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The tenth edition off Meet in Italy for Life Sciences (MIT4LS), the reference event for networking between research, innovation and enterprise, organized by the National Technological Cluster Life Sciences ALISEI at Palazzo Lombardia, Milan, ha concluded. This year the focus was on the opportunities offered by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), a crucial instrument for supporting investments in research and development and for strengthening skills in the life sciences sector.     From research to Business: the state of art  To date, €9 billion have been allocated to accelerate innovation and technology transfer. These resources have enabled the creation of: 5 National Research Centers, focused on gene therapies, supercomputing and big data, agritech, biodiversity and sustainable mobility;  11 Innovation Ecosystem, which promote technology transfer on a regional scale;  14 Partenariati di Ricerca at national level;  6.500 researchers recruited (9.000 including research fellow).  Advantages, Challenges and future prospects were the focus of round table and in-depth discussion, to which they contributes for the NODES - Nord Ovest Digitale e Sostenibile:  Marco Invernizzi, PM Spoke 5 and Francesca Boccafoschi, TTO manager and coordinator of the flagship project INNDIANA Vittorio Trifari, Daniele Conti e Giuseppe Isu, representatives of the companies benefiting from PNRR cascade funding.  The real challenge now is to give continuity and tangible results from the progress made. The innovation in the Life Sciences sector is a strategic asset for the country's future. The future of building now.  Press release

From Sunday 9 February to Tuesday 11 February 2025, Rho - Milano Fiera hosts the 45th edition of BIT - Borsa Internazionale del Turismo, one of the most important Italian events dedicated to Tourism.   Spoke 3 - Tourism Industry and Culture participates in this edition by promoting research and innovation of the ecosystem and the University of Insubria, giving visibility to innovative projects in the field of tourism and culture in order to create new synergies with exhibitors and visitors interested in the enhancement and promotion of tourism and culture; factors widely present in the North West through the use of new technologies.   At booth H07 - Hall 9, NODES Spoke 3 will present innovative prototypes and research materials, showcasing NODES projects including the flagship projects TOEP (Tourism Open-ended Experimentation Platform) and CIRIL (CULTURAL-INDUSTRY REGENERATION IMMERSIVE LAB) and academic POCs in the field of Tourism and Culture. Academic POCs include: DIGITALMM (Digital Muse for Museums), PLANET (Planner Leisure App for Natural & Experiential Tourism), AIACE (Artificial Intelligence Assistant for Cultural Tourism Enhancement), HISTORYGRAPHIA, ITM (Immersive textile museum), CERR (Cultural Extended Reality Routes).   Finally, some researchers will be present to illustrate their innovations to the public; Among them there will be some representatives of the University of Insubria, the University of Turin, the University of Eastern Piedmont and the University of Valle D'Aosta.  

On Monday, January 27th, the University of Pavia successfully hosted the Spoke 6 Assembly online. The event was attended by 50 people, including researchers involved in the flagship projects and Academic PoCs, and staff from some of the SMEs involved.  After a presentation on the state-of-the-art of Spoke, which highlighted how the Spoke has already achieved several KPIs, guests from companies told their “Success Stories” in the framework of NODES Spoke 6.    The 9 “Success Stories” involved: 1) Francesco Biale (Calatroni Vnini) and Elisabetta Tumminelli (University of Pavia – NODES PhD candidate), who talked about the research they are carrying out on the flagship project VINO ("don't waste the waste") and the training course for professionals working in businesses titled “Vegetable Extracts and Health”, held in February 2024 2) Paolo Bazzano (Eco srl) and Graziano Rossi (University of Pavia), who talked about how they are collaborating on the OLIOP project, funded by a NODES cascade call, and about the successful course on frontier olive growing in Oltrepò Pavese, which is part of the training programme for businesses proposed by Spoke 6 3) Paolo Landolfo (ProLogic Inofrmatica) and Simone Allasia (AlpiRobot), who talked about early detection of vine diseases and machines for harvesting plums, describing the status of the projects DIVINE and EVA, respectively, funded by the NODES cascade call 4) Mattia Masseroni (Veronesi-AIA), who is managing the DIGIFARM project on behalf of Azienda Agricole le Colombaie, and spoke about digital and efficient farms 5) Alberto Lasagna (Confagricoltura) and Valentina Vaglia (University of Pavia – NODES researcher), who spoke about the industrial doctorate they are supervising together, to understand how to mitigate the effects of climate change and manage the cultivated areas of Oltrepò Pavese 6) Paolo Monti (Api dei Monti) and Elisa Conz (University of Pavia – head of the Advanced Digital Marketing course), who highlighted the benefits of the Students Challenges organized by Spoke 6 both for local micro-businesses and for the students involved 7) Alessandra Todisco (CAI Nutrizione) and Antonio Gallo (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore), who spoke about the success of the NODES Spoke 6 training courses for companies operating in the livestock sector 8) Sara Lucca and Marina Fabre (ComoNext), who talked about the academies organized within Spoke 6 to introduce researchers to entrepreneurship 9) Nicola Giulietti (University of Pavia), who talked about his new startup RDKore, established following the participation in UNIVENTURE 2023 where he obtained a prize funded by NODES Spoke 6 to finalize his technology The Spoke 6 Assembly proved to be a crucial opportunity to showcase many of the activities carried out so far and those that will take place between now and the end of the project.  Participants also showed a lot of interest for the Spoke 6 NODES Roadshow that will take place in March 2025 in Pavia. Keep following us to know more!

On January 23 and 24, the ninth edition of the Business Systems Laboratory International Symposium was held in Varese, at the University of Insubria, entitled Technology and society: Boon or Bane?   The focus of the conference was to highlight how technology has unequivocally transformed the dynamics of interactions, lifestyles, work environments, social relationships and business operations. Playing a fundamental role in society, technology continues to evolve, promising new advances that will reshape our lives and professional scenarios.   The event, organized by Prof. Patrizia Gazzola (University of Insubria) and Prof. Gandolfo Dominici (Business Systems Laboratory and University of Palermo), with the collaboration of Drs. Stefano Amelio, Daniele Grechi, Iulia Iliashenko and Francesco Gentile; brought together international experts to reflect on the role of technology in society, between progress and complexity, offering crucial insights for European and global policies.   Among the most significant moments, the speech by Prof. Eka Sapashvili (Tbilisi State University, Georgian Parliament), who presented the research "The Current Global Migration and Technological Challenges: Advantages or Threat to the European Union Social Security". The study analyzes global migratory phenomena and their demographic impact in the EU, exploring the technological and social security implications through the SDGs. An innovative perspective that highlights challenges and opportunities for the future of Europe.  

Yesterday, Spoke 6 presented its Students Challenges 2025 call and the winners of the Students Challenges 2024.   During the event Students Challenges NODES Spoke 6: an opportunity for local SMEs held on Thursday 16 January 2025, at University of Pavia, Spoke 6 presented its second Students Challenges aimed at SMEs operating in Business to Consumer (B2C) in the primary agro-industry sector (micro-small-medium enterprises in the area). The challenges will involve the students of the Advanced Digital Marketing course at the University of Pavia, who will be asked to develep tailored digital marketing plans for the selected companies aiming at improving brand awareness and engagement, focusing on competitiveness at a national and international level.   The finalists and winners of the last edition were then awarded. Between March and June 2024, 117 students of the Advanced Digital Marketing course at the University of Pavia, led by Dr Elisa Conz, divided into groups of 3, worked on tailor-made solutions for the challenges proposed by the three companies Api dei Monti, La Costaiola (Rossetti e Scrivani) and Calatroni Vini, selected by the 2024 call.   In the following, the 2024 winners: Marketing Challenge Api dei Monti FINALISTS •    Arianna Lapenna, Erika Adriomi, Matteo Rossi •    Noemi Pellizzaro, Maria Larovere WINNERS Francesca Bocca, Jana Di Pauli, Susanna Sforza    Marketing Challenge La Costaiola FINALISTS •    Anastasia Bastonero, Martina Catino, Arianna Gervasutti Pietrobon WINNERS Giulia Rossetti, Teresa Orefice, Susanna Sassi Giulia Membri, Michela Pisanello, Matteo Rossi   Marketing Challenge Calatroni  FINALISTS •    Alessia Paola Di Bello, Martina Lucchiari, Stefania Daffonchio •    Dylan Bettoni, Maryam Aboumar, Nicole Vinelli WINNERS Erica Dornetti, Domenica Fontana, Alessandra Onofri   The 2024 challenges were a success. Companies were happy with the presented solutions. The winning group of the challenge proposed by the Calatroni Vini company was offered an internship by the company itself, while Paolo Monti of Api dei Monti commented: “For a small company like ours, this initiative has proven to be extremely helpful. We have opened our doors to 35 students in the past months. The winning group has proposed such a complete and valuable digital marketing plan, that we will continue the collaboration in order to put it into practice”.    Congratulations to all the companies that participated in the NODES Spoke 6 Students Challenges 2024 and to the winning students!   Present your challenge to the Advanced Digital Marketing students of the University of Pavia!  Just fill out a short Challenge Proposal and send it to servizi_imprese_nodes_spoke6@unipv.it by February 18, 2025.  Further information is available on the call page.

The "Networking and Acceleration on the Digital and Sustainable Mountain" meeting, held on January 16 at the LINKS Foundation headquarters, was an important moment of progress for NODES Spoke 4. This is demonstrated by the data, such as: 68 registered attendees 22 participating companies and startups 8 meetings between companies/startups and investors 25 B2B meetings between companies/startups The average rating of the event by the participating funded companies, collected at the end of the meeting, was 8.75/10. An event that is only the first of a 2025 full of activities and initiatives.

Eye tracking is a technology that records eye movements to analyze where and how a person focuses their visual attention.    Eye tracking is a cutting-edge technology with applications across multiple fields and proves particularly valuable for enhancing user interaction in applications designed for congitive testing. By tracking eye movements - such as fixations (moments when the eye pauses at the specific point) and saccades (rapid movement of the eye between two points) - eye tracking enables the collection of detailed data on users' visual behavior.  In the context of cognitive test applications, this data helps assess key aspects such as attention level, distribution of visual focus, cognitive load, and emotional engagement during task execution. These insights are crucial to understanding how users interact with the test and to identify any difficulties or distractions the could affect their performance.     The integration of eye tracking in cognitive applications offers numerous advantages. For instance, the technology can be used to dynamically adapt test content based on the user's observed visual behavior. If the user shows signs of cognitive overload - such as increased pupil dilation or erratic eye movement - the application could reduce task complexity or suggest breaks to support recovery. Conversely, if the look indicates low interaction or inattention, the system can introduce more stimulating elements to help maintain focus. In addition, the data collected can be used to build personalized cognitive profiles, enabling the monitoring of changes in cognitive abilities over time and comparing individual performance with standardized benchmarks.    From the user's perspectives, the eye tracking integration helps make the overall experience more intuitive and natural. Users no longer need to provide explicit input via mouse or keyboard, as the application can respond directly to their eye movements. This feature is especiallly important for individuals with motor disabilities, for whom eye tracking an effective means of interacting with digital environments. In addition, the automation and real-time analysis of visual data improve the fluidity of the experience, reducing frustration and icreasing confidence in the use of the tool.  

NODES continues to support the SMEs receiving funding (Line A and Line B) by offering tailored strategic guidance in the fields of health and ageing, thorugh a direct dialogue with experts from the BioPmed cluster.   Results of the third session Following previous reports which highlighted projects distinguished by their interest in end-user research and internationalisation, this third session supported four new projects:  YOGA  DPLaBs IAMSH DCAre During the meetings, particular attention was given to: Networking: the projects worked to create strategic networks, identifying industrial and commercial partners to initiate collaborations for pilot projects. This process of research and engagement aimed to promote the practical application of the proposed solutions and their market positioning.  Fundraising: the companies were supported in exploring public and private funding opportunities, essential for supporting technological development, project validation and marker entry.  Looking ahead  These meetings have provided companies with concrete tools to face market challenges, enhancing their capacity to innovate and grow. 

In vista dell’aggiornamento del Piano Triennale di Prevenzione della Corruzione e della Trasparenza (PTPCT) per il triennio 2025-2027, da approvarsi entro il 31 gennaio 2025, NODES S.c.a.r.l. avvia una consultazione pubblica per raccogliere osservazioni e proposte sul vigente Piano, reperibile sul sito alla seguente pagina:   https://ecs-nodes.eu/trasparenza/altri-contenuti/prevenzione-corruzione/piano-triennale-2024-2026   Tutti gli stakeholder sono pertanto invitati a far pervenire – entro il prossimo 22 gennaio 2025 – le rispettive proposte di modifiche e/o integrazioni, delle quali si terrà conto nel percorso di predisposizione e adozione interna. Per formulare le suddette proposte è possibile scrivere al RPCT all’indirizzo info@ecs-nodes.eu inserendo quale oggetto della e-mail: "CONSULTAZIONE PUBBLICA – AGGIORNAMENTO PTPCT 2025 – 2027”.  

Segnaliamo che gli uffici HUB NODES resteranno chiusi dal 23 Dicembre al 6 Gennaio 2025 per le vacanze natalizie.  L'Ecosistema augura a tutti Buone Feste e un felice anno nuovo!

Gli obiettivi di NODES e dello Spoke 1 prevedono il massimo supporto all’irrobustimento e alla creazione di nuove realtà imprenditoriali innovative nei settori di riferimento, Aerospazio e Mobilità sostenibile. Grazie ai finanziamenti di Spoke 1, alcune realtà sono pronte a fare il passo successivo nel loro percorso di sviluppo tecnologico, verso il mercato e con grande potenziale di impatto. Tra i Proof of Concept finanziati dallo Spoke 1, il progetto IDRA, iniziato a dicembre 2023 sulla base dei primi sviluppi della omonima tecnologia, già vincitrice dell’Intellectual Property Award 2023, ha fatto grandi passi avanti ed il team, composto da ricercatrici e ricercatori del Politecnico di Torino, ha appena fondato una nuova Start-Up: DEPLOTIC, Spin-Off del Politecnico di Torino, che ne porterà avanti lo sviluppo.  

NODES continues its efforts to support SMEs that received funding through the cut-offs by offering personalised 1to1 consulting services. These sessions provides a unique opportunity for companies to engage directly with experts from the BioPmed cluster and receive tailored strategic guidance.    Results of the second session After the first report (available at the following link) which explored the interest of certain projects towards end-user research, this second session covered four other innovative projects: Pocus AI ROBO-HOSPITAL REMEDIO CaReMaM During the 1to1, the following topics were explored in depth:  Internationalisation: the session helped companies to define targeted strategies for strengthening their presence at trade frais, establishing contacts with international partenrs and expanding their global network.  Fundraising: with the support of experts, beneficiaries are exploring opportunities for both public and private funding, which is crucial to project scalability and growth.  These actions represent significant steps towards ensuring the success of projects in highly competitive contexts, offering innovative solutions in their respective fields of application and NODES will continue to share the outcomes of these initiatives, highlighting the contribution of each projects and promoting collaboration among its beneficiaries.    Next news:  The report of 1to1 activities will continue with a last dedicated news, in which further projects and the results of the last session will be highlighted.   Stay tuned to find out how NODES continues to value innovation and to promote collaboration among its beneficiaries. 

Starting in October with a double event between Oristano and Potenza, after the stops in Catania and Benevento, the tour concludes in Bari at the end of November.   A rich journey of events awaits NODES in October and November, with stops on the Roadshow designed specifically to explore the progress and investment capacity of projects funded in Southern Italy by the innovation Ecosystem through Cascading Grants.  The Roadshow is an important opportunity to discuss the validity of projects funded in Southern Italy and to promote collaboration between companies, universities, and stakeholders, opening new opportunities for synergies in the fields of innovation and sustainability.        

The DEMETRA academic POC, a system designed to train agricultural operators in a virtual reality environment, was presented at the EIMA 2024 international fair at the stand of Pellenc Italia. Pellenc, a partner company, provided the 3D model of the pruning shears used in the simulation.   During the event, visitors were able to test a demo of the immersive platform, discovering its potential to revolutionise training in the agro-industrial sector. The activity facilitated discussions with industry specialists, allowing the collection of valuable feedback for improving the technology and initiating new contacts with companies interested in implementing the system for their business.   Coordinated by Prof. Carnevale of the University of Pavia, the DEMETRA project aims to implement simulation and training solutions in the primary agro-industrial sector. These solutions overcome the temporal limitations typical of agriculture—such as seasons, day-night cycles, and weather conditions—freeing agricultural learning processes from seasonal dependency.

Global aging represents an increasing challenge for healthcare systems, requiring innovative solutions to improve the quality of life for the elderly. As part of the collaboration with the TINCARE flagship project of NODES - specifically regarding the wearable technology used in RM3 - a study has been launched at the RSA Belletti Bona in Biella to assess the acceptability of wearable devices among guests.     The project, led by Dr. Erika Bassi with the supervision of Prof. Alberto Dal Molin and Prof. Massimo Canonico, uses smartbadge-type device equipped with advanced sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes to monitor real-time parameters related to mobility, sedentary lifestyle and fall prevention. The data collected are processed using machine learning algorithms, offering a detailed view of the guests' motor patterns, including step entropy, useful for identifying early risk signals.    The study adopts a mixed-method approach combining quantitative and qualitative analysis. While numerical data provide information on the use and effectiveness of devices, semi-structured interviews with guests allow to explore aspects related to comfort, usability and perception of the usefulness of the devices.    The expected outcomes will help to optimise the adoption of wearable technologies in RSA, improving security and promoting more active lifestyles. This project represents a significant step towards personalised and innovative care for the elderly.