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Design Momentum is the name of the acceleration program designed specifically for startups and SMEs operating in the design sector: furniture, lighting, living, construction, urban development, and who have the need and desire to develop and board both their business and to carry out specific projects. Design Momentum is promoted and created by Designtech, the hub that brings the design industry closer to new technologies in the future. response to the call for proposals Lombardy Region to enhance the sustainable growth of SME and startups operating in the sector in order to give further impetus to the already strong positioning that Lombardy and the city of Milan have in the field of design at an international level. The programme will start in March 2024 and will apply the most effective Open Innovation, Design Venture and Corporate Venture Building, offering the companies involved a concrete opportunity for growth through open innovation and collaboration with leading companies in the sector. The entire programme takes place in the context of the CoFactory, the space that serves both as an office space and as a digital factory that Designtech has opened in Milan in the context of Certosa District, the district that is experiencing a phase of intense structural and social redevelopment thanks to the work of Real Step, which has already developed similar operations such as that of the so-called Design District in the Tortona area, which has now become one of the most dynamic districts of the city. The design sector is currently undergoing a phase of profound renewal with particular attention to the issues of sustainability and inclusiveness and for this reason small and medium-sized companies and startups require support to accelerate their process of growth and change, especially when it comes to being able to access financial resources, industrial, technological and people with the right skills. Design Momentum intends to focus on creating innovative solutions related to sustainable design and the human and built environment, leveraging technologies such as IoT, AI, VR/AR, blockchain, 3D printing, additive manufacturing, proposing over the course of the nine-month program Strategic meetings, design thinking workshops, rapid development of high-quality prototypes, the course is thus proposed as the vehicle to support startups and SMEs to turn their innovative ideas into reality.
The phases of the program
Design Momentum is divided into several phases, designed to maximize the value of the startups and SMEs involved.Scouting, matchmaking and PoC creation: duringthe first phase, startups and established companies will be put in contact to create strategic collaborations, and through design thinking workshops proof of concept (PoC) will be developed based on the projects of the individual startups and SMEs participating in the program, which will have the opportunity to transform their ideas into products capable of revolutionizing the way of life in cities and the built environment. On the other hand, established companies will be able to discover new solutions that can accompany and facilitate their innovation processes. Prototyping, validation and go-to-market: the identified PoCs will be developed in prototypes at CoFactory, using advanced machinery and technologies for rapid prototyping, subsequently, the prototyped solutions will be tested and validated in a real environment, at Designtech’s facilities. Collaboration with corporate partners will also provide financial resources and industry expertise, accelerating the market entry of innovative solutions. Design Momentum aims to attract venture capital investors interested in the designtech vertical, offering a direct channel of financing to the companies involved. Startups and SMEs participating in the program will have the opportunity to collaborate with companies and qualified professionals who will offer their support in critical areas. The lack of access to advanced technologies is one of the most significant challenges that emerging companies in the sector have to face, so with Design Momentum, Designtech (of which the writer is a partner), guarantees theaccess to technologically advanced equipment to develop prototypes and innovative products, thanks to the support of a team of experts able to select the best opportunity based on the specific needs and machines installed at the CoFactory which include Roboze 3D printers, CMS production centers, ABB robotic arms, as well as CoFactory providing Spaces and resources to conduct testing and validate products and services.
How to apply
Design Momentum is open to startups and SMEs based in Lombardy or planning to open an office within the region, and up to a maximum of 12 participants. Individuals interested in participating in the programme can Submit your application starting from the appropriate page on the website of the Lombardy Region where both the procedures for sending the application and those for managing the financial aspects of the program are illustrated. In addition, the call is also divided into two additional opportunities related to innovation in craftsmanship and fashiontech whose managers are respectively Upskill 40 and Fashion Technology Accelerator, information on these two calls is also available on the page indicated above.
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