Since 2007, the Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) operates within the framework of the Province of Trento to develop scientific research and to bring the region to the top of technology innovation, establishing partnerships with national and international companies. Incubators of technology innovation are the Center for Information Technology (ICT) and the Center for Materials and Microsystems (CMM), located at the Science Park in Povo (TN). Exploring new technology solutions in a “non-competitive” context for areas of common interest is certainly the key element that characterizes the collaboration developed by FBK and determines their success. Some important partnerships are the ones developed with Unifarm and Green Energy Storage.
With an agreement signed in the fall of 2014, the Foundation and Unifarm cooperate on the development of scientific research projects. The projects that are part of this agreement relate to the development of e-health tools, nutrition and food intolerances, ICT applications and DataExpress. In particular, DataExpress, an innovative platform for big data for the pharmaceutical market, has been developed involving the Scientific Unit FBK Predictive Models for Biomedicine (MPBA), coordinated by Dr. Cesare Furlanello. The challenge accepted by the MPBA team was to build a system of flexible analysis of the logistics platform of Unifarm SpA. During 2015, the first version of DataExpress, based on cloud services and applications, has recorded more than 500 responsible retail affiliates. The forecasts suggest that DataExpress will soon reach the target of 12,000 pharmacies in Italy.
Another important example of how innovation is developed by FBK, is the most recent collaboration with Green Energy Storage Srl (GES). Towards the end of July of this year, the GREENERSYS project was submitted, presented under the Law 6 (which enables the development of industrial research projects in the Province of Trento) by GES. The scientific director for this project is Dr. Luigi Crema, head of research ARES – Applied Research on Energy Systems, a unit of FBK. The project has the aim of developing an innovative flow battery system for the storage of electrical energy, with high-performance and low cost characteristics. The battery is using an electrolyte of organic nature and innovative components with reduced use of expensive metals. When the project will be approved, the start-up Green Energy Storage will transfer its headquarters to Trento and will have an initial incubation at FBK, in close collaboration with the research units involved.
This project allowed the start of a collaboration between FBK and Management Innovation, with which the Foundation is starting a dialogue for future collaborations.
