From May 27th to 29th, the historic city of Pisa was the setting for the momentous EINST4INE Final Conference at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna. I had the privilege of organizing this significant event, which marked a key milestone for the EINST4INE project. This collaborative research initiative, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program, aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship through advanced training for early-stage researchers. The project unites leading universities and industry partners, creating a vibrant and interdisciplinary environment for cutting-edge research and innovation.
The conference brought together consortium members, early-stage researchers, industry experts, and academic leaders from across Europe to reflect on the project’s achievements and to explore future perspectives on innovation ecosystems.
Conference Highlights
Consortium Day (May 27, 2024)
The first day was dedicated to internal evaluations and retrospectives from work package leaders and early-stage researchers. Discussions ranged from the current status of the project to the human side of digital transformation, organizational decision-making, and orchestrating innovation ecosystems. The day concluded with a collaborative brainstorming session, aimed at developing a joint paper that encapsulates the collective insights of the participants.
Industry Engagement Day (May 28, 2024)
The second day emphasized the crucial collaboration between research and industry. It featured keynotes and panel discussions from industry leaders and experts, providing valuable insights into AI-enabled knowledge discovery and strategies to bridge the gap between research and industry. Notable panelists included:
- Dr. Clemens Ackermann, Deputy Managing Director of ARENA2036, who shared perspectives on the future of mobility.
- Dr. Antonio Batistini, CTO of Maire Tecnimont, who discussed the latest innovations in the energy sector.
- Dr. Debora Zrinscak, Project Manager at ARTES4.0, who focused on technology transfer and innovation.
In the afternoon, a dynamic discussion on emerging technologies and skills featured insights from:
- Prof. Darya Majid, CEO of DaxoGroup, specializing in sustainable development solutions.
- Dr. Marco Michelotti of Idrotherm2000, an industry leader in heating and plumbing technologies.
- Paolo Masini, Head of Rolling Stock Technology and System Engineering at Trenitalia.
- Francisco Javier Martin Romo, Country Manager Italy at Keenon Robotics.
- Philo Hehl, Production Engineer at EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies, specializing in clean energy solutions.
The day concluded with a delightful networking dinner at Osteria I Santi, fostering further connections and collaborations.
Future Perspectives Day (May 29, 2024)
The final day was dedicated to exploring future perspectives on research and innovation. Sessions included discussions on bridging theory and practice in business and society, insights from the Oxford Open Innovation Handbook, and enhancing proficiency in research grant proposal writing.
About EINST4INE
EINST4INE (The European Training Network for InduStry Digital Transformation across Innovation Ecosystems) is a visionary project funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program. Its goal is to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship through advanced training for early-stage researchers. The project brings together leading universities and industry partners to create a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment for groundbreaking research and innovation. The consortium includes prestigious institutions such as:
- Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (SSSA), Italy
- RMIT University, Spain
- University of Cambridge, UK
- Aarhus University, Denmark
- University of Stuttgart, Germany
- LUT University, Finland
- LUISS University, Italy
The EINST4INE Final Conference not only highlighted the significant progress made by the project but also paved the way for future collaborations and innovations. The event showcased the incredible work being done to foster innovation and entrepreneurship through advanced training and interdisciplinary research.
