150,000 euro jackpot, projects to be submitted by 12 September
The Startcup Lombardia Challenge continues its 21st edition, organized by Lombardia universities and university incubators and promoted by the Lombardia Region and MUSA, with the aim of fostering the birth and development of high-potential businesses at the intersection of innovation and technology. The total prize fund is 150,000 euros, and aspiring entrepreneurs, workgroups, and established companies have until September 12th to submit their ideas. Launched in 2003 at the initiative of Politecnico di Milano, the initiative, supported by the Lombardy Region since 2016, has granted over 750,000 euros in grants, contributed to the establishment of 37 companies (spanning ICT, Life Sciences, and MedTech sectors) that have attracted over 8 million euros in cumulative investments, generated a total revenue of 2.5 million euros, and created 100 new jobs.
Project Selection and Evaluation: The initial phase of project evaluation and selection will conclude on September 21st. On September 28th, during the semi-finals, the Organizing Committee will select the top 12 projects that will gain access to the Acceleration Days, an entrepreneurial empowerment program focusing on business plans and business idea presentations. Additionally, for the winning startups, MUSA will provide further support in preparation for the final competition. On October 26th, the Jury will determine the winners, who will then have the opportunity to participate in the National Innovation Prize, organized by PNIcube, scheduled for November in Milano.
The Four Categories of Finalists: There will be four winning projects, one per category – ICT & Services, Industrial Technologies, Life Science & MedTech, and CleanTech & Energy – each receiving a 25,000 euro grant. Special awards, which can be cumulative with category awards, include Sustainability, awarded to a project with a broad positive impact on environmental, social, and economic issues, and Social Impact, recognizing an idea with a positive impact on society, people, and communities. Finally, six special mentions (to the four category winners, the Sustainability Special Prize winner, and a project among the finalists) will receive direct access to the National Innovation Prize (PNI).
Aspiring entrepreneurs must be affiliated with the competition’s promoting entities: University of Milano, Politecnico di Milano, Bocconi University, University of Bergamo, University of Pavia, University of Brescia, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, IULM University, University of Insubria, University of Milano Bicocca, PoliHub, UniMi Foundation, and B4i – Bocconi for innovation.
Winning Projects in 2022: In the previous edition of Startcup Lombardia, the Archygram (ICT & Services) project won the award, which automates architectural surveying and classification using a web platform based on Artificial Intelligence; SIEve (CleanTech & Energy), a company in wastewater treatment that developed an eco-sustainable material engineered according to circular economy principles using “Red Mud” as raw material; GenoGra (Life Sciences & MedTech), offering user-friendly innovative software for genomic analysis; Enigma (Industrial Technologies), a project that certifies the authenticity of documents or products using a physical code made with multiple nano-engineered inks. The Special Social Impact Prize went to Rehabilia Technologies, which develops robotic devices for personalized, engaging, and home-based therapy for neuromotor disorders. The Special Sustainability Prize was awarded to FiberEUse Tech, the creator of a cyber-physical system for mechanically recycling composite materials made of fiberglass. Lastly, the Cardio Computing project was honored, representing a new standard for automating and standardizing the planning of cardiovascular percutaneous procedures.
For further information, visit the website www.startcuplombardia.it.
