Our Innovation Partners

A framework of innovation opportunities

SISSA plays an active role in regional, national, and international innovation ecosystems, fostering collaboration between science and industry. At the same time, the School partners with industries in the most important funding programs, including European structural funds and competitive research grants to foster innovation for the national system. These resources fuel scientific excellence in industrial research, promote interdisciplinary projects, and create new opportunities for the private sector.

SISSA is part of a rich innovation ecosystem that bridges academic research and industry. Through strategic partnerships, the School helps bring scientific ideas to market.

Key institutional collaborations include:

  • SiS FVG - A regional network that connects research institutions, universities, and innovation hubs. SISSA plays an active role in collaborative projects, infrastructure sharing, and coordinated actions to strengthen scientific excellence and technology transfer across the region.
  • “Data Science & Artificial Intelligence Foundation ETS”, a participatory foundation whose main purpose is to conduct both basic and applied scientific research in the fields of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and to exploit the resulting know-how, including through its transfer to third parties, whether public or private.
  • SMACT Competence Center: An Industry 4.0 innovation hub supporting the adoption of advanced digital technologies in manufacturing and services. SISSA contributes through modeling, simulation, and participation in demonstration projects.
  • iNEST (Interconnected North-East Innovation Ecosystem): A PNRR-funded initiative bringing together universities, research centers, and companies to boost innovation in Northern and Southern Italy. SISSA coordinates Spoke 9 on applied mathematics and modeling.
  • Maritime, Aerospace, Renewable Energies Technology Cluster FVG - M.A.R.E. TC FVG S.c.ar.l.: A regional cluster focused on marine,maritime, areospace and energy technology innovation, including offshore engineering, marine robotics, and environmental technologies.
  • Associazione Cluster Trasporti Italia 2020 (established in 2014), a non-profit association whose purpose is to develop and strengthen a national technology cluster in the field of vehicles and systems for land and maritime surface mobility;
  • Associazione Cluster Tecnologico Nazionale Blue Italian Growth, abbreviated as CTN-BIG (SISSA joined the Association in 2018), whose purpose is to develop and strengthen the national technology cluster in the field of the blue economy.
  • Italian Network of Universities and Research Institutions for Public Engagement Association – APEnet (established in 2022), which brings together approximately 40 universities and research institutions that recognize the role and importance of Public Engagement values and activities.
  • Fondazione Italian Ageing – AGE-IT, for the research project entitled “A novel public-private alliance to generate socioeconomic, biomedical and technological solutions for a successful Italian ageing society”, within the thematic area “Consequences and challenges of ageing”;
  • National Quantum Science and Technology Institute – NQSTI Società Consortile a r.l., for the research project entitled “National Quantum Science and Technology Institute – NQSTI”, within the thematic area “Quantum Science and Technologies”.
  • Fondazione Centro Nazionale di Ricerca in High-Performance Computing, Big Data and Quantum Computing, abbreviated as ICSC, for scientific and technological research, with particular reference to high-performance simulations, computing and data analysis (high-performance computing, big data and quantum computing), within the thematic area “High-performance simulations, computing and data analysis”;
  • “Future Artificial Intelligence Research” Foundation, abbreviated as FAIR Foundation, within the thematic area “Artificial Intelligence: Foundational Aspects”;
  • Alleanza Quantistica Italiana – AQI Association, whose purpose is to bring together organizations, research institutes, companies and public institutions that recognize the role and importance of quantum technologies, including quantum computing, quantum communications and quantum artificial intelligence.
  • Area Science Park: One of Italy’s largest multi-sector science and technology parks, promoting innovation through infrastructure, business support services, and technology transfer. SISSA collaborates on joint projects and startup initiatives.
  • COMET – Cluster Metalmeccanica FVG: A network of companies in the mechanical and manufacturing sectors. SISSA contributes through applied research in computational mechanics, design optimization, and advanced materials.
  • Netval – Network for the Valorization of University Research: The leading Italian network promoting knowledge transfer from academia to industry. SISSA participates in training, national coordination, and policy for research exploitation.

To support research and innovation, SISSA actively participates in national and international funding programs that offer financial resources for scientific projects, talent development, and technology transfer.

The main funding programmes are:

  • POR FESR 2014–2020 (Fondo Europeo di Sviluppo Regionale): The Regional Operational Programme (POR) co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund supports innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability in Friuli Venezia Giulia. Through POR FESR, SISSA has carried out industrial research and technology transfer projects in collaboration with regional enterprises and clusters.
  • FSC (Fondo per lo Sviluppo e la Coesione): The National Development and Cohesion Fund (FSC) finances strategic investments to reduce territorial disparities and strengthen research infrastructure. SISSA has accessed FSC funds for infrastructure upgrades and participation in large-scale innovation ecosystems such as iNEST.
  • FSE (Fondo Sociale Europeo): The European Social Fund (FSE) supports education, training, and employment. At SISSA, FSE resources contribute to doctoral scholarships, soft skill development, and career transition programs for PhD students and early-stage researchers.
  • PNRR (Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza): The Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan, funded by the EU’s Next Generation EU program, aims to boost digital transformation, research, and sustainability. SISSA is a key player in iNEST, one of the major research ecosystems funded under PNRR, and participates in several initiatives related to training and innovation.
  • ERC (European Research Council): The ERC funds frontier research led by outstanding researchers of any nationality. SISSA has a strong record of ERC-funded projects, supporting top-level individual research across physics, mathematics, and neuroscience.
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