On 13 November, the Final Event of the first edition of the IUSS Call for Ideas 2025 took place at Venice International University (VIU), where the ten finalist teams presented their entrepreneurial ideas to a jury composed of investors and innovation experts.
The event marked the conclusion of a comprehensive training and mentoring program that, over the past months, guided participants in developing entrepreneurial skills and transforming their ideas into projects designed to create value for the market and society alike.
The program began in Mantua, at UniverMantova, with two days of workshops focused on the entrepreneurial potential of academic research. Participants then followed a structured training and mentoring path, in collaboration with Obloo Ventures and MITO Technology, which provided young researchers with the knowledge and tools to analyze market needs, validate value propositions, and develop the communication skills required to effectively pitch their ideas to potential investors.
A roundtable with investors and young founders gave participants the opportunity to engage directly with leading figures from the innovation ecosystem, who shared practical insights and advice. The discussion highlighted both the challenges and opportunities of transforming academic research and innovation into impactful solutions.
The Five Winning Ideas of the First IUSS Call for Ideas
The five winning projects, all from the Energy & Sustainability research area, were selected by the jury. Their teams will participate in a five-day immersive experience in Silicon Valley, organized in collaboration with the Silicon Valley Fellowship Network, where they will connect with investors and key players from the global innovation ecosystem.
Below are the winning teams and their awarded ideas:
- Scalable Green Synthesis of High-Efficiency Semiconductors for Next-Gen Optoelectronics – Daniel Augusto Machado de Alencar
- Revolutionizing Recycling: Sustainable UV-Cured Coating for Fully Recyclable Packaging - Amir Akram
- Artificial leaf for CO2RR – Angela Mercedes Ronsisvalle
- Galaxy BatteryPass – Ling Li, Nouman Ahmed
- CarbonXAI: The Intelligent Pathway to Net-Zero– Angelee Mehta
The winning proposals range from the development of advanced processes for clean energy and sustainable recycling, to technologies for energy storage and CO₂ reduction, as well as digital platforms supporting companies in their ESG transition. The results of this edition further confirm the ability of young researchers to transform knowledge into tangible solutions for environmental, energy, and social sustainability.