News – English

CALL TO SUPPORT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS CARRIED OUT BY CLUSTERS OF COMPANIES

Posted on January 3, 2022January 3, 2022 by wp_8524777

The Call finances industrial research and experimental development projects implemented by Clusters of companies in synergy with research bodies, in line with the thematic areas and development trajectories of the Regional Intelligent Specialisation Strategy (RIS3 Veneto).

Call for innovative and collaborative projects

Who can participate?

Following the Regional Law no. 13 of 30 May 2014, the Clusters of Companies consists of at least 3 enterprises. In addition, the participation of at least one research organisation is required.

Which projects can be submitted?

The projects must also be in line with the Regional Intelligent Specialisation Strategy (RIS3 Veneto), therefore oriented on the development trajectories provided by the four areas of specialization: Smart Agrifood, Sustainable Living, Smart Manufacturing and Creative Industries.

How much funding is possible to achieve?

The global funding is € 10,000,000 relating to the resources of the Development and Cohesion Fund (FSC), referred to in the CIPE Resolution (now CIPESS) n. 39/2020, and available as a result of the Agreement between the Veneto Region and the Minister for South and Territorial Cohesion of July 2020.

The funding will be granted in the form of a non-repayable grant to the Venetian companies grouped together and the research organisations participating in the project. The intensity of support varies according to the size and nature of the participant:

– 40% to Smes and research organisations;

– 20% to large companies.

The projects will have to be placed in a range of eligible expenditure ranging from € 150,000.00 to € 700,000.00, under which the expenditure falling into the following categories will be eligible for funding: “IPR and patents”, “Tools and equipment”, “Specialised consultancy and external scientific services”, “Staff”, “Expenditure on prototypes”, “Additional overheads and other operating costs”, “Expenditure on guarantees and the establishment of the Cluster”.

When can applications be submitted?

Applications may be submitted from 25 January 2022 and until 17.00 on 28 February 2022, through the Unified Information System of Unitary Programming (SIU) of the Region, whose dedicated page can be reached at the following link: http://www.regione.veneto.it/web/programmi-comunitari/siu

From the same page it is also possible to access the accreditation form for the request of the access credentials to the System.

See the Announcement page at this link

UNIVE HELPS COMPANIES OF THE RIR IMPROVENET TO DESIGN NEW SOLUTIONS

Posted on December 21, 2021January 3, 2022 by wp_8524777

The researchers of the Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics (DAIS) of the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice are involved in the Project VIR2EM, thanks to their experience in issues related to the collection, management and processing of data, tools for designing and verifying complex systems and cybersecurity issues.

Why did Ca’Foscari University join the Improvenet Network?

Being part of the RIR IMPROVENET is a consequence of the will of the University, and of the DAIS department specifically, to strengthen applied research activities in the field of industry 4.0, with particular attention to the digitization of production systems and to the problems of security and reliability of systems.

IMPROVENET is an ideal environment to get in touch with companies interested in developing projects with a high innovation content, taking advantage of new knowledge acquired at university level and providing new incentives for academic research. This is combined with the possibility of connecting our students (in particular those enrolled in Master’s degrees and Phd in ICT) with entrepreneurial realities engaged in the forefront of innovation projects.

The objective is therefore to strengthen the collaboration between research groups of Ca’ Foscari and the research and development units of the partner companies, in order to carry out joint projects with positive effects on both sides, academic and entrepreneurial.

What will the University accomplish during the VIR2EM Project?

The activity, conducted by Ca’ Foscari within the project VIR2EM, develops along two parallel lines of research, resulting also in two prototypes:

– the development of a cyber-security assessment tool specifically for ICS (Industrial Control Systems), which refers to the main industry standards (in particular ISO 62443) and recognised best practices.

– the development of organisational tools to support virtualization and process monitoring in particular:

the analysis of the reorganization, from the point of view of human resources management and processes, needed by the introduction of the remote activity and its impact on the organizational plan
the analysis of the impact of new technologies on the business, in terms of best practices, requirements and performance indicators (KPIs), also in view of the development of new business models
the creation of a data collection and a platform for the analysis of the impact of remote technologies on business models

In detail, these results will be achieved both through the analysis of relevant scientific literature, through working groups within the scientific departments, and through interviews with the companies involved, in order to understand the current impact on local companies and in the process of adopting remote technologies.

The platform for the collection and synthesis of data will be realized with the collaboration of some partner companies that will then contribute to its population.

With which other RIR partners will the project be carried out?

Ca’ Foscari University of Venice is collaborating with several project partners, in particular: Beantech, SIPA, T2I, Uqido, Zamperla, Xteam, Galdi and Qascom, in order to achieve the intended project goals.

How do you see the University at the end of the project?

At the end of the project, it is estimated that the knowledge of researchers involved in the impact of remote activity and virtualization on business models will be increased, also through comparison with the problems that arise from case studies offered by partner companies. In particular, the results obtained may be translated into a more general methodology also applicable to companies outside the project, both partners of the RIR and in general belonging to the University’s territory. The applicability of the methodology will also be facilitated by the prototyping platform.

Agostino Cortesi is a full professor of Computer Science at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. His main research interests concern software engineering and in particular static analysis techniques for verifying the reliability and security of software systems. He has published more than 150 articles in international journals and international conference proceedings. He currently coordinates the Phd in Computer Science and is responsible for the working group of Ca’ Foscari for the project VIR2EM.

NEW NETWORKING, TRAINING AND INNOVATION ACTIVITIES OF THE IMPROVENET ECOSYSTEM

Posted on December 16, 2021December 17, 2021 by wp_8524777

The assembly of RIR IMPROVENET, which saw the participation of several companies and universities at Villa Borromeo on 16th December 2021, was an opportunity to present the projects carried out to date and present the new activities scheduled for 2022.

After a first presentation of the projects already realized (project PREMANI, project ADMIN 4D) and those in progress (project VIR2EM), it was possible to discover the operation of the new 4.0 plant of Susegana Electrolux and the ICE Lab laboratory of the University of Verona to simulate the factory 4.0 (as already seen in this article).

Subsequently, all the training opportunities reserved for members for the year 2022 were presented, where companies will have the opportunity to increase their skills in technology and management. Finally, funding opportunities were introduced at regional, national and European level with a focus on the importance of promoting active networking processes between different ecosystems at different levels.

Find out here the agenda and all the interventions made.

COMPANIES TELL THEIR STORIES WITH ECO-TED

Posted on December 7, 2021December 7, 2021 by wp_8524777

On December 17th, 2021, at Confindustria Veneto SIAV, the experiences of companies that participated in the project Industrial Ecology “Symbiosis” production and services will be presented.

It will be an opportunity to hear testimonies of some significant experiences in terms of adaptation of processes or products and/or revision of services in compliance with the principles of social responsibility and industrial ecology.

For Confindustria Veneto SIAV, the experience of the 100 Places of Innovation and Sustainability will be recounted with videos and films related to cases considered Best Practices in Veneto and to a good practice at European level will be illustrated.

The meeting is free and open to all those who are interested in getting to know some of the companies in the area and create possible networks.

SIGN UP HERE by December 14th

FIND OUT MORE about the event’s agenda here.

MIXED REALITY AND CLOUD COMPUTING: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION SIGNED BY UQIDO

Posted on November 29, 2021November 30, 2021 by wp_8524777

Uqido was born in 2010 from the algorithm to manage the flows of users, patented by Pier Mattia Avesani, CEO of the company. From this idea the code-elimination system, which is still in use in numerous Italian health agencies, was born and it helped the creation of Uqido.

The company is a true example of digital transformation for companies, considering the products and services offered, as well as the organization which is based on a horizontal management approach. Uqido is the union of two souls, the creative and the engineering, creating high-tech products and services, to meet the real needs of users.

Why did the company join the IMPROVENET Network?

Pier Mattia Avesani tells us that the decision to join the RIR IMPROVENET came from the need to be able to contribute to solve some crucial issues and problems expressed by some of the best companies in our territory, proposing tangible solutions, as well as innovative processes and products.

The Veneto Region is characterized with the highest rate of per capita of enterprises in the world, so there are many extraordinary and stimulating realities with which it is possible to develop new solutions together and test them to specific use cases.

What will the company achieve during the VIR2EM Project?

Uqido plans to carry out the following digital transformation projects:

1. the creation of a human centered prototype based on Mixed Reality and Cloud Computing to support operators dedicated to the quality control of products with the manufacturing partner Electrolux;

2. the definition of a study to create and test a standalone manufacturing machine Digital Twin, with the partner Sperotto Rimar.

What is the advantage of proposing solutions related to Mixed Reality?

Even though mixed reality has been found interested by the industry for several years, it has rarely found complete applications. Thanks to the VIR2EM Project it will be possible to build a mixed reality designed on Electrolux users, allowing more effective quality controls and reducing errors.

The creation of mathematical models for machinery has been discussed a lot in the literature, but it is very difficult to find the conditions to apply them in real physical environments.

With the VIR2EM project, however, it is possible to build a correct mathematical model and combine it with the corresponding physical part thanks to the test on a machine. In addition, it will also be possible to create a replicable platform for data collection and modelling.

How do you see the company at the end of the project?

Uqido will be one of the few Italian companies with experience and expertise in the design and development of Mixed Reality and Digital Twin applications within Industry 4.0, allowing an unrivalled positioning of the company in the national panorama.

Pier Mattia Avesani, CEO

Born in 1986, Verona, Pier Mattia Avesani has a huge curiosity, desire to learn, enthusiasm and a lateral thought that allows him to see things in a light clearer and far from the archetypes present in every company. He is today CEO of Uqido Srl, a software house with two souls: an engineering and a creative one, in which the personal attitude of the individual is enhanced and stimulated by offering time to explore their passions. He introduced yoga to the company every Wednesday morning, internal training with experts from different worlds and practice regularly free-climbing, activity that gives him the right energy to overcome each day his limits.

THE AWARD TO THE 1.000 BEST PERFORMERS OF TREVISO

Posted on November 23, 2021November 23, 2021 by wp_8524777

The award to the 1,000 best performers of the province of Treviso will be presented on 29th November at 17.00 at the Teatro Comunale Mario del Monaco in Treviso.

The thousand Best Performers are companies with a turnover of 5 million or more that between 2017 and 2019 have respected a series of positive balance sheet parameters: excellent or balanced rating, EBITDA equal to or greater than 3.17%, closing of the 2019 financial statements in profit.

At the end of the ceremony will be awarded the certificate of “Best Performer Company of Treviso“. The award ceremony will also be an opportunity to discuss the main issues related to businesses through the holding of three meetings. Among the interventions there will also be Antonella Candiotto, president of GALDI, partner company of RIR IMPROVENET.

At the end of the ceremony will be awarded the certificate of “Enterprise Consult the program below:

THE PROBLEMS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECOVERY

Luisella Altare, Regional manager of Nord Est Unicredit

Diego Bolzonello, CEO of S.C.A.R.P.A.

Antonella Candiotto, President of Galdi

Filippo Polegato, Managing director of Astoria Vini

Roberto Rizzo, president of Solidworld Group

WHAT BUSINESSES NEED TO GROW

Giuseppe Caldiera, Director of the Scuola Generale di Economia CUOA

Riccardo Pavanato, Partner and Administratorof Auxiell

Davide Salmistraro, Country manager of Italia Soldo

Barbara Targa, EXS Practice Leader

Elia Turatti, Business development manager of Azzurrodigitale

THE VENETO BETWEEN FLEXIBILITY AND ATTRACTIVENESS

Roberto Marcato, Council Member for the Economic Development and Energy of the Veneto Region

Stefano Micelli, Professor of Economics and Business Management Ca’ Foscari University Venice, President of Manifattura Project Milan

To register for the event see this link.

MADE CALL: INNOVATION PROJECTS, INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENT

Posted on November 8, 2021November 8, 2021 by wp_8524777

A new MADE call has been published (the Competence Centre 4.0) to implement innovation (product, process and organization) and industrial research and experimental development projects on Industry 4.0 themes.

The call is addressed to micro enterprises and start-ups, small enterprises, medium-sized enterprises, large enterprises that can present themselves in a single form or in collaboration with each other.

For the implementation of the projects, each company may receive a contribution of up to 50% of the costs/ expenses incurred up to the maximum amount of € 100.000.

One or more project proposals may be submitted, consistent with at least one of the following activities:

• industrial strategy 4.0;

• innovation projects;

• demos and tests;

• technological scouting;

• technological consultancy services;

• validation of projects Industry 4.0.

The deadline is December 13rd, 2021.

BROADENING HORIZONS, ACQUIRING KNOW-HOW AND STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS: ZAMPERLA BETS ON THE FUTURE 4.0

Posted on October 27, 2021October 29, 2021 by wp_8524777

Zamperla S.p.A. is a historical Italian company, founded in 1966, recognized as one of the world’s leading players in the amusement park attraction market.

It has a total of about 450 employees, distributed in 4 locations in Italy and 6 locations abroad, and with a turnover of over 100 million euros in 2019, exporting almost all the products and services, especially in the Asian and American markets.

Zamperla is particularly active and popular in the North American market, having contributed to the rebirth of one of the most famous parks in the world – Coney Island (NY) – a real showcase in which the company has the opportunity to install and try many of its new products, as well as being one of the major suppliers of theme parks, among others, Disney, Universal, Merlin Entertainments and Six Flags.

The company is also characterized by adopting an ethical and socially responsible approach, thanks to the commitment on issues of inclusiveness and disability related to attractions.

What are the expectations of joining IMPROVENET?

Being part of the Improvenet Network is linked to the growing need to broaden horizons, acquire know-how, speed in the development of products or services and become part of a consolidated network, says Fabio Berti, New Technologies Chief Engineer of Zamperla. These aspects will be more and more important for the companies in order to face the competitors at local and global level.

What innovations is ZAMPERLA developing within the VIR2EM Project?

With the project VIR2EM, financed in part by the Veneto Region, we want to continue the development of a service platform for industry. The basic elements of the project are those related to Industria4.0: all operations related to the collection and management of data, from the connection to the transmission of the same, from archiving to analysis in order to generate different outputs.

With which other RIR partners are you collaborating on the project?

The project started with the creation of an internal research and development group at Zamperla (ZEIT, Zamperla Entertainment Integrated Technologies). The complexity is high and required transversal collaboration with other realities, from universities to companies providing technology and services, up to the manufacturers of the industry. For example, we can mention the University of Venice for the analysis of business and cybersecurity, Xteam with which there is a consolidated relationship and Statwolf, involved in data management.

How do you see the company at the end of the project?

The competitive advantages obtained are linked to the “know-how” that will allow to develop the business complying with market standards, needs and expectations as well as a greater involvement of the IMPROVENET network as a partner. Finally, the aim is to develop a prototype of a service platform for a further phase of evaluation and development.

Fabio Berti, New Technologies Chief Engineer of Zamperla

Graduated in Electronic Engineering at the University of Padua, he began collaborating in Zamperla since 1996 with several roles as head of the electrical/electronic department, head of a research and development department of the ZEIT (Zamperla entertainment integrated technologies).

TECH SHARE DAY 2021: IOT AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Posted on October 22, 2021October 22, 2021 by wp_8524777

From 24th to 26th November 2021, it is possible to participate to the Tech Share Day (TSD) 2021, an online event that brings together the world of public research with that of companies, investors and innovators on the theme of the Internet of Things (Iot) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

In particular, there are 8 webinars divided into 3 days:

November 24:
- TSD Opening Table
- Artificial intelligence applied to human health
- From data to knowledge to action: machine learning in the biomedical field
November 25:
- AI and Big Data in Fintech
- Open Data for Smart City and Public Administration
- From Data Analysis to Industrial Applications
26 November:
- Iot and Artificial Intelligence applied to intelligent transport system
- Wrap-Up and round table closing event

At this link all the details of the event

WEBINAR SMART PRODUCTION – SMART FACTORY

Posted on October 7, 2021October 7, 2021 by wp_8524777

On October 14, it will be possible to participate in the Innovation Lab WEBINAR “CYBER PHYSICAL MODEL OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN” – a model for the management of supply chain data in the life cycle of the product.

The webinar aims to present the Cyber Physical Model (CPM), developed as part of the Fisval Project (Integrated and Sustainable Supply Chain for the production of smart valves), co-financed from resources POR ERDF 2014-2020: Call for selection of strategic research, development and innovation project in implementation of the strategy Area Interna Alto Lago Como and Valli Lario.

The project aims to develop the logic of the smart factory at the level of the production chain, thus creating the first case in Italy of real vertical and horizontal integration according to the logic of the Industry Plan 4.0.

In particular, the definition of the functional and methodological logic of a Cyber Physical Model applicable to a generic production chain will be presented and deepened, the characteristics of the information architecture necessary for the implementation of these logics and the requirements of some applications to support the achievement of specific objectives for the management of the Fisval supply chain, that will be integrated in the context of the defined Cyber Physical Model.

Click here to subscribe to the webinar