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The 2025 edition of Aerospace & Defense Meetings Torino has concluded, Italy’s most important international event dedicated to the aerospace value chain.   From December 2 to 4, the event brought together companies, startups, and innovation stakeholders in the Piedmont capital. Among the participants was Spoke 1 – Aerospace and Sustainable Mobility, represented by companies funded through the cascade calls, startups born from the project, and two of the founding Partners.   An excellent opportunity to showcase industrial research and initiatives developed thanks to the Spoke, now mature and nearing completion. Visitors and stakeholders had the chance to meet and hear from the funded companies, which presented concrete examples of applied innovation and effective collaboration between the research community and the production system. Also participating were Fondazione Piemonte Innova and the Politecnico di Torino Incubator, I3P, key Partners of Spoke 1 supporting the ongoing growth of innovative local companies and startups.   I3P, ESA BIC Turin, and startups at A&DM  

Spoke 1 NODES, on the occasion of EXPO 2025 in Osaka, presents the current state of the aerospace sector and the contribution of the North-West Italy ecosystem to the significant growth of investments in a rapidly changing industry that faces increasing challenges. During the talk "Wings of Innovation", organized by the Politecnico di Torino at the Italy Pavilion, Spoke 1 Aerospace and Sustainable Mobility presented to an international audience, including researchers from the most important Japanese universities, the role of the Italian ecosystem and, in particular, the high number and quality of actors located in the north-western territories. Giuseppe Scellato, scientific coordinator of Spoke 1, placed particular emphasis on the activities of the Spoke and on its role as an engine of innovation, thanks to substantial investments in applied research, industrial research, and training. During the talk, Professor Scellato showcased the research activities of the Space4You Flagship, as well as the initiatives born from the ecosystem’s calls, such as industrial projects carried out by companies in the sector and academic Proofs of Concept, the result of intellectual property generated by NODES researchers, along with startups and spin-offs originating from Spoke activities. The National Centre for Sustainable Mobility MOST also took part in the talk, with PoliTO researchers from Spoke 1 "Air mobility".  

A new frontier of artificial intelligence applied to robotics was explored on July 18, 2025, at Turin International Airport during the event “The Future of AI Applied to Robotics”, the official launch of the RoboAPP Proof of Concept, developed by Spoke 1 – Aerospace and Sustainable Mobility within the NODES Program. The event provided a platform for dialogue and exchange among representatives of institutions, university researchers, entrepreneurs, and research centers to explore the potential, challenges, and future scenarios related to the use of AI in real, complex, and dynamic environments.   RoboAPP: intelligent robotics at the service of people The RoboAPP – Robotic Aggregate Programming Platform – concretely demonstrates what Artificial Intelligence can achieve when integrated into intelligent and autonomous robots, capable of moving, adapting, and acting in physical spaces. Applications cover critical areas such as logistics, smart cities, and precision agriculture. The system relies on coordinated management between Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) and Small Language Models (SLM), enabling dynamic interaction and real-time contextual processing. This is complemented by an advanced digital infrastructure based on aggregate programming, intelligent sensing, resilient communication, and energy efficiency.    

A Twin for the Municipality – Spoke 1 NODES and Turin’s Digital Twin Within Spoke 1 NODES, starting from the work of the Interuniversity Department of Sciences, Design and Territorial Policies of the Politecnico di Torino and the University of Turin, the Digital Twin of the City of Turin is being developed.   The Digital Twin is (re)constructed from 32,000 photograms and LiDAR scans, precise to the centimeter. This enormous amount of data, collected both from the ground and from above, is combined to create an extremely realistic three-dimensional model, accurately reflecting the city’s appearance and proportions in great detail. Turin’s digital twin will be used by the city administration to quickly understand urban needs and to effectively plan both urgent interventions and future policies and projects. The model is indeed an ideal tool to support decision-makers, serving the citizens.   Currently, the model can be explored at the Automobile Museum of Turin through the “Spazio Futuro” initiative, which provides insight into ongoing transformations in sustainable mobility and possible future trajectories.  

Applications Now Open for Reaction – Acceleration Program 2025   The ReAction acceleration program is back, dedicated to supporting innovative local startups. This year’s focus expands on the themes of the first edition, with the addition of Sustainable Mobility from Spoke 1.   ReAction is an acceleration program for Italian startups operating within the Ecosystem sectors, designed to foster growth in the context of the twin digital and ecological transitions, while promoting the development of innovative and sustainable industrial models.   The program offers a three-month tailored pathway, featuring thematic workshops, mentorship, founders battles, industrial worktables, business model validation support, meetings with investors, and participation in national and international events — all valuable opportunities for networking and matchmaking to build strategic connections with professionals, investors, and key stakeholders.   The program is supported by the Innovative Enterprises Incubator of the Politecnico di Torino (I3P), a key partner of Spoke 1 and a hub of essential expertise for the development of early-stage startups. I3P provides strategic consulting, coaching, mentoring, and valuable support for fundraising activities.   Main goals and benefits for selected startups: Strengthening of startup solutions, encouraging innovation and experimentation New tools to integrate ESG metrics, circular economy principles, and SDGs into business models Definition of sustainable, scalable business models Go-to-market, distribution, and sales strategies Connections with investors, companies, institutions, and other key ecosystem players   Applications are open from June 25 to July 21, 2025.   For more information and to apply:   ReAction  

Ecosystem partners at StartupItalia Open Summit 2025 On 11 June, Politecnico di Torino, coordinator of Spoke 1, hosted SIOS25, one of Italy's leading events for innovation, start-ups and entrepreneurship. Designed to connect startups, investors, companies, institutions, students and innovators, the event provided a valuable platform for discussion, inspiration and networking. The overarching theme of this 10th edition was 'Digital Renaissance': an approach that encourages entrepreneurs, start-ups and thinkers to consider how technology can enhance, rather than replace, human beings in an era of great transformation. Topics such as artificial intelligence, pervasive digitisation and contemporary challenges formed the focus of the debate, with the aim of creating an inclusive technological future in which humans continue to be at the heart of innovation. Through the Innovation Village, workshops, and the SIOS25 Main Stage, Spoke 1 partners, including the Politecnico di Torino, LINKS Foundation, and I3P, as well as startups supported by and born with Spoke 1, such as Deplotic, shared their vision with the innovation players in attendance. NODES represents a strategically important area undergoing transformation, capable of identifying innovation needs at a national and international level. Turin has been confirmed as the ideal location in which to showcase and reinforce this well-established innovation network. Giuseppe Scellato, scientific coordinator of NODES Spoke 1, professor at Politecnico di Torino and president of I3P, engaged in direct dialogue with some of the major local investors and promising start-ups. In particular, he discussed how, through I3P and collaboration with NODES and ESA BIC Turin, the creation and development of start-ups is favored, in order to promote industrial competitiveness, particularly in the aerospace sector — a key area for Spoke 1 in NODES. Spoke 1 has the ambition to consolidate a leadership position, based on scientific excellence and knowledge transfer to the industrial fabric. The event website:   Summer Torino - Sios25   Event by StartupItalia  

Spoke 1 in Bologna with industrial funded research for dual transition NODES Spoke 1 expands the reach of the ecosystem and brings its results to We Make Future 2025. We Make Future is the international festival dedicated to digital and social innovation, hosted annually in Italy. It brings together technology, business, culture and education to promote a more sustainable future. An intense 3 days event, June 4-6, hosted this year in Bologna, ideal for advancing the goals of NODES, increasing the competitiveness of industries and research institutions by fostering their ongoing dialogue.   Fondazione Piemonte Innova and the ICT Cluster hosted several of the companies funded through Spoke 1's cascade calls, who presented their innovative ideas and the results of their industrial research projects to the wide audience present during the fair. Spoke 1's industrial research activities are positioned in the different steps of the Aerospace and Sustainable Mobility value chains, and can thus bring benefit and innovation in two sectors whose paradigms are in great evolution.   The event is a great opportunity for startups, companies, students, professionals, and institutions to meet and find the best synergies to support innovation projects and new activities. Thanks to Fondazione Piemonte Innova, a leading partner of Spoke 1 NODES, local companies were able to highlight the great capabilities housed in NODES and the potential for further development and continued growth during major paradigms changes and the dual digital and sustainable transition.  

Once again, the Startup Academy by I3P is helping shape the next generation of young entrepreneurs. The course successfully supported aspiring startup founders in the early stages of their journey, helping them turn innovative ideas into concrete projects, build teams with complementary skills, and launch the customer discovery process. Throughout the program, participants explored tools to validate their business ideas and analyze potential target markets.   The training experience was enriched by direct exchanges with scale-up founders and venture capitalists, who shared real-world insights into what it takes to build a successful entrepreneurial story. Expert mentors and active startups—particularly in the aerospace and sustainable mobility sectors, supported by Spoke 1 of the NODES Ecosystem—helped create a dynamic, stimulating environment full of opportunities.

May 29, students from Università and  Politecnico di Torino presented their innovative solutions in response to the “Indigo” Challenges organized by the University of Turin for Spoke 1 NODES. The proposed challenges came from two major groups in the area, SKF and Teoresi. Complex objectives SKF, which is expanding its facility, was seeking solutions for designing innovative, digitized and sustainable aerospace spaces to enhance the work and hospitality experience by integrating advanced technologies, environmentally sustainable solutions and new ways of training and collaboration. Teoresi, on the other hand, wants to take the macro-topic of smart mobility head-on, particularly two of its key aspects. Increasingly connected and autonomous mobility and the concept of sustainability, both environmental and economic. In particular, Teoresi sought solutions for the specific context of share-mobility with a fleet of electric, connected and autonomous cars in a medium-sized city. The winning teams are “spotApark” for the Teoresi Challenge and “Skylab” for the SKF challenge. All teams demonstrated excellent skills and inventiveness, and support was never lacking. Business mentors accompanied the teams' growth through to the final pitches, with valuable support from I3P, the Incubator of the Politecnico di Torino and partner of Spoke 1. Devising market solutions is a complex issue, and identifying both technologically and economically viable systems, considering current technological limitations and contextualizing possible applications, while thinking ahead to possible further developments, is a major undertaking that consolidated the teams' capabilities. Students Challenges offer companies a concrete opportunity to co-develop innovative solutions with new talent, while undergraduate students, thanks to “learning by doing,” can engage with local business realities, a highly formative and enabling experience in preparation to their first step in the job market.   Indigo Challenge SKF   Indigo Challenge Teoresi      

On May 26, 2025, Spoke 1 – Aerospace and Sustainable Mobility held the workshop “Doing Business in Space”, a day of discussion focused on the economic, strategic, and institutional dynamics that are reshaping the space sector in the era of the New Space Economy. The workshop brought together professors and researchers from internationally renowned universities and research centers, with expertise in innovation economics, strategic management, and policy analysis, alongside both emerging and established business players, including high-level startups and companies. The goal of the workshop was to develop a structured perspective on the ongoing transformations in the space sector, with particular attention to emerging governance models, enabling technological trajectories, and the mechanisms of interaction between public and private actors. The working sessions alternated between theoretical contributions and case study presentations, offering valuable insights into market configurations, research support policies, and the evolution of the space industry value chains.

Great participation and concrete dialogue between research and business at the Spoke 1 event on Aerospace and Sustainable Mobility On April 3, the event dedicated to the results of Spoke 1 - Aerospace and Sustainable Mobility, organized at Environment Park as part of the Ecosystem Roadshow 2025, concluded successfully. Many moments of discussion and networking, to promote innovation and technological and sustainable transition. Excellent turnout of companies, researchers and stakeholders from Spoke 1 and the NODES area. Speeches by the companies involved in the Spoke gave a concrete overview of the project results obtained thanks to the Spoke 1 cascade calls, created to support high-tech solutions for the Aerospace and Sustainable Mobility supply chains.  

Spoke 1 represents the collaboration at the highest level of different entities, bringing their important and complementary expertise to the table – Spoke 1 introduces:   I3P Founded in 1999, Politecnico di Torino’s Incubator (I3P) supports the creation and development of innovative startups with high technological intensity and strong growth potential. It offers consulting services, mentoring, fundraising support, workspaces, and networking opportunities.  

SKF launches a challenge on the design of innovative spaces for work wellness and hospitality in the aerospace sector. Teoresi wants to address the macro-theme of smart mobility, considering the technological evolution in the sector and the concept, broad, of sustainability. The initiative is open to Bachelor's, Master's, single-cycle or master's degree students from UniTo, with the participation of students from Politecnico di Torino, who are interested in proposing innovative ideas in their respective fields. The participants, organized in interdisciplinary teams and supported by mentors, will face a three-week challenge (May 8-29, 2025), with three main in-person events, Kick-off, Mentors' Day, Pitch Day. Meetings with mentors from UniTo, Politecnico, Spoke 1, SKF and Teoresi will be held along the way. At the end, a committee will award the most innovative idea. The Challenges are an excellent opportunity for professionalization, and all participants will receive an Open Badge. The awards will be posted soon. Registration is open until April 21, 2025. More information, registration and contact details on the UniTo pages: Challenge SKF   Challenge Teoresi  

Spoke 1 represents the collaboration at the highest level of different entities, bringing their important and complementary expertise to the table - Spoke 1 introduces: Environment Park Environment Park is the Turin-based Technology Park for the environmental innovation and sustainability.. With its laboratories and spaces for business establishment, it has been working alongside companies and local governments in the development and adoption of innovative energy and environmental technologies for more than 25 years. Envipark provides the park's hydrogen, green chemistry and CCUS “open labs”, created and managed in partnership with POLITO and IIT, and the CLEVER Cluster business network for technology transfer actions to sustainable mobility and aerospace companies.

At the A&T trade in Turin, CIM 4.0 is promoting training initiatives, with a special focus on the aerospace and sustainable mobility sectors. It highlights the educational activities of NODES aimed at strengthening skills in these key areas for regional development.   Spoke 1 supports the industrial sector through upskilling and reskilling initiatives designed to enhance and update professional competencies in response to the challenges of the green and digital transition. Through targeted training programs, it helps companies navigate the evolving industrial landscape.   As a Spoke 1 partner, CIM 4.0 plays a pivotal role in supporting businesses with the adoption of advanced technologies and the digitalization of production processes. Thanks to cutting-edge infrastructure and specialized training, it contributes to the transformation of the industrial sector by facilitating access to innovative tools and fostering a culture of sustainability-driven innovation and efficiency.   CIM 4.0 has recently launched the Mobility Academy Light Edition, specifically focused on the themes of Spoke 1. Individual courses can be combined to complete the full Academy program or taken separately to strengthen expertise in specific areas.   All the Spoke 1's training programs