From Trentino to global innovation networks: the value of technology transfer

Italy is internationally recognised for the quality of its scientific research. Universities, research centres and public institutions produce outstanding knowledge, particularly in STEM disciplines and life sciences. Yet a significant gap remains between discoveries made in laboratories and what ultimately reaches local communities, businesses, hospitals and, in the end, people’s lives.

This is where technology transfer comes into play: turning scientific findings, expertise and technologies into innovation that generates economic and social value. This activity is becoming increasingly strategic for the country’s competitiveness and for research’s capacity to deliver impact.

The figures help illustrate this challenge. According to the European Patent Office’s Technology Dashboard 2025, Italy ranks fourth among EU countries for patent applications filed with the EPO, but files roughly one fifth as many applications as Germany, the European leader. The European Commission’s European Innovation Scoreboard also places Italy among the Moderate Innovators, highlighting how the national innovation system continues to perform below the European average.

The paradox is that the problem lies neither in the quality nor in the quantity of research. According to an analysis by the Bank of Italy, the number of Italian publications in STEM disciplines ranking among the top 10% most cited worldwide grew by 60% between 2009 and 2023, with particularly strong growth in the medical sciences.

The crucial challenge therefore lies elsewhere: turning this knowledge into innovation.

This is precisely where technology transfer plays a decisive role. Its focus extends beyond individual activities, such as managing patents or supporting the launch of a startup, to the entire process of unlocking the value of research. This involves identifying the most appropriate route forward: from protecting intellectual property to identifying industrial applications, and from building partnerships with businesses to seeking potential investors.

In the life sciences, this process takes on even greater significance. Every technology successfully translated into practical use can contribute to the development of new medicines, diagnostic tools, medical devices or innovative therapies. In this field, economic and social impact often go hand in hand: accelerating technology transfer means creating new opportunities for development while also supporting solutions that can improve, or even save, people’s lives.

For this to happen, scientific quality remains essential, but it is not enough on its own. Particularly in sectors such as biotech, development timelines are long, investment requirements are high and risks are significant. For a technology to attract investment, it must therefore address a real need, offer distinctive features compared with existing solutions, have adequate intellectual property protection and present a credible path towards industrial development.

In an increasingly global environment, unlocking the value of research also requires building relationships at both national and international levels. Innovation value chains are no longer confined to a single region: businesses, investors, universities, startups and research centres collaborate globally, sharing expertise and opportunities.

This is why HIT attended the BIO International Convention this past June, one of the world’s leading life sciences events. With more than 20,000 participants from over 70 countries, the event brings together the international innovation ecosystem, providing valuable opportunities to connect and develop new collaborations.

With the same objective, HIT will take part in Meet in Italy for Life Sciences in October. Promoted by ALISEI, the event brings together businesses, institutions, the research community and technology transfer officers from Italy and across Europe, spanning the entire value chain from laboratory research to patient care.

For us, taking part in these events means showcasing technologies developed in Trentino to a wide audience, but it also goes much further. It means listening to businesses, keeping up with emerging trends in biotech and medtech, understanding evolving industry needs, identifying new partners and strengthening relationships that often take years to develop into concrete collaborations. This work helps connect Trentino’s research ecosystem with national and international innovation networks, creating more opportunities to bring technologies developed in the region into practical use.

For Trentino, this approach is a distinguishing strength. The region’s high-quality research and the close integration of scientific expertise, infrastructure and businesses provide a solid foundation for new collaborations. HIT’s role is to strengthen these connections, both within the region, among its different stakeholders, and beyond it, linking the ecosystem with potential national and international partners so that the value generated by research can translate into tangible benefits for everyone.

Unlocking the value of knowledge goes beyond economic growth alone: it fosters new skills, creates skilled jobs, strengthens business competitiveness and contributes to regional development through sustained collaboration between universities, research organisations, industry and institutions. It is a driver of development that sets virtuous cycles in motion, generating shared value across the region, as highlighted by ASTP in its Knowledge & Technology Transfer Metrics Report.

In a country that produces outstanding research, true competitive advantage therefore lies not only in generating new knowledge, but in creating the conditions for that knowledge to become innovation. This is why technology transfer is now one of the most important investments in the future: it fulfils the very purpose of research, turning knowledge into opportunities, development and quality of life.