The RESTART Foundation – RESearch and innovation on future Telecommunications systems and networks, to make Italy more smART – was established to implement projects funded under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

The Foundation’s core mission is to oversee the implementation and management of the “Future Telecommunications” Extended Partnership, funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, and to foster the dissemination and uptake of its research outcomes.

The Foundation supports both fundamental and applied research in telecommunications, electromagnetism and related fields, strengthening collaboration between universities, research organisations and industry.

Building on this mission, the RESTART Foundation serves as both Hub and co-proposer in two projects funded under theNational Research, Innovation and Competitiveness Programme for the Green and Digital Transition (PN RIC) 2021–2027:

The Foundation is also an implementing partner in two projects funded through the Synergy Grant 2026 programme:

  • TERRA – Technologies for Enhancing Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Livestock Systems through Precision Farming Applications, coordinated by the National Research Centre Agritech, focuses on innovative technologies for sustainable agriculture and precision livestock farming.
  • HAQCES – HPC, AI, and Quantum solutions for CybErsecurity and Sustainability, coordinated by the ICSC National Centre, brings together high-performance computing, artificial intelligence and quantum technologies to advance cybersecurity and sustainability.

These initiatives enable the Foundation to build on the expertise, research outcomes and infrastructure developed through RESTART, creating new opportunities for their application across different fields.

The Foundation is also broadening its activities to support its members and the wider telecommunications sector, while strengthening the scientific, economic, social and cultural impact of the research outcomes and infrastructure. Its activities include:

  • Research and consultancy services for individual companies and industry groups;
  • Coordination of open-source projects and initiatives aimed at advancing technologies toward higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs);
  • Contributions to technical and regulatory standardisation efforts at national and European level;
  • Strategic support for public institutions;
  • Support and management of funded projects, from identifying opportunities and building consortia to coordinating project implementation;
  • Think-tank initiatives and strategic advisory services;
  • Communication and public engagement to share scientific and technological advances through events, reports, podcasts and other outreach activities;
  • Education and training programmes for industry professionals, students and early-career researchers.

To support these activities, the Foundation collaborates with public- and private-sector organisations to promote technology transfer, facilitate knowledge sharing and foster an open, collaborative innovation ecosystem for the future of telecommunications.

The Foundation brings together leading Italian universities, major national research institutions, prominent telecommunications operators, systems integrators and a wide range of companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This diverse membership reflects the Foundation’s deep roots in Italy’s research and innovation ecosystem.

LIST OF MEMBERS:

  • Apeiroon S.r.l. (in the process of joining);
  • CNIT – Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Telecomunicazioni;
  • CNR – Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche;
  • Fabbrica Italiana per l’Innovazione – Società Benefit (in the process of joining);
  • FiberCop S.p.A. (in the process of joining);
  • Fondazione Ugo Bordoni;
  • Italtel S.p.A.;
  • Keysight Technologies, Inc. (in the process of joining);
  • Open Fiber S.p.A.;
  • POLIBA – Politecnico di Bari;
  • POLIMI – Politecnico di Milano;
  • POLITO – Politecnico di Torino;
  • Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna di Pisa;
  • Sensor ID S.r.l. (in the process of joining);
  • SPICI S.r.l. (in the process of joining);
  • Telebit S.p.A. (in the process of joining);
  • TIESSE S.p.A.;
  • TIM S.p.A.;
  • UniBO – Università di Bologna;
  • UniBS – Università degli Studi di Brescia (in the process of joining);
  • UniCT – Università di Catania;
  • UniFI – Università di Firenze;
  • UniNA – Università di Napoli Federico II;
  • UniPD – Università degli Studi di Padova;
  • UniPM – Università Politecnica delle Marche (in the process of joining);
  • UniRC – Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria;
  • UNIROMA1 – Università di Roma “La Sapienza”;
  • UNIROMA2 – Università di Roma “Tor Vergata”;
  • UniSI – Università di Siena (in the process of joining);
  • Vodafone S.p.A.;
  • Wind Tre S.p.A.