iNEST is part of the "Innovation Ecosystems," networks of state and non-state universities, public research institutions, local public entities, and other highly qualified and internationally recognized public and private entities.
The 11 founding members of the iNEST Consortium are: University of Padua, University of Verona, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, IUAV University of Venice, University of Trento, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, University of Udine, University of Trieste, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), National Research Council (CNR), National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS).
Additionally, 13 affiliated entities are part of the project: Eastern Adriatic Sea Port Authority, CORILA – Consortium for the Coordination of Research Activities concerning the Lagoon System of Venice, Covision Lab, CRESME Research, EURAC Research, Bruno Kessler Foundation, Ca’ Foscari Foundation, Edmund Mach Foundation, Hub Innovazione Trentino Foundation, Friuli Innovazione, Polo Tecnologico Alto Adriatico Andrea Galvani, SMACT, T2i - Technology Transfer and Innovation.
iNEST operates in technological specialization areas consistent with the industrial and research vocations of the Northeast (Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Trentino Alto Adige), promoting and strengthening collaboration between the research system, the productive system, and territorial institutions.
The project is structured with a central HUB and 9 thematic Spokes:
Spoke 1: ECOSYSTEMS FOR MOUNTAIN INNOVATIONS (coordinated by Free University of Bozen-Bolzano) Spoke 2: HEALTH, FOOD AND LIFESTYLES (coordinated by University of Trento) Spoke 3: GREEN AND DIGITAL TRANSITION FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY (coordinated by University of Udine) Spoke 4: CITY, ARCHITECTURE AND SUSTAINABLE DESIGN (coordinated by IUAV University of Venice) Spoke 5 SMART AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTS (MANUFACTURING, WORKING, LIVING) (coordinated by University of Padua) Spoke 6: TOURISM, CULTURE AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES (coordinated by Ca’ Foscari University of Venice) Spoke 7: SMART AGRI-FOOD (coordinated by University of Verona) Spoke 8: MARITIME, MARINE, AND INLAND WATER TECHNOLOGIES: TOWARDS THE DIGITAL TWIN OF THE UPPER ADRIATIC (coordinated by University of Trieste) Spoke 9: MODELS, METHODS, COMPUTING TECHNOLOGIES FOR DIGITAL TWIN (coordinated by SISSA).
Moreover, transversal activities are planned:
Education from ITS to Lifelong Learning Creation of a network of joint strategic laboratories Citizen engagement initiatives Support for the generation and development of start-ups and spin-offs
Finally, iNEST aims to engage Micro, Small, Medium, and Large Enterprises by initiating research, development, technology transfer, and training initiatives through "Cascade Calls," open to production and entrepreneurial entities, with a total financial allocation of approximately €43 million.
Within the project, Friuli Innovazione, as an affiliated entity, is involved:
In Spoke 3 GREEN AND DIGITAL TRANSITION FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY, specifically in Research Topics 2 Smart Manufacturing, Mechatronics and Robotics, 3 Materials, and 5 Organizational, economical, and legal aspects In the transversal activity Support for the generation and the development of start-ups and spin-offs.