Universities and public research bodies in Italy are increasingly placing the valorisation of knowledge at the center of their strategies, including by promoting the development of deep tech start-ups with high social impact within local ecosystems, as part of a broader third mission perspective. In this sense, the projects funded by PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) have provided an incentive to adopt a systemic approach and a long-term vision to identify effective responses to complex problems related to environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
In this context, the 2025 National Innovation Award (Premio Nazionale per l'Innovazione - PNI) showcases the talent of researchers who transform scientific knowledge into innovative businesses capable of making a difference in the Cleantech & Energy, ICT, Industrial and Life Sciences-MedTech sectors. A unique award in Europe and Italy, created by PNICube, the “network of networks” recognized by the international Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as a best practice for its ability to connect territories, communities, and innovation actors.
The 2025 edition of PNI
Promoted by PNICube and organized with the University of Ferrara, Italy's largest and most widespread Business Plan Competition will be held for the first time in Ferrara on December 4 and 5, 2025, at the University of Ferrara's headquarters in Ferrara Expo, under the patronage of the MAECI, MIMIT, MUR, the Italian Embassy to the Holy See and the French Embassy in Italy, CRUI, ASviS, the Emilia-Romagna Region, the Municipality and Province of Ferrara, CCIAA Ferrara, Ascom Ferrara - Confcommercio, Confindustria Emilia, Fondazione Ecosister. The iniziative is sustained by the Main Sponsorship of Gruppo Iren and Prysmian Group, and the Main Partnership of Almaviva.
This year, 76 business projects based on scientific research are competing for the award. These projects are the winners of 17 regional Start Cups (including Start Cup Piemonte Valle d'Aosta, co-organized by I3P), which are true virtuous circles for innovation and technology transfer in 18 regions, involving over 400 innovation players and 59 PNICube members, representing over 80% of Italian public universities.
The event brings together leading representatives from the worlds of business, institutions, universities, and public research bodies, creating an ideal context for sharing concrete proposals and best practices and strengthening innovation ecosystems in Italy, promoting research capable of transforming into business, generating innovation with a high and lasting impact, and contributing to the challenges of sustainability.
“The excellent results of this 23rd edition confirm the strategic role of the PNICube Network universities in sustainable progress and the great innovative power of collaboration,” said Paola M.A. Paniccia, President of PNICube and Delegate for Business Development, Start-ups, and Spin-offs for the University of Rome Tor Vergata. "The 76 finalist projects and the involvement of over 400 innovation players across the country tell the story of a unique generative process, that of the National Innovation Award, capable of catalyzing ideas and projects of high scientific and technological value, bringing them out of research laboratories to respond to society's sustainability needs. Since 2003, the PNI has supported over 1,300 innovative projects, more than half of which have been transformed into companies that are now active on the market."
“Welcoming the PNI to Ferrara means confirming, once again, the central importance we attribute to research and its ability to shape the future,” commented Laura Ramaciotti, Rector of the University of Ferrara. "For me, this role has a special value: I lead a university that invests with conviction in the transfer of knowledge, with a constant eye on the dynamics that run through the entire university system, for which innovation has long been one of the main drivers of the country's development. The PNI reminds us that universities are not only places where knowledge is produced, but environments where that knowledge is translated into solutions, businesses, and new visions. It is here that human capital takes shape, capable of dialoguing with the real economy and contributing to the growth of local areas."
The programme of the event
PNI 2025 will take place in person at Ferrara Expo on December 4 (9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) and December 5 (9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) and will offer two intense days of pitches, round tables, networking, and an international expo area where start-ups, investors, and companies will be able to meet and explore new business opportunities.
The event will be joined by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani, the Minister of Health Orazio Schillaci, the Minister of Universities Anna Maria Bernini, the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy Federico Eichberg, and the CEO of Invitalia Bernardo Mattarella.
Among the panels in which experts and leading figures from institutions, universities, and the business world will discuss “The challenge of scale-up for the ecosystem of innovative start-ups” will be Francesco De Michelis (MITO Technology), Francesco Morgia (Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy), Luigi Gallo (Invitalia), Jean David Maio (Era & Innovation), Gianluca Consoli (Ministry of University and Research), Marina Silverii (ART-ER), Giuseppe Conti (Netval), and Claudia Pingue (CDP Venture Capital).
The final challenge and award ceremony: on December 5, the finalist teams will compete for four prizes of €25,000 each in the Cleantech & Energy, ICT, Industrial, and Life Sciences-MedTech innovation sectors, which are highly strategic for the quality of life, and the title of overall winner of PNI 2025, which will guarantee the PNI Champions Cup for the university of origin. Current trends in the four sectors will also be discussed by IREN, Huawei, Prysmian, and Day One.
The selections will be made by a jury composed of expert evaluators from the worlds of business, research, and venture capital, based on the social, economic, and environmental impact of the innovative startup projects. In addition, prizes and special mentions offered by PNICube sponsors and partners will be awarded to the most deserving projects on topics of strategic importance.
