On November 7, the Design Campus in Calenzano, Florence, was the epicentre of regional innovation, hosting the DANTE Speed Innovation Day. The event, organized by DANTE European Digital Innovation Hub – EDIH, focused on the crucial role of Tuscan startups and technology transfer in the strategic sector of Ambient Assisted Living.
The initiative, financially supported by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU program, brought together institutions, academics, and local entrepreneurs to explore new solutions in the field of smart health and well-being (smart and healthy living).
From research to application
The day kicked off at 2:00 p.m. with participant registration, followed by a series of targeted presentations:
- Extended Partnerships and the Regional Ecosystem: the afternoon began with the presentation of the AGE-IT and MICS Extended Partnerships and the THE – Tuscany Health Ecosystem, organized by the Department of Architecture (DIDA) of the University of Florence, with presentations by Prof. Francesca Tosi and Prof. Giuseppe Lotti;
- Well-being and Sensory Technologies: Prof. Patrizia Marti of the Santa Chiara Lab at the University of Siena explored the theme of sensory stimulation and storytelling as tools for the well-being of elderly and disabled people;
- DANTE EDIH Services: a key moment was dedicated to the presentation of the European Digital Innovation Hub DANTE and its specific services supporting innovation in the smart and healthy living sector, by Dr. Irene Burroni of Distretto Interni e Design (dID). Subsequently, Dr. Ilaria Bedeschi (dID) illustrated the aims and organizational methods of the event.
B2B meetings to accelerate collaboration
The beating heart of the “Speed” Innovation Day was represented by the rotating presentations of Tuscan startups and technology companies, which illustrated their innovative solutions.
The day ended with an extended session of B2B meetings held from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This format allowed startups to maximize networking opportunities, accelerating potential collaborations and technology transfer with industrial and academic partners.
The DANTE Speed Innovation Day is therefore confirmed as a key event for the promotion of open innovation in Tuscany, in line with European objectives for digitization and improving quality of life.