A stage for innovation and a showcase for entrepreneurial projects with high scientific and technological content: the Great-ER (Growing and Empowering Advanced Technologies in Emilia-Romagna) Demo Day marked on November 4th, at the DAMA Technopole in Bologna (Italy), the conclusion of an 11-month journey during which 12 deep tech startups and spin-offs from the Emilia-Romagna region grew and consolidated through an advanced incubation program. The program was promoted by Almacube and the four universities of Emilia-Romagna – Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, University of Ferrara, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, and University of Parma – and has received funding from the European Funds of the Emilia-Romagna Region (ERDF 2021–2027).
“Great-ER has shown how collaboration among universities, incubators, and companies can generate real value for the regional innovation ecosystem, opening up new opportunities for growth and capital attraction,” commented Shiva Loccisano, CEO of Almacube.
The Protagonists
The startups incubated within Great-ER (Growing and Empowering Advanced Technologies in Emilia-Romagna) represent a snapshot of the new generation of European tech enterprises: teams capable of combining research, vision, and industrial execution, with tangible results in key sectors for digital and sustainable transition. From 3D bioprinting to artificial intelligence applied to manufacturing, from clean energy to mechanical and digital safety, these projects demonstrate how innovation can become a concrete driver of growth—locally and beyond.
Among the most significant results achieved during the program are market-ready technologies, international patents, ongoing investment rounds, and European awards that highlight the strength of the regional innovation ecosystem.
In total, during their participation in Great-ER in 2025, the startups raised over €1 million in public and private capital.
Nine deep-tech startups and spin-offs presented their solutions during the Demo Day. Among them:
- Daidalos – Provides a hardware accelerator for AI algorithms that reduces computation time and energy consumption, optimizing overall performance compared to traditional solutions.
- Genesys Bio – Offers portable and rapid diagnostic solutions for infectious diseases, combining genetic analysis and AI to detect pathogens anytime, anywhere.
- Magnetic Future – Develops contactless superconducting power supplies that drastically reduce energy consumption and operating costs for machines using superconducting magnets.
- O-Damp – Offers a helmet protection technology that reduces the risk of brain injury by absorbing rotational accelerations without compromising design or comfort.
All these ventures exemplify the vitality of the regional ecosystem and its ability to transform research into business. They operate in the strategic sectors long pursued by Great-ER and the Emilia-Romagna Region: clean, safe, and accessible energy; circular economy; materials innovation; digitalization; artificial intelligence and big data; manufacturing 4.0 and its future evolutions; and the cities and communities of the future.
The Demo Day represented for the startups the opportunity to present their projects to companies, investors, institutions, and innovation stakeholders, during the Pitching Session.
The Demo Day not only marked the end of this first edition but also laid the foundations for a new generation of regional deep tech companies ready to compete on a European scale.
Great-ER: A Fertile Ecosystem for the Future:
Launched in September 2024, Great-ER supported startups and spin-offs with specialized free services worth €20,000 for each participant, including personalized coaching, mentorship with experienced entrepreneurs, expert consulting, training, networking opportunities, and introductions to investors and companies.
The goal is to foster the development of innovative solutions in strategic sectors for Emilia-Romagna — from clean energy to new materials, from digitalization to manufacturing 4.0, and the cities of the future.
More information can be found at: https://www.almacube.com/landing/great-er/
* Image generated by AI