EU Funding Experts
Rome – Smart Manufacturing Brokerage (Villa Wolkonsky)
Date: February 2025 | Location: Villa Wolkonsky, British Embassy Rome
Hosted by: Innovate UK
Focus areas
- Innovative advanced materials
- Net-zero and circular manufacturing
- Augmentation technologies in industry
- Regional Innovation Hubs
- Textiles for the Future
Highlights
- Two days of active exchanges and one-to-one matchmaking between academics, RTOs, start-ups, and SMEs.
- A perfect balance of formal discussions and informal networking, in a setting that encouraged authentic collaboration.
- The second edition built on the success of the first, translating previous contacts into working project consortia.
Outcomes
- Several partnerships initiated for upcoming Horizon Europe calls (Cluster 4).
- Enhanced visibility for UK and Italian innovation ecosystems, particularly in advanced manufacturing and sustainability.
- Strengthened bilateral research relations through continuous dialogue between scientific and industrial communities.
Why it mattered
These back-to-back editions showcased the value of traditional, in-person networking as a catalyst for cross-border collaboration - proving that genuine connections remain the foundation for impactful innovation.
