RESTART: Empowering SMEs through Telecom and Digital Innovation
A great success on October 10, 2025, at the Hilton Turin Centre Hotel, for the event “Tech-Transfer: Telecommunications and Digital Technologies as Drivers for SME Growth”, promoted by Fondazione RESTART in collaboration with ANFoV and Il Quadrato della Radio.
Focus on Innovation and Technology Transfer
The event highlighted Mission 3 – Innovation and Technology Transfer of the RESTART program, aiming to accelerate the adoption of new technologies by Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and promote a widespread culture of innovation.
The session was introduced by Roberta Sabella, Head of Mission 3 at RESTART, alongside Umberto De Julio, President of ANFoV and Il Quadrato della Radio, and Marco Baldi, Head of the Economic and Social Research Area at CNA. The event attracted over one hundred participants, including entrepreneurs, professionals, public sector representatives, and startups.
Opening speeches by Andrea Tronzano, Regional Councillor for Innovation and Productive Activities, Michela Favaro, Deputy Mayor of Turin, and Marco Gay, President of Confindustria Piemonte, emphasized the strategic role of telecommunications and digital innovation in boosting SME competitiveness and national growth.
From Dialogue to Action: Building an Innovation Ecosystem
Throughout the day, keynote talks, case studies, and thematic sessions explored practical opportunities in technology transfer and ways to foster public–private partnerships.
“The challenge of RESTART is to provide SMEs with a concrete framework to access expertise, technologies, and tools that enable sustainable innovation and growth” said Adele Del Bello, Director General of Fondazione RESTART.
“RESTART’s tech transfer process goes beyond simply connecting supply and demand for innovation — it promotes active collaboration between developers and adopters, ensuring solutions are tailored to real market needs” added Roberta Sabella.
Umberto De Julio stressed that “telecommunications are a key sector for the country’s industrial recovery. SMEs are the backbone of our production system, and it is from them that innovation can emerge to close the technological gap with the U.S. and China.”
Voices of Excellence and Collaborative Insights
The core of the program featured contributions from leaders across the innovation ecosystem, who shared insights on how telecommunications and digital technologies serve as enabling infrastructures for business competitiveness.
A roundtable discussion, moderated by journalist Mila Fiordalisi, stimulated an engaging debate on the future of Italy’s innovation ecosystem and the strategic role of networks, 5G, and digital transformation in industrial processes.
Two Workshops: Turning Innovation into Practice
In the afternoon, participants attended two parallel workshops focused on practical applications of innovation and collaboration:
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Workshop 1 – “Innovating Processes and Products with the Support of Experts and Institutions”, coordinated by Gabriele Elia, Head of Standards & IPR at TIM, dedicated to companies interested in leveraging collaboration opportunities with research centers and technology hubs to improve products, services, and production processes.
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Workshop 2 – “Starting High-Tech Enterprises and Startups with University Research Support”, coordinated by Roberto Siagri, CEO of ROTONIUM, aimed at young entrepreneurs, university spin-offs, and tech startups exploring business models and incubation pathways for innovative ventures.
Both workshops provided a valuable opportunity for SMEs to connect with technology providers and research partners, offering practical tools to bridge innovation gaps and access the RESTART innovation network.
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