2004 - “Best Science-Based Incubator” – A World Champion I3P

Torino Wireless Becomes an I3P Consortium Member
“Promoting the start-up of new enterprises and the fast-tracked growth of innovative SMEs is the fundamental lynchpin underlying the strategies of Torino Wireless. I3P's experience in this field constitutes an important asset for all our local activities, and has motivated our decision to join ranks and build a stronger and more effective partnership.” Rodolfo Zich, president of Torino Wireless

The City of Torino Becomes an I3P Consortium Member
“For some time now, Torino has been focused on achieving growth driven by the knowledge-based society and the development of innovative projects. I3P, the Innovative Enterprise Incubator of the Politecnico di Torino and consortium of which the City of Torino has become a member, is a leading player in this field. Thanks to its work, innovation and ideas have become firmly rooted in a virtuous process to bring them to fruition, and in so doing, make the most of the creative and business potential present across the territory.” Sergio Chiamparino, Mayor of the City of Torino

The Launch of the Newcom Project – The Network of Excellence in Wireless Communication
As a partner in the Newcom project, I3P led activities for the commercialisation of scientific and technological research. Launched in March 2004, 60 organisations from around Europe and over 850 researchers were involved in the project, focused on next generation mobile and wireless communication systems. With the support of the Torino Wireless Foundation, I3P organised the Newcom Winter School for two years running (February/March 2005 and March 2006), and the Newcom European Wireless Business Idea Competition.

I3P backs Piemontech High Technology
The investment company Piemontech was founded by the Torino Wireless Foundation, Eurofidi, and I3P to help address the growing need for venture capital in the Piedmont region. Piemontech backs promising new business start-ups in need of the capital and investment to effectively take-off. In particular, Piemontech acts as a business angel for the creation of new enterprises, typically providing up to €200,000 in investment capital.

Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Cuneo Becomes a Sponsor of the I3P Business Plan Competition
The Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Cuneo became a sponsor of the 2004 Galileo Ferraris Business Plan Competition, offering grants to start-ups that locate in the province of Cuneo or enter Tecnogranda, the technological innovation and business services centre of Dronero (Cuneo).

PNI Cube:
the Italian Association of University Enterprise Incubators & Local Business Plan Competitions.
An incubator for incubators. The goal of the association, with headquarters located at I3P, is to promote entrepreneurship in academic circles, and support the National Innovation Award. Along with the Politecnico di Torino through I3P, members of the association include the incubator of the Politecnico di Milano, AlmaCube of the University of Bologna, the University “Federico II” of Naples, the University of Padova, the University of Palermo, the University of Perugia, the University of Torino, the University of Trieste, the University of Udine, and the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna of Pisa.

The Business Skills Course. Round II – Promoted and Organised by LISEM, I3P and COREP.
The business skills course once again came to a close with the drawing up of business plans for the best business ideas in the running for the Galileo Ferraris Competition. The majority of students in the course generally came from the engineering faculties (in particular engineering management), though many were the graduates from the economics faculties and other faculties with studies not strictly related to business management. The success of the course was reiterated in its second year, with 139 enrolment applications received.

> Preincubation

First December, Torino - round II PNI – The 2004 National Innovation Award. The Politecnico di Torino hosted two days of events organised by I3P and dedicated to innovation. Expo Innovazione featured displays of the 30 finalist projects throughout campus halls, whilst the conference “Universities, Enterprise & Finance” brought together leading international experts and representatives of institutions and the world of finance to discuss the topic of financing start-ups, including the minister for technological innovation, Lucio Stanca and Anna Maria Artoni, president of Giovani Imprenditori di Confindustria. Guest of honour at the awards ceremony was Piero Angela.

The winners
The Ampli-chip project, winner of the 2004 Galileo Ferraris Competition, was awarded the third prize of €20,000 (in the photo:the winners alongside Mr Gian Carlo Michellone, director of Centro Ricerche FIAT). The first prize of €60,000 was awarded to the TOR (Tissue and Organ Replacements) group for their biomedical project at the University of Udine, which addresses the need for transplant organs. The second prize of €30,000 went to the Era Endoscopy project from the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna di Pisa, for its innovative endoscopic equipment for colonscopies. The Third National Innovation Award will be held in Padova, in December 2005.