The "Innovation Gateway Trieste-Osaka 2025" project is organized under the auspices of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) ITPO Italy, and of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region, and aims to foster international networks and global partnerships among young innovators, industries, entrepreneurs, business communities, research centres, technology producers and institutions, in order to create a smarter, greener, more connected, and more inclusive business community for designing the future society devoted to a tangible engagement and equal representation of women and youth.
The project seeks to achieve transformative changes and facilitate the global transfer of technology and entrepreneurial innovation, raise awareness on inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID), promote pioneering solutions for economic growth driven by innovation, and foresees a program of activities to link the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region innovation and business ecosystem with Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. This initiative aims to enhance the visibility of FVG companies, industries and/or enterprises on the international stage, in the fields of inclusive sustainable industrial development, food, wood\furniture and mechanics. It also focuses on promoting the active participation of women and youth in the innovation ecosystem, ensuring their equal representation in leadership roles within the industrial and technology sectors.
This call for participation “BRIDGE CALL!” encourages and invites companies, industries, and/or enterprises legally established in Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region to apply for representing the excellence of Made in Italy, specifically from the FVG Region, at Expo Osaka 2025, in alignment with the theme "Designing Future Society for Our Lives". The Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region is participating in synergy with the Chambers of Commerce System of its territory to ensure and guarantee the efficiency, effectiveness, collaboration and cooperation in order to support all the business delegations to Japan. The selected companies, industries and/or enterprises will have the opportunity to showcase their innovative solutions and cutting-edge technologies, contributing to the creation of a smarter, greener, and more inclusive future society with a pivotal participation of women. The call seeks to build an international network and a platform for dialogue, cooperation, and collaboration among businesses, innovators, and institutions, while also fostering the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and technologies among Italy, Japan, and other Countries.
UNIDO ITPO Italy, as a capacity-builder and impartial broker, in synergy with the Division of ITPOs and Institutional Partnerships (GLO/IT), especially ITPO Japan, will facilitate networking opportunities and support the development of business linkages, partnerships, and technological cooperation, complying with the UN Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly including SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 4 (Quality Education).
We encourage all eligible companies, industries, and/or enterprises from Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region, with a focus on innovation and industrial sustainability, to apply and be part of this prestigious initiative and exchange program of activities that will shape and design the future society through industrial development, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
The BRIDGE CALL aims to select Italian companies, industries, and/or enterprises from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region to participate at the Expo 2025 in Osaka and business meeting in Tokyo, Japan. The initiative seeks to foster international partnerships and networks focused on inclusive sustainable industrial development, especially in the fields of food, wood\furniture and mechanics, also promoting the active participation of women and youth.
The selected participants will be integrated into a series of exchange programs, B2B and institutional meetings, workshops, and training sessions designed to enhance their entrepreneurial capacities and accelerate their participation in the Japanese and global market. This is a unique opportunity for companies, industries and/or enterprises from Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region to engage in a transformative experience that will drive socio-economic growth and foster international network in the context of Expo Osaka 2025 in Japan. In fact, the winners will have the opportunity to establish interinstitutional networks with Italy and Japan for the exchange of information and facilitate idea creation, networking, knowledge sharing and dynamic industry events in collaboration with the UNIDO ITPOs network, particularly UNIDO ITPO Italy and UNIDO ITPO Japan.
The call is open to Italian companies, industries, and/or enterprises from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region that meet the following criteria:
1. Legally registered in Italy.
2. Have legal and operational headquarters in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region.
3. Specialize in inclusive sustainable industrial development with a focus on creating pioneering solutions for economic growth.
4. Demonstrate a commitment to inclusive and sustainable development, with particular attention to empowerment of women, and youth participation in the innovation ecosystem.
The submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria, which directly contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
The evaluation process will be conducted according to high ethical standards and the core objectives of the initiative.
The applications sent by admissible enterprises by 24th February 2025 will be submitted to a screening phase and will be considered only if completed in all their parts, in English language, and coherent with the objectives of the Call.
The submission must be sent by the dedicated online platform and require the fulfilment of the application in each part of it. Incomplete, irregular, late, false applications will not be taken into account and, consequentially, rejected.
The organizers have the prerogative to request additional information to complete the selection procedure, if deemed necessary to UNIDO ITPO Italy.
UNIDO ITPO Italy is not responsible for any disclosure information (by way of example and not exhaustive, hackers’ attacks to the system, force majeure, etc.)
The call will be open until 24th February 2025.
The results will be announced by UNIDO ITPO Italy, and they will communicate to the winner companies, industries and/or enterprises by email provided in the application form.
First phase – admissibility: The Evaluation Committee will identify participants who have respected the admissibility criteria pursuant to art 2 of the call to be admitted to the second phase.
Second phase – quality criteria: The Evaluation Committee will select up to 10 (ten) admissible winning Companies that have been awarded the highest score in ranking complying with the selection and quality criteria (art 3 of the Call). UNIDO ITPO Italy will cover the accommodation costs of the selected participants/delegates for the entire duration of the mission expected and scheduled in April 2025.
Personal data of the participants will be processed by the organizers of this Call, acting as autonomous data controller, in compliance with the regulations on personal data processing. In particular:
UNIDO ITPO Italy
During the submission phase, applicants will be asked to provide personal (including submission date and applicant’s IP address) and non-personal information. This information will be collected only with the user’s knowledge and permission and will be kept in the JotForm Inc. platforms, outside UNIDO ITPO Italy systems. Personal data will only be used by UNIDO ITPO Italy, for the following purposes: internal audit, to communicate with applicants and sending information about this initiative. Personal and non-personal data will not be made available to third parties without previous authorization by the applicant – except for the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region and Regional stakeholders of this initiative. In addition, personal and non-personal data may be also disclosed to Law Authorities for security and legal reasons.
Participating applicants acknowledge that the organizer intends to carry out a fair and open competition, with no expectation of incurring liability by virtue of such participation.
Applicants declare that any documents, image, or footage possibly involved in their applications were taken by them or that they received permission to use them, and that such materials may be used by UNIDO as provided for in these Terms and Conditions. Applicants also declare that, if applicable, permission to submit the entry in this competition has been given to them by their employers.
Applicants accept that they will be contacted by the Organizer regarding follow-up activities arising from this competition.
UNIDO ITPO Italy’s privacy and disclaimer policies apply. Links to non-UNIDO websites are provided solely as a pointer to information on topics that may be useful to UNIDO staff, Member States and the public.
The use of particular designations of countries or territories does not imply any judgement by UNIDO as to the legal status of such countries or territories, of their authorities and institutions or of the delimitation of their boundaries.
The mention of names of specific companies, industries and/or enterprises or products (whether or not indicated as registered) does not imply any intention to infringe proprietary rights, nor should it be construed as an endorsement or recommendation on the part of UNIDO.
Applicants acknowledge that UNIDO and UNIDO ITPO Italy are not going to be part of any non-disclosure agreement with respect to any document or information of any kind or nature that applicants submit to the Competition (“Disclosed Information”). All disclosed information is expressly agreed to be not confidential, with no restrictions on the use or disclosure of the disclosed information.
Nothing in and relating to these Terms and Conditions or the competition will be deemed a waiver of any of the privileges and immunities of UNIDO and UNIDO ITPO Italy.
Applicants release and hold UNIDO and UNIDO ITPO Italy harmless from any claim, liability, damage, demand or action, of any kind or nature arising out of any of the activities of the competition – including without limitation: (i) decisions on competition winners and disqualifications, regardless of whether such actions are willful or negligent, and (ii) any other injury, loss, cost, harm, liability or damage sustained by applicants as a result of any participation in the Competition, regardless of whether such injury, loss, cost, harm, liability or damage results from negligence or willful misconduct of the Organizer.
UNIDO is a specialized agency of the United Nations with a unique mandate to promote, dynamize and accelerate industrial development. UNIDO’s vision is a world without poverty and hunger, where industry drives low-emission economies, improves living standards, and preserves the livable environment for present and future generations, leaving no one behind. UNIDO ITPO Italy (the Italian Investment and Technology Promotion Office based in Rome) was created in 1987 and has the mandate to enhance the competitiveness of Companies in developing countries, through the mobilization of investments as well as the transfer of technology, innovation and management skills together with capacity building activities required for the implementation of industrial projects and Companies upgrading in developing and emerging countries.
The Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region, Republic of Italy (FVG Region), is a Regional Government which administrates the homonym territorial Region on the extreme Northeast Italy, between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea, historically represents the meeting point of the Latin, Slavic and Germanic speaking populations, being part of both Central and Mediterranean Europe at the same time. For some decades it is playing a central role in decentralized cooperation, an innovative strategy to manage international relations as a basis for the process of internationalization of the Region's territory at political, institutional, economic, social and cultural level. The Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region stands out for its expertise in green technologies, renewable energy, and sustainable practices across various industries. Its dedication to research and international collaboration, along with its experience in environmental stewardship, aligns seamlessly with the Expo’s focus on sustainable development.