CALL FOR HIGH INNOVATIVE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS IN FVG REGION

The “Call for High Innovative Sustainable Solutions” is now open for applications – until 15th July 2022!

Organized by UNIDO ITPO Italy and the Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) Region with the technical support of AREA Science Park, the Call aims to scout and select startups/SMEs with high innovative sustainable solutions from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region to participate in North Star – one of the largest tech shows for startups which runs in parallel with GITEX GLOBAL.

GITEX – to be held from 10th to 14th October 2022 at the World Trade Center (WTC) in Dubai – is one of the world’s most influential meeting places for the technology industry, bringing together thought-leaders, creators, innovators and makers to discuss new ideas, showcase cutting-edge products, and identify future challenges and opportunities.

North Star is the number one platform in the world for tech startups to showcase their products and services to +100.000 visitors. It offers unparalleled networking opportunities to connect with investors and buyers, gain industry expert insights, and access content sessions like mentorship programs, Youthx Stage, 10X stage, and beyond.

More than 70% of North Star participants are global players coming every year from all over the world, to ensure they remain well-equipped to expand within the ever-changing startup economy. https://www.northstardubai.com/

ART. 1 – OBJECTIVE OF THE CALL

This Call has the objective to scout and select 5 startups/SMEs with high innovative sustainable solutions from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, and support the selected startups/SMEs to participate in the forthcoming North Star - GITEX  2022, to be held from 10th to 14th October 2022 in Dubai.

North Star is one of the largest tech shows for innovative startups which runs in parallel with GITEX GLOBAL. The exhibition is the number one platform in the world for tech startups to showcase their products and services to +100k visitors. It offers unparalleled networking opportunities to connect with investors and buyers, gain industry expert insights, and access content sessions like mentorship programs, Youthx Stage, 10X stage, and beyond. 

The Call seeks to create a virtuous circle of connections among the private, academic, financial, and institutional worlds of the FVG Region, the United Arab Emirates and beyond, and to support young entrepreneurs and start-up ecosystems operating in the following sectors: digital transformation, smart factory and sustainable development (including artificial intelligence, robotics and immersive tech); energy transition, circular economy and environmental sustainability; smart health; bio life science; and smart cities and mobility, in line with the targets of the United Nations Agenda 2030.

ART. 2 – ADMISSIBLE CANDIDATES

The Call is addressed to young entrepreneurs of SMEs, startups and university spin-offs from the FVG Region dealing with technology and innovation in digital transformation; smart factory and sustainable development (including artificial intelligence, robotics and immersive tech); energy transition, circular economy and environmental sustainability; smart health, bio life science; and smart cities and mobility.

The organizers encourage the participation of proposals at any level of development, from very early-stage ideas to scaling-up projects, as well as innovative technologies under testing and evidence collection.

Participation to the initiative is free of charge.

ART. 3 – ADMISSION CRITERIA

The applications sent by admissible candidates by 15th July 2022 through the online form, 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.

Eligible applicants are young entrepreneurs from the FVG Region belonging to:

• Start-up
• SME
• University spin-off

Applications must target at least one of the following sectors: digital transformation; smart factory and sustainable development (including artificial intelligence, robotics and immersive tech); energy transition, circular economy and environmental sustainability; smart health, bio life science; and smart cities and mobility.

Eligible applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Business idea (es. level of innovativeness, scalability, etc.)
• Market capacity (es. problem to solve and needs, competitive added-value, target market, life cycle of the product/project, etc.)
• Business model (partnerships, governance and management, available/needed funding, funding opportunities, etc.)
• Technology (es. patents, trademarks, level of development of the solution, level of innovativeness of the applied technologies, etc.)
• Team (es. roles and responsibilities of members, skills and know-how, etc.)

The organizers have the faculty to request additional information to complete the candidature, if deemed necessary.

ART. 4 – PREPARATORY PROGRAM

Once the application phase has been completed, the participants will be informed about the outcome of the selection and included in the preparatory phase that will take place online, for two days in September 2022.

The objective of the preparatory programme is to prepare the selected participants to take part in North Star.

Participants will be given the opportunity to improve their pitch decks and their ability to present themselves and their products/projects to investors and customers.

ART. 5 – BUSINESS TRIP

The selected projects/ideas will have the opportunity to participate in a business trip to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (flight and accommodation will be covered for one representative for each selected project/idea) to participate in North Star – one of the largest tech shows for startups, which runs in parallel with GITEX GLOBAL and will be held from 10th to 14th October 2022 at the WTC in Dubai. In addition, each startup will have the possibility to count with an individual stand pod (4 sqm) and access to a marketing powerpack to maximize their visibility during the exhibition.

The evaluation process will be in line with the highest ethical standards and purposes of this initiative.

ART. 6 - Final provision

Participants' personal data 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 are asked to provide personal (including submission date and applicant’s IP address) and non-personal information. This information is collected only with the user’s knowledge and permission, and it is 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 applicant’s authorization, except for FVG Region, Area Science Park, partners of this initiative. In addition, personal and non-personal data may be also disclosed to Law Authorities for security 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 images or footages involved in the 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 employer.

Applicants accept that they will be contacted on follow-up activities arising from this competition by the Organizer.

The UNIDO ITPO Italy privacy and disclaimer 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 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.

Organizers

UNIDO is the specialized agency of the United Nations promoting industrial development initiatives under the strategic goals of reducing poverty, promoting inclusiveness and supporting environmental sustainability. UNIDO ITPO Italy (the Investment and Technology Promotion Office based in Rome) was created in 1987 and has the mandate to enhance the competitiveness of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) 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 SMEs upgrading in developing and emerging countries.

FVG Region (the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia of the Republic of Italy) is playing a central role in decentralized cooperation, as an innovative strategy to manage international relations as a basis for the process of internationalization of the Region's territory at the political-institutional and economic, social and cultural levels.

For any further information regarding this Call please contact: itpo.rome@unido.org