PNI National Award for Innovation, the 2017 edition in Naples

The 2017 Edition of the National Award for Innovation, the most important and widespread business plan competition in Italy, will start in a few days in Naples. Promoted by the Italian Association of University Incubators - PNICube, in collaboration with the Federico II University of Naples, the COINOR Center and the Campania NewSteel incubator, it will take place in the amazing San Giovanni a Teduccio headquarters of the Federico II University.

On Tuesday 7 November, at the 11, in the Hall of the Board of Directors at the Rectorate of Federico II, at Corso Umberto I, 40, will be held the press conference presenting the 2017 edition. During the meeting, we will discuss some of the features and curiosities of 65 startups from all over Italy, winners of local competitions, who will challenge the two days of the Prize; of the role of PNI sponsors in support of policies to support academic entrepreneurship; details and curiosities on the venue that will host the prize; of the participation of student associations through a creative format that will involve all students in the Campania region and the novelties related to the PNI 2017 award ceremony.

Founded in 2003 to promote and disseminate entrepreneurial culture in the academic field, and to stimulate dialogue between researchers, business and finance, the PNI is the final that can be accessed by the winners of the 16 regional Start Cups that join the circuit. A challenge among the best Italian hi-tech business projects, with a total prize pool of around 1,5 million euros: over 500.000 euros in cash and around 1 million in services, offered by the universities and incubators members of PNICube. A world, that of academia and university research, capable of giving life - as a recent survey reveals - to over 20% of the innovative startups of the Italian system.

Also this year the 65 finalist projects will compete for 4 sectoral prizes of 25.000 euros each, thanks to the category partners - IREN Cleantech & Energy, PwC ICT, FS Italiane Industrial, Clinic Center Life Sciences - and will compete for the title of overall winner of PNI 2017 , which will guarantee the academic institution of origin the PNI Champions Cup and the winning project a further recognition of 25 thousand euros to be reinvested in its hi-tech activities, offered by FS Italiane. Furthermore, two Special Mentions will be awarded (“Social Innovation” promoted by Global Social Venture Competition and “Equal Opportunity” established by MIP Politecnico di Milano) and several Special Awards made available by Embassies and prestigious partner companies.

The 2017 edition will take place on November 30th and December 1st between the Federico II University Complex of San Giovanni a Teduccio, with a program characterized by numerous events on business, innovation and culture issues: such as the B2B speed-date of November 30th. among exhibitors, investors, entrepreneurs and managers, which will be followed in the afternoon by the conference "Connecting to the Future" and the testimonies of successful business stories. On 1 December, the focus will shift to the exhibition areas dedicated to ICT, Industrial, Life Sciences and Cleantech & Energy, to then close the proceedings with the PNI Final: pitch of the finalists, show and announcement of the winners.

The PNI 2017 is promoted by the Italian Association of University Incubators PNICube, by the University of Federico II of Naples, Coinor and Campania NewSteel, in collaboration with all the universities and the research system of Campania. Main Partner: FS Italiane. Main Sponsor: Iren Group, PwC Italia, Clinic Center. Sponsor: AVNET Silica, MIP-Politecnico Milano, Unicredit Start Lab, UPMC, Vertis SGR. With the support of: AIIC - Italian Association of Clinical Engineers, Shark Bites. With the patronage of: Campania Region, British Consulate-General Milan, Global Social Venture Competition, SMAU, Startup Europe Awards 17.

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