LEAD PARTNER

The Department of Architecture (DiDA), together with the School of Architecture, is part of the University of Florence (UNIFI). As such, it operates in close, reciprocal collaboration with all relevant departments of the University, its academic and administrative bodies, relying on its solid financial standing. DiDA’s scientific and educational scope (BA, MA and PhD) is a synthesis of several dimensions which include aesthetic-humanistic, technical-scientific and economic-organizational aspects. These dimensions are in turn applied at different scales for development of landscape, planning, urban, design and fashion. The project team has been involved for years in teaching and research projects addressing the Fashion and design concepts embedded in the Ideal project. Both BAs and MAs in fashion and textile have been founded and are currently managed with active teaching and tutoring within the PhD programme. UNIFI hosts an internal incubator providing support to start ups thereby including key technology transfer. Project management is a key strength of the organization, given the involvement in several projects at national and international level, both as coordinator and partner. The staff is composed by experienced PMs and research fellows, with relevant experience including national and EU programmes. Florence and surrounding fashion district of Prato represents one of the leading fashion clusters at EU level and the University has full access and cooperation set with all stakeholders involved, including at Italian national level with key fashion players. Advice on research and development, strong orientation to MSMEs, have always represented distinguishing features. To this purpose UNIFI represents the gateway to liaise highest levels of cooperation for education and business associations in Italy and abroad, as its capacity responds to the widespread demand of know-how arising from fashion small businesses for regional competitiveness.

PROJECT COORDINATOR:
Professor Elisabetta Cianfanelli

Izmir University of Economics has various research centers and technical infrastructure in line with the importance it attaches to science and research-based technology transfer. Izmir University of Economics has 12 research centers and 14 research laboratories at TESLA (Technology Engineering and Science Laboratory) Building in which there are various related machines and equipment. All technology transfer activities planned and carried out at Izmir University of Economics are managed by Izmir University of Economics Project Development and Technology Transfer Office (IEUTTO) since 2010. As IEUTTO, academics, entrepreneurs, industry members and students are informed about national and international funds and support mechanisms in a timely manner and they are given consultancy in project development steps. Joint development of projects with industry is encouraged and steps are taken to commercialize the output of university-industry cooperation projects. Within the framework of intellectual and industrial rights, the target groups (academicians, industrialists, entrepreneurs and students) are pioneers and they are guided in the steps of corporation by ensuring their participation in appropriate programs specifically for entrepreneurship. Within the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, educational activities are carried out in the field of digital design innovation. The IUE has an advanced competence in design software, virtual prototyping and digital manufacturing methodologies, essential for the modernisation of SMEs’ design and production protocols. The university’s academic studies are dedicated to the development of eco-conscious materials and methods, thus deeply embedded in sustainable practices that catalyse sustainable development in the Mediterranean textile industry. It also offers significant inputs through education programmes designed to upgrade the skillset in the regional SME labour pool. Its extensive network of alumni and industry partners enables the university to organise the engagement of key stakeholders throughout the project scope.

Stuttgart Media University (HdM) trains media specialists for companies, organizations, and institutions, with a focus on applied academic training and strong connections to regional and national businesses. Covering a wide spectrum of media expertise, from printed to electronic media design and production, HdM actively improves academic training through multimedia didactics, eLearning methodologies, and ICT-based learning platforms. HdM has extensive experience in organizing Entrepreneurship Education and teaching entrepreneurial skills, supported by the Generator HdM Startup Center, its primary actor in fostering the start-up scene in Stuttgart. The Startup Center’s activities span three areas:
> Entrepreneurship Education: delivering (extra-) curricular events, summer schools, and innovation skill development.
> Founder Support: offering first orientation, a regional accelerator for creative industries’ start-ups, and assistance with national funding applications.
> International Projects: sharing skills and methodologies, strengthening existing structures, and hosting international competitions, events, and summer schools. The Startup Center also provides office space for start-ups, acting as an incubator that closely addresses their needs.

HdM’s established events, such as the International Entrepreneurship Education Summit, Games Day, and Media Night, promote lasting exchanges of ideas and experiences while raising public awareness. Through projects like GREENPACT, CERIecon, and Urban Shift, HdM has built a robust European network with leading Entrepreneurship Universities, connecting start-ups, policy makers, and stakeholders.
HdM brings expertise in Entrepreneurship Education, particularly Design Thinking, Effectuation, and Business Modeling, along with Social Media and Marketing Strategy, Gamification, Artificial Intelligence, User Experience, Usability, Publishing, Audiovisual Media, and Public Relations. HdM is a key player in regional, national, and transnational projects, providing innovative solutions across diverse fields.

The University of Hull (UHULL), established in 1927 and granted a Royal Charter in 1954, is England’s 14th oldest university, with a tradition of excellence in teaching and research. This commitment is reflected in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF), where 82% of Hull’s research was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. UHULL has a strong history of participation in European Union Framework Programmes for Research & Innovation. Despite Brexit challenges, the University remains engaged in seven Horizon Europe projects. Under Horizon 2020, UHULL secured 29 projects, coordinating eight, involving over 250 organisations from 29 countries, and receiving €13.3m of EU contributions. Under FP7, UHULL participated in 41 projects, receiving €11.6m in funding. The School of The Arts at UHULL, part of the Faculty of Arts, Culture, & Education, is a vibrant hub for creative disciplines, including drama, film, game and graphic design, media, music, and production. This project aligns with its strategic plan to integrate outcomes into postgraduate Immersive Design & Digital Media research and undergraduate Games and Graphic Design programs. Its Immersive Design in Extended Realities program, supported by a €300k investment in the Digital Media Hub, offers state-of-the-art XR labs equipped with VR and AR tools, biometrics haptic suits, and gaming PCs. UHULL’s supercomputing facilities also support 3D rendering for games, immersive tech, music, and virtual production, fostering collaborations with global creative industries.
UHULL’s Knowledge Exchange (KE) department transforms research into commercial, environmental, and cultural outcomes by fostering partnerships between academia and external organisations. KE initiatives drive business growth and economic impact, creating new businesses, innovative products, and stronger academia-industry partnerships. The department provides expert guidance on patenting, licensing, and commercialisation, cultivating a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship to enhance lives and drive economic growth.

Cink Venturing (CINK) is a Spanish organisation specialised in entrepreneurship and open innovation. Founded in 2011, it has managed over 400 public and private initiatives, advised more than 5,000 projects and delivered over 30.000 of training and mentoring hours. CINK works across multiple fields related to the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship, collaborating with public and private institutions to design and implement initiatives that translate innovation into sustainable impact and drive socio-economic development. Its core activities include:
> Business incubation and acceleration programmes. Tailored support for entrepreneurs in areas such as business strategy, marketing, digitalisation, internationalisation and sustainability, with dedicated expertise for the cultural and creative industries.
> Open Innovation programmes. Through structured methodologies, start-ups collaborate with large corporations, facilitating co-creation processes to address specific innovation challenges.
> Innovation hubs and labs. Management of three business incubators and two innovation hubs in collaboration with public institutions, offering start-ups mentoring, training, networking and access to resources for growth and development.
> Entrepreneurial culture development. Promotion of an entrepreneurial mindset among citizens, especially young people, and within organisations such as companies and NGOs, supporting intrapreneurship and innovation practices.