Until September 19, it is possible to participate in the second edition of the “Trentino Innovative SME of the Year” award, an initiative aimed at enhancing the innovative small and medium enterprises in the region. The award ceremony will take place in November in Trento, highlighting the importance of SMEs in the local economic context.
## Award Details
The competition is open to **small and medium enterprises** in Trentino that are registered in the special section of the Business Register. The prizes include a monetary contribution of 5,000 euros, personalized communication and consultancy services, as well as the opportunity to participate in the national finals of the InnovUp award. Currently, only 2,874 innovative SMEs are registered in the special section, with just 41 companies represented in Trentino, a figure considered insufficient given the region’s entrepreneurial potential.
## Objectives of the Initiative
Following the success of the first edition in 2019, the award has been reintroduced with the intent of highlighting local entrepreneurial excellence and promoting the benefits of registration in the special section of the Register. The initiative is supported by **Trentino Sviluppo** and the **Chamber of Commerce**, along with the European networks EBN and Eurada, and the Insme network dedicated to SMEs.
Luca Capra, director of the Network Area at Trentino Sviluppo, stated: “With this award, we aim to fill a gap… It is essential to focus equally on SMEs, encouraging their innovative growth.” This underscores the importance of innovation as a key factor for the competitiveness of businesses.
## Participation Criteria
Interested SMEs must have their legal headquarters in the Province of Trento and meet various criteria for evaluation. These include investments in research and development, patent applications submitted between 2022 and 2024, foreign revenue, and the percentage of highly qualified personnel. Additionally, innovative aspects related to products, processes, and organizational models will also be evaluated.
## Offered Prizes
The winning enterprise will receive not only the monetary prize but also a comprehensive package of services to support business innovation. These services include specialized training, consultancy on innovation management and internationalization, coaching on European project design, as well as assistance regarding patents and trademarks. The winner will also have direct access to the national phase of the InnovUp award, where they can compete with the best enterprises from other Italian regions.
Registrations will close on September 19 at 12:00 PM. The final ceremony will take place in November in Trento. For further information regarding registration procedures, one can visit the official website dedicated to the initiative.
Italian Version
