Innovation in Sicily: Digital and Sustainable Opportunities for Businesses with the STEP Platform

At a crucial moment for the Sicilian economy, new and promising opportunities are emerging for companies aiming for innovation and digitalisation. MAD Management Advisor is at the forefront of guiding companies through this transformation path.

The STEP Program: springboard for innovation

The Sicilian Region recently announced an investment of 615 million euros through the STEP program (Strategy for Planned Economic Transformation), part of the ERDF Sicily 2021-2027. This ambitious plan focuses on two strategic technology areas:

1. Digital technologies, with approximately €369 million allocated to projects involving artificial intelligence, 5G networks, blockchain, cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT).
2. Clean energy technologies, aiming to promote environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.

The President of the Region, Renato Schifani, underlined how these investments represent a crucial opportunity to modernize the Sicilian production fabric and make it more competitive on an international level.

A Hub for Digital Transformation

In line with this vision of innovation, the University of Palermo recently presented its Digital Transformation and Technology Transfer HUB. This new ecosystem, located on the university campus in viale delle Scienze, presents itself as a center of services advanced to promote innovation and stimulate the digital transformation of Sicilian businesses. The hub, the result of collaboration between universities, institutions and industrial partners of national importance, offers a series of services aimed at providing the tools necessary to face digital challenges, improve the competitiveness of companies and promote sustainability. Partners involved include Bio4Dreams, Bi-REX, Deloitte, our EHT consortium and Materias, each bringing specific expertise in different innovation sectors.

The Key Role of Facilitated Finance

In this context of rapid evolution and opportunities, the subsidized finance it becomes a fundamental tool for companies that want to access available funds and carry out innovative projects. MAD Management Advisor presents itself as a strategic partner for interested companies, offering:

1. In-depth analyzes of the opportunities offered by the STEP program and other regional and national initiatives.
2. Support in the development of innovative projects in line with the objectives of the funding programs.
3. Complete management of the procedures for accessing financing, from the submission of the application to the final reporting.
4. Consulting to make the most of the resources and skills offered by the new Digital Transformation and Technology Transfer HUB.

Towards an Innovative Future

The convergence between the STEP programme, the establishment of the new university hub and specialist skills in subsidized finance creates a unique ecosystem for innovation in Sicily. Businesses will have the opportunity to:

• Access significant funding for digitalisation and sustainability projects.
• Collaborate directly with the academic and research world.
• Benefit from advanced services for digital transformation.
• Increase your competitiveness on the national and international market.

As MAD Management Advisor, we are part of this transformation. We invite all Sicilian businesses to seize these unique opportunities to innovate, grow and contribute to a more sustainable and digital future for our region. Please do not hesitate to contact us for personalized advice on how your company can benefit from these new resources and initiatives. Together, we can transform challenges into opportunities and lead Sicily towards a future of prosperity and innovation.