The Transatlantic Association for the Internationalisation of Start-ups (ATLAS), which already operates in the US, is now looking eastwards and signing a partnership with the Chinese platform International technology transfer network (ITTN). Tommaso D’Onofrio, president of Atlas (pictured), and John Zhang, secretary general of ITTN, have recently signed an agreement to strengthen ties between Italy and China in the field of technological innovation and entrepreneurship.
The main objectives of the agreement include: the creation of an incubator alliance, an ecosystem of Italian and Chinese incubators, with physical spaces and advanced technological infrastructures, to accelerate the development of innovative start-ups; the organisation of meeting platforms involving universities, research centres, innovative companies and investors to foster international collaboration; and access to strategic markets with support tools for start-ups to expand into key third markets.
“This collaboration represents a further step in our network to support the growth opportunities of Italian start-ups and innovative enterprises in solid markets open to frontier challenges,” D’Onofrio stated in a note. “We will continue to work to support innovative entrepreneurial realities in their international growth. The agreement with ITTN, one of the most important Chinese organisations for promoting the internationalisation of innovative start-ups, expands the growth opportunities for our members’.
According to the Italy 2024 Annual Development Report, economic relations between Italy and China have experienced significant growth. The report shows that on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Global Strategic Partnership, bilateral cooperation has reached new heights, with an increase in trade and greater collaboration in key areas such as technological innovation and environmental sustainability.
According to the report, published by the Italy China council foundation (ICCF), China’s GDP growth will be 5.2 per cent in 2023, characterised by significant investments in areas such as artificial intelligence, biomedicine and quantum mechanics. Furthermore, Beijing ranks eighth in the global ranking of startup ecosystems, according to Startup Genome’s Global startup ecosystem report 2024. This ranking highlights the city’s importance as a global hub for innovation and technology.
ITTN, founded in 2011 and based in Beijing, is an organisation specialising in promoting international collaboration in technology transfer and innovation. ITTN acts as a bridge between companies, universities, research centres and institutions, facilitating the commercialisation and industrialisation of advanced technologies.
The memorandum of understanding signed between ATLAS and ITTN is part of this broad platform of relations, offering a structured and tailor-made network for innovative companies with development potential in the Chinese market.
Atlas, established in 2023, with offices in Rome and New York, is a member of Confindustria Servizi Innovativi e Tecnologici. The association represents Italian start-ups and provides education, mentorship and strategic evaluation tools to successfully address international markets, with a focus on the US market. It is committed to promoting the internationalisation of Italian start-ups, with a focus on mentorship, networking and strategic projects.
In 2024 ATLAS consolidated its presence in the United States through events such as Atlas Next, a training and networking programme for Italian start-ups interested in the US market. In addition, it has forged strategic partnerships, such as the one with InnovUp, and promoted thematic working groups to develop internationalisation projects and institutional alliances.
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