Mar. 12 – Tuscany’s start-up head to Berlin: seventeen companies from the region, all startups and SMEs with innovative projects, are now – thanks to the support of the Region of Tuscany – taking part in the first German edition of Smau, which runs until tomorrow. The project is a further support to the Tuscan world of startups that had already been featured in the latest editions of Smau Milan and “Toscana Technologica”, held last July in Florence. Smau Berlin is a two-day event for pitches and meetings between operators; it’s the first international edition of Smau, an event that for more than 50 years brought together Italy’s innovation and digital technologies for businesses and professionals . “In Tuscany – commented the Councilor for Productive Activities, Gianfranco Simoncini – research and innovation are ideal factors to attract and develop talent, ideas and capital. It is important to create our ‘excellence’ that can then enter the international market. This event in the heart of Europe is an important opportunity for companies that want to invest in innovation and be more competitive.” The Tuscany Region’s support in favor of start-ups is part of its efforts towards research, development, and businesses innovation. “Three calls – continues Simoncini – have been funded with €8 million by the Region, but soon there will be a fund of €200 million, thanks to the ERDF 2014-2020 program. We have already seen encouraging results: the first phase ended with the presentation of 592 projects from 1,000 companies, for a total request for funding of €150 million. But we also focused on start ups, launching a comprehensive package to support the establishment of small businesses.” (Red)
