Rome: The Italian innovation ecosystem is enriched with a new centre of excellence to boost high-potential technological solutions. Now marks the debut of the Business Innovation Factory (BIF), Leonardo’s startup accelerator created in partnership with LVenture Group.
Leonardo’s new accelerator aims to select, for the next three years, up to 10 startups a year that will develop innovative solutions capable of expanding the company’s offer of digital services, enhancing one of the world leaders in Aerospace, Defence & Security.
The first call is open to national and international university startups and spin-offs – also in the constitution phase – and it focuses on two specific verticals.
The first is the servitisation area, valuing solutions and platforms for data collection and data exploitation to create and deliver innovative services in Anything-as-a-service (Xaas) mode. The second includes solutions for mobility, navigation, planning and interaction of movements for autonomous systems and for the integration and enhancement of existing systems.
Until March 14 startups will be able to apply directly online on the www.leonardoaccelerator.com website, by filling out the dedicated form. Startups must have developed software solutions with a working Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or hardware with consolidated traction in the two verticals of interest. Exploiting technologies such as Cloud, 5G and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a plus.
The selected startups will participate in the five-month acceleration program in the Business Innovation Factory spaces at the Hub of LVenture Group, one of the leading innovation hubs in Europe.
The program, carried out by LVenture Group, will share the vertical skills of its team in the main strategic areas for business growth with the startups, according to their unique Full-Stack approach: a 360° support from acceleration to exit.
The most successful startups after the acceleration program will access a further investment by Leonardo and LVenture Group and will be able to develop a Proof of Concept (PoC), to test their technological solutions with the various business units of Leonardo.
The launch of the Business Innovation Factory is part of Leonardo’s approach to innovation that is based, according to the Be Tomorrow 2030 strategic growth plan, on interaction and collaboration between different internal and external players, to encourage the sharing of ideas and knowledge, fueling opportunities for new essential technological solutions.
Leonardo, a global high-technology company, is among the top world players in Aerospace, Defence and Security and Italy’s main industrial company.
