The IMPaKT Hub Project – KTM Line (Innovation Management in Pavia through Knowledge Transfer Hub) has been developed under the UTT 2025–2027 call issued by the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT). The call supports initiatives aimed at strengthening and enhancing the capacity of Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) within Italian universities, public research organizations (EPRs), and Scientific Institutes for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare (IRCCS), with the objective of increasing the volume and effectiveness of technology transfer to the industrial sector.
Project duration: 01/07/2025 - 30/09/2027
Scientific Coordinator: Ilaria Capozzo, Head of Impact Unit
Contract Numbers (CUP): B17G25000190001
Funding Authority: Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy – Italian Patent and Trademark Office (UIBM)
Project Objectives
The IMPaKT Hub project builds on the previous IMPaKT initiative and pursues a dual objective: on one hand, to strengthen the so-called “first mile”, that is, the initial phase in which research results emerge and are assessed for their application and market potential; on the other, to create a stable collaborative ecosystem capable of connecting academia with companies, investors, and other innovation stakeholders.
To achieve these objectives, the project is structured along three main operational pillars:
(1) promoting an entrepreneurial culture within academia;
(2) mapping and prioritizng research areas with high potential for technological development, including through the use of artificial intelligence tools;
(3) developing a stable network of partnerships with public and private entities to accelerate the valorization of research.
The project includes the recruitment of two Knowledge Transfer Managers (KTMs), who will work alongside the Head of the School’s Technology Transfer Office (Impact Unit), with the aim of strengthening internal scouting activities, improving intellectual property (IP) management, and facilitating the transformation of research outcomes into high-impact innovative opportunities.
A central element of the IMPaKT Hub project will be the design and implementation of the “entrepreneurship cycle,” a structured program that integrates training, mentoring, and venture-building activities to develop the entrepreneurial potential of PhD candidates and recent PhD graduates. The program supports the most promising research results from the ideation stage through to market application, combining scientific rigor with practice-oriented innovation pathways. The entrepreneurship cycle has already taken its first concrete step with the launch of the IUSS Call for Ideas 2025, an initiative aimed at collecting and developing highly innovative proposals. The Call represents an initial step toward the creation of new knowledge-intensive ventures and the strengthening of dialogue between research and industry.
Support Services for Local SMEs
As a continuation of the previous project, IMPaKT Hub aims to further strengthen engagement with local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through structured awareness-raising and initial support activities focused on industrial property (IP).
Through company visits and direct engagement opportunities, the two KTMs will help identify companies’ innovation needs and support them in understanding, managing, and leveraging their intellectual property. They will provide practical, tailored guidance based on the specific context of each business.
Activities will also include the presentation of the Knowledge Share platform, promoting its use as a tool to access technologies, expertise, and collaboration opportunities with the research system.
If you are interested in receiving more information or accessing the service, please contact us at: impatto@iusspavia.it.