Agire Foundation creates innovation platform for SMEs

Based in Ticino, the innovation agency Agire Foundation has developed a new service for SMEs seeking support for a certain innovation. On its online platform Scouting Days Agire, the agency brings together different players to achieve a specific common goal. Companies can submit their innovation project, which Agire then launches on its platform as a “call for innovation”.

The Agire Foundation makes its network of services and international contacts in the field of innovation available to SMEs to accompany the development phases of the project. It also provides the infrastructure for a final event at the Tecnopolo Ticino in Manno, which is part of the Association of Swiss Technology Parks and Business Incubators Swissparks.ch.

The Scouting Days platform consists of several instruments and events, which have different formats and targets. In the context of the Scouting for Investors format, the Foundation organizes special events where Ticino investors meet local startups, and vice versa, to find possible investments. Through this initiative, Agire aspires to bring new subjects, and especially “family offices” of private wealth management, towards investment in this specific segment of startups.

The first call for innovation came from Sintetica, a pharmaceutical company based in Mendrisio in Ticino. It has launched a competition for startups in the field of perioperative care and critical care focused on digital health and disease management. In addition to a partnership with Sintetica, the winner will receive a prize of 25,000 Swiss francs.