PNRR - NODES: North-West Digital and Sustainable project
The NODES – North-West Digital and Sustainable project, presented by the Politecnico di Torino together with 24 public and private partners, has been funded by the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The project has brought €110 million in funding to the Piedmont and Aosta Valley regions, as well as to the Lombardy provinces of Como, Varese, and Pavia, with an additional €15 millionallocated to research activities in Southern Italy.
The initiative aims to create one of the 11 Innovation Ecosystems promoted by the Ministry, with the goal of fostering sustainable and inclusive growth across the participating regions, in line with the twin digital and ecological transitions. The project was recognized for its potential to generate a significant impact on local industrial systems through collaboration among multiple stakeholders, creating synergies between companies, universities, and research centers.
Project coordination will be managed by a consortium of public universities, including the Politecnico di Torino, the University of Turin, and the University of Pavia. In total, the ecosystem involves 24 entities, including universities, innovation clusters, research centers, incubators, and an accelerator. Approximately €54 million of the total budget will be allocated to cascade funding calls, encouraging the participation of companies and the expansion of involved competencies.
The Piedmont, Aosta Valley, and Lombardy regional governments have committed to supporting strategic territorial priorities and promoting complementary calls in synergy with European funding programs. Several companies and local authorities have also expressed their support for the project.
Spanning three years, the project aims to establish research and industrial value chains in seven key sectors, including Industry 4.0, aerospace, green technologies, tourism and culture, health, and agri-industry. Furthermore, it seeks to foster innovation in existing SMEs, promote the creation of start-ups and spin-offs in advanced technology sectors, and attract venture capital investment. Special attention will be given to training new talents, with a focus on women’s inclusion in STEM fields and innovation in doctoral programs with industrial perspectives. Large companies will play a central role in driving industrial development, hiring qualified personnel, and implementing innovations.