ICSC, the National Center for HPC, Big Data and Quantum Computing, announces that it has launched the first edition of ICSC 4 Startup, a program that aims to facilitate matchmaking and the sharing of innovation activities between start-ups and ICSCs.
The initiative is designed to support innovative startups, research spin-offs and innovative SMEs through financial support and specific services related to computing. In order to increase synergies between the scientific community and the industrial system for the benefit of national research and the country in general, through this instrument ICSC provides for the involvement of universities, research institutions and Italian companies. Supporting a startup, an innovative SME or a research spinoff means for ICSC to amplify its impact, make sure that scientific discoveries are applied in a concrete way and promote sustainable and innovative solutions to societal problems.
Business plans with projects in line with ICSC activities, i.e. high-performance computing, big data, quantum computing and artificial intelligence, are supported. The activities are intended to have a high technological and innovative content, aimed at promoting new entrepreneurship and supporting technology transfer policies and exploitation of the results of the public and private research system.
The program finances, through its own economic fund, startups, spinoffs or innovative SMEs deemed deserving, for a maximum total amount of 500 thousand euros, to be understood as a total for all funded projects. This loan is non-repayable, in which the total amount disbursed does not have to be repaid. However, the actual disbursement of funding is linked to the implementation of the projects defined in the selection phase. In addition to the economic fund, ICSC 4 Startup provides for the provision of ancillary services such as skills, services or computing or storage resources that are available to ICSC, linked to the implementation of the projects defined in the selection phase.
The programme finances business plans including: expenses for staff involved in project activities; expenses for tools and equipment necessary for the implementation of the project; expenses for scientific consultancy services or technical-scientific assistance related to the project; other operating costs (e.g. consumables).
Applications can only be submitted using the computer procedure published on the ICSC website, . The selection of projects will be handled by a commission composed of technical-scientific and professional experts. The evaluation will take into account, among others, the quality and level of innovation, the skills activated, the impact effects and the technical and financial feasibility. (photo ICSC)
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