Since 2020, Invitalia has been a partner of TAFTIE (The European Network of Innovation Agencies).
Representing Italy together with ENEA, the Agency strengthens its presence in international debates and expands the possibilities of discussion with public and private actors active in Europe for the definition of new policies, the design of tools to support the entrepreneurial system, and the creation of a favourable environment for the development of innovation.
Regular meetings of the Executive Working Group (EWG) and the Board bring together the more than 30 organisations active in the implementation of programmes in support of innovation, including France's Bpifrance, Sweden's Vinnova, Innovation Norway, the Portuguese National Innovation Agency and Innovate UK, which holds the chairmanship of the network for the year 2022.
In December 2022, the work of the EWG and the Board was preceded by the CEO Policy Forum – 'Scaling Innovative Business', which focused on business scale-up.
Among the topics of greatest interest, the need to invest in skills development was highlighted, in response to the growing demand for new specialisations expressed by the market and the capacity of the country economic system to exploit talent and resources with high added value.
In addition, the opportunity emerged for agencies supporting innovation to foster public-private collaboration, also through the adoption of tools typical of private realities, such as the marketing-oriented approach.
Two years after joining, Invitalia has contributed to the work of several Task Forces active in the areas of state aid, equality, diversity and inclusion, agency characterisation, Taftie High Potential Communities, and sustainable development goals.
To mention just a few of the results, as part of its participation in the high-potential startup community promoted by BpiFrance, the 2021/2022 period saw the Agency identify 17 start-ups as beneficiaries of the Smart&Start Italia incentive, 6 of which were selected to participate in pitching sessions to present their projects to an audience of international investors.
As to the State Aid Network, 2022 saw the return of face-to-face meetings, in which Invitalia took part in the coordination tables held in Dublin and Bristol, with thematic focus on struggling companies and the reform of the Green and Digital Transition Exemption Regulation.
During 2022, Invitalia also curated the training session on aid for process and organisational innovation for the Taftie Academy, presenting the case study of the national Digital transformation incentive.