Over 120 project proposals evaluated, 14 awarded projects, €400,000 in funding, and the involvement of universities, hospitals, companies, and investors. These are the key figures of the fifth edition of Seed4Innovation, the entrepreneurial research valorisation programme promoted by the University of Milan, whose final event took place on 28 January 2026.
The 2025 edition confirmed both the quantitative and qualitative growth of the initiative: around 30 more projects were submitted compared to the previous year, demonstrating the increasingly structured capacity of the university system to generate solutions oriented towards industrial application and territorial impact.
Seed4Innovation is fully embedded within the technology transfer activities of Spoke 3 of MUSA – Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action, a project funded by the PNRR MUR and aimed at building and strengthening territorial innovation ecosystems by fostering structured collaboration among universities, companies, public institutions, and the healthcare system.
From research to business: results of the 2025 edition
More specifically, eight projects received a €50,000 grant each from the University of Milan, for a total investment of €400,000. These were complemented by three grants awarded by the Chamber of Commerce of Milan Monza Brianza Lodi, one project admitted to the acceleration phase without direct financial support, and two projects selected within the special Seed4Sport track, developed with the contribution of Fondazione Cariplo.
The awarded projects span strategic areas for sustainability and the competitiveness of the productive and urban system: from precision medicine to AI-supported diagnostic technologies, from the sustainable treatment of contaminated water to the valorisation of agri-food and forestry biomass, up to digitalised industrial chemistry and innovative solutions for sport and wellbeing. This portfolio reflects MUSA’s interdisciplinary nature and the integration of diverse scientific competences.
An ecosystem connecting research, healthcare, and industry
A distinctive feature of the 2025 edition was the direct involvement of the healthcare system: several projects were developed in collaboration with six local IRCCS institutes, including IEO, Policlinico di Milano, Monzino, Auxologico, Galeazzi-Sant’Ambrogio, and the Carlo Besta Neurological Institute. This integration further strengthens Seed4Innovation’s role as a bridge between academic and clinical research and industrial applications.
Alongside the University, the programme relied on a broad network of industrial, financial, and innovation partners, helping to create a favourable environment for the technological and entrepreneurial maturation of the selected projects.
Seed4Innovation within MUSA Spoke 3
Within MUSA, Seed4Innovation represents one of the key operational tools of Spoke 3, dedicated to the creation and strengthening of territorial innovation ecosystems. The programme helps translate research results into concrete solutions, supporting scientific teams along a pathway that ranges from technological validation to the potential creation of new enterprises.
The results achieved over time confirm the effectiveness of this approach: in recent years, Seed4Innovation has contributed to a significant increase in the number of university spin-offs, patents filed, and investments attracted by projects originating in academia and later evolving into entrepreneurial initiatives.
A technology transfer model for urban challenges
Through Seed4Innovation, MUSA strengthens its role as an enabling platform capable of connecting research, industry, healthcare, and public institutions, fostering the development of high-impact solutions for urban, environmental, and social challenges. A model of innovation that goes beyond technological experimentation, aiming instead to generate long-term value for territories and society as a whole.
