On February 4-5, 2026, the Life Sciences Matching & Demo Day brought together more than 70 participants from across Italy and Austria.
Representatives from business, research, technology transfer, and institutional sectors gathered at the Urban Centre in Trieste to foster networking, collaboration, and the development of cross-border innovation ecosystems.
The event was hosted by the FVG Cluster for Life Sciences and organised within the framework of the Interreg Italy–Austria project “PROMOS”, led by ICGEB, which aims to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry to facilitate the implementation of biomedical solutions in the cross-border area.
With the collaboration of the network PerfeTTO and the Austria Business Agency (ABA), the initiative became a truly international event, connecting innovation networks across Italy and Austria. “Such events are essential to break isolation,” says Matthias Fill, Head of the Tech Transfer Food & Health Unit of NOI TechPark in Bolzano, co-organiser of the event.
The two-day event was designed as a matching platform, combining keynote lectures and panel discussions with structured pitching sessions. Companies and innovators presented technologies and business propositions to a targeted audience, laying the groundwork for tailored matchmaking activities and setting the stage for the bilateral meetings.
“One-to-one focused exchanges are an effective tool for fostering knowledge transfer, identifying collaboration opportunities, and initiating strategic partnerships,” comments Dr. Serena Zacchigna, Lead Partner of the project, adding: “These organizations play a pivotal role in managing and strengthening regional innovation ecosystems.”
Roundtable sessions with the PROMOS Alliance highlighted how effective technology transfer requires a clear thematic focus and that early involvement of investors can contribute to successful innovation pathways. Participants presented their respective ecosystems, including models to support innovators and identify new opportunities. By facilitating strategic partnerships among companies, research centres, healthcare institutions, and startups, the transformation of research and innovation ideas into concrete projects and business ventures can take place.
The next PROMOS event is set to take place at the ICGEB in Trieste on 18 February 2026. The focus will be on advancing technology transfer in clinical settings and exploring best practices in cell therapy to foster synergies between regional initiatives in Italy, Austria, and Slovenia.
In addition, the 2nd edition of PerfeTTO Match-Up will take place from 1 to 3 July 2026, three days dedicated to connecting expertise, fostering partnerships, and generating impact.
This event was co-funded by the European Union.