The new edition of Premio 2031, the 'prize of prizes' of Italian innovation with millions of euros of prize money up for grabs for start-ups, SMEs and innovative companies, has been officially launched. Organised by the 2031 association, with Italian Tech, the competition sees the presence of over one hundred partners with 41 prizes, of which 14 corporate and 26 promoted by incubators, accelerators, science and technology parks. A great effort made possible thanks to the main partners Business International - The Executive Network Fiera Milano, Cisco, Lendlease and Repower, the digital partner Fondazione Italiana Accenture in collaboration with InnovUp - Italian Innovation & Startup Ecosystem, and the support of the entire Italian innovation system.
Premio 2031 is a competition open to individuals, project teams, start-ups and already established enterprises that have a new business idea capable of generating an economic spin-off and a positive social impact mainly on Italian territory, with headquarters and development base in Italy, but capacity for international growth. Subdivided into two calls, 2031 allows through a single application to compete for several paths at the same time. The 40 competition partners have the opportunity to select the finalist start-ups for their single award. Proposed ideas must be original, innovative and viable, financially sustainable and able to generate economic returns. Participation is free of charge.
There are plenty of opportunities to get your idea off the ground, with prizes from major multinationals and global corporations from the banking sector to energy, from telecommunications to technology, from health to medical, from agriculture to fashion, and even digital. Also up for grabs, through participation in the two calls for entries, are the mentoring courses offered by the network of incubators - including I3P, which offers 12 months of incubation to the most interesting young innovative realities - and affiliated science and technology parks, as well as various special prizes promoted by InnovUp's corporate partners.
"There is no time to wait. We have everything to rethink and reinvent. We are living in exceptional times where new ideas are crucial to give meaning and a new shape to the world we live in, in every sector, especially in the ESG, environmental, social and governance fields," said Cristiano Seganfreddo, President of 2031. "This is an extraordinary group of innovation players, making a difference, thanks to multinational tech and large companies, entrepreneurs, ventures, angels, journalists, and innovators of all kinds. This prize of prizes really changes the lives of the start-ups and companies that participate in it."
"We are at a stage of maturity for innovation, which must become structural and not simply an ambition or a fad," commented Riccardo Luna, Director of Italian Tech. "The next five years will be crucial for rewriting the Italy we want by taking up the great challenges of digital, technology, ESG, sectors in which Italy can be and is a leader. There will also be endless construction sites, with PNRR funds, that will generate the greatest digital and technological transformation in our history."
All ideas will be selected by a selection committee of over fifty members. To participate, one must fill in the online form from the 'Participate' section of www.2-0-3-1.com, in accordance with the deadlines:
- call for proposals opening date: 26 May 2022;
- deadline for submission of proposals: 14 July 2022;
- award ceremony Network Incubators and Science and Technology Parks: November 2022, Milan;
- final event: December 2022, Milan.
