to achieve this goal, promoting the dissemination of results for the benefit of the entire nation.