Originally launched in 2018, Business Meets Innovation (BMI) is the reverse open innovation contest organized by the Italian-German Chamber of Commerce (AHK Italien), created with the aim of promoting matching between the demand for innovation from top players in the Italian-German business community and the supply of innovative solutions from Italian start-ups, spin-offs, and innovative SMEs.
The aim of the initiative is to facilitate collaboration between those seeking new ideas and those developing them, thereby helping businesses to grow and improve thanks to new technologies and concrete projects. Top players Robert Bosch Italia, E.ON Italia, and LAND Italia, members of the Italian-German business community, have decided to focus on the innovative contribution of start-ups, innovative SMEs, and spin-offs located in Italy to respond to a specific technological demand in the field of sustainable cities.
Registration to participate in the eighth edition of Business Meets Innovation is open until November 14, 2025.
The technological challenges of BMI 2025
1) Bosch - Sensors for Urban Heat Islands monitoring
Bosch is looking for solutions to support municipal administrations and urban planners in combating the phenomenon of Urban Heat Islands (UHI). The project involves the creation of a network of Bosch-owned sensors capable of monitoring parameters such as temperature, humidity, and related environmental factors.
Specifically, proposals are being sought for software/gamification/integration ideas and analysis tools that Bosch can use to expand its data collection, identify thermal hotspots, and evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation strategies adopted to date.
2) LAND - NAIture landscape modelling
LAND has developed the LIM – landscape information modeling® model, which measures environmental indicators related to tree growth using BIM architectural models integrated with databases such as i-Tree.
The goal is to enhance the model with dynamic KPIs, optimizing the use of data and processes, transforming it into a predictive tool capable of guiding targeted actions for climate adaptation, natural capital enhancement, and infrastructure strengthening.
3) E.ON - Flessibilità Energetica per un Futuro Sostenibile
E.ON aims to facilitate the integration of smart technologies, innovative business models, and new consumption habits to accelerate the energy transition towards more sustainable, resilient, and carbon-neutral cities.
Specifically, the proposals of interest concern new business models that encourage investment in energy assets and incentivize virtuous behavior: digital applications, smart storage systems, IoT sensors, smart storage systems, and analysis algorithms to optimize consumption, sustainability, and efficiency.
How to join the competition
It is possible to apply for one or more challenges by completing this dedicated form.
For the application to be valid, one must submit their proposal, together with the NDA and terms, by 11:59 p.m. of November 14, 2025, sending it in the form of a presentation (max. 10 slides) or video (max. 5 minutes) to bmi@ahk.it.
During the application period, there will be an exclusive opportunity to participate in a webinar attended by top players. On this occasion, one will be able to ask questions directly to the project representatives to ensure that the solutions developed are as close as possible to their expectations.
