Emerging technologies are fundamentally reshaping the way in which industry designs, develops and integrates products and systems. New materials and metamaterials, advanced electroacoustic solutions and wireless power transmission technologies are no longer merely frontiers of research, but concrete areas of industrial transformation.
Against this backdrop, the ability to identify innovative technologies and guide them towards scalable applications has become a strategic asset. It is from this perspective that the Call4Innovation for Deep Tech & New Materials was launched: an international programme designed to connect start-ups, researchers, spin-offs and innovators with an industrial sector focused on applied research and technological development.
The initiative is promoted by Ideofarm, Powersoft’s "innovation garage", and implemented in collaboration with the Circular Economy Lab – an initiative of the Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center and Cariplo Factory – which contributes to the programme through talent scouting, connections with the innovation ecosystem and support for the development of applications.
The challenge for start-ups
Through this Call4Innovation, Ideofarm is seeking start-ups and solutions with high innovative potential capable of contributing to the development of the next generation of technological products, systems and services.
The programme is aimed at start-ups with technologies which have already been validated or are at an advanced stage of development, with clear application potential and prospects for industrialisation. The focus is on solutions capable of generating a real impact in the relevant sectors, contributing to the evolution of complex products and systems. Technologies with a maturity level between TRL 4 and TRL 7 will be considered, i.e. solutions that have already been tested in the laboratory or in relevant environments and are close to industrial validation.
The scouting process focuses on three strategic areas for industrial research and development: new materials and metamaterials, electroacoustics and wireless power transmission. Examples of relevant solutions can be viewed on the call's official webpage.
The opportunities for the winners
The start-ups selected will embark on a process of direct engagement with an industrial environment focused on experimentation and technological collaboration. The aim is not merely to identify promising solutions, but to explore in practical terms their potential for development and application.
Depending on the level of technological maturity and strategic potential, various collaboration pathways may be pursued, including technical validation, the development of proof-of-concepts, the establishment of industrial or commercial partnerships, and potential opportunities for investment or strategic integration.
Among the opportunities on offer is potential access to Ideofarm’s acceleration programme, a structured programme that offers support from concept validation through to the development of an initial MVP, providing technical expertise, R&D infrastructure, mentoring and strategic guidance.
The finalist start-ups will have the opportunity to present their technology in a setting dedicated to dialogue between industry, research and innovation. The Demo Day marks the culmination of the programme and provides an opportunity for direct engagement with industry stakeholders, technology experts and key players in the innovation ecosystem. The event will take place at the K-Array headquarters in San Piero a Sieve (Florence, Italy), with the format and organisational details currently being finalised.
How to join the initiative
The programme is divided into several stages designed to progressively assess the technological and industrial potential of the proposed solutions.
Applications will be accepted during the call for proposals, followed by an analysis and assessment phase focusing on the technology, the team and the potential applications. The most promising organisations will then proceed to the final stage of the programme.
The stages and timeline of the initiative are:
- closing date for applications: 4 September 2026;
- assessment phase: by September 2026;
- Demo Day: date to be confirmed and announced on the communication channels of the organizers and promoters.
Further information and the application form for the call are available on the initiative's official page on the Circular Economy Lab website.
