For Idea & Sviluppo srl, the activation of a new research project brings innovation not only to its products but also to its organizational level. This project is part of the Abruzzo FESR 2021-2027 Regional Program, specifically AVVISO 1.1.1.1: “Sostegno a progetti di Ricerca e Innovazione delle imprese afferenti ai Domini tecnologici della Strategia Regionale di Specializzazione Intelligente RIS3 Abruzzo 21-27”. The project will focus on developing and producing assistive devices for the elderly and those with mild to moderate disabilities. These devices will help users perform daily activities at home and will be designed with Life Cycle Design principles in mind, ensuring environmental sustainability throughout the project’s life cycle. We recently discussed this project with Dr. Marilena Di Felice, CEO of Idea & Sviluppo srl. The conversation went beyond the company itself, exploring the broader impact of the project. By dedicating resources to this new production activity, the company undertakes a project within a project, one that will directly involve its management.
To fully realize the innovation sparked by the new research project, you’ll need to establish a dedicated company area for producing and marketing these assistive devices. The question is, what’s the best path to achieve this?
“We’ve envisioned a strategic evolution that will gradually transform us from a service company to a production company, particularly within the new area we’ll establish. This crucial shift requires acquiring new skills to complement our existing R&D expertise. Managing a product’s entire life cycle presents a new and exciting challenge, ushering us into a new era distinct from our customer-facing experiences. As a first step, we’ll immediately expand our internal R&D to focus on developing high-performing, eco-friendly materials (plant-based and non-petroleum derived). In parallel, we’ll integrate Industry 4.0-compliant company management systems across our workshop and production departments. We’re ready to embrace change, knowing it demands commitment and hard work.”
According to your estimates, what will be the positive economic impact and what benefits will you be able to enjoy even in the immediate future?
“We’re confident this project will generate a tangible positive economic impact, impacting both our intangible and tangible assets. Strengthening our brand reputation (intangible) will come from adding technical and scientific skills to our existing expertise. This shift will not only strengthen our position in the current market but also position us as leaders in new markets focused on assistive devices. Furthermore, the shift to 3D printing-centric manufacturing will deliver value for the business by potentially increasing production efficiency, while the LCD approach (Life Cycle Design) aligns with growing consumer demand for environmentally friendly products.”
The approach chosen for the management of the entire project is closely related to the theme of environmental sustainability, is it reflected in the innovation trajectories of the Fashion/Design domain of the Abruzzo Region?
“Our project bases its motivations within the macro-theme of Ecodesign in the production contexts of SMEs as an element of promotion of design and production quality. We are therefore perfectly aligned with the competitive strategy of the regional specialization domains, focusing on the ecological innovation trajectories of Design for Sustainability and Life Cycle Design (LCD).”
So, the project aims to create a new business model. Could it represent an added value and a reference for other players in the Abruzzo regional fabric as well?
“The final implementation of the project will generate a set of new design and production knowledge potentially useful to all regional companies, especially but not limited to those operating in the Design sector, which intend to innovate their productions towards sustainable product and process innovation. The combination of LCD and 3D printing generates a process-product design methodology that can be easily generalized in various product sectors. This type of product is not only conceived as tangible results of a process of methodological innovation, but as potentially useful elements to position itself in an international competitive market. Having included in the project a partnership with the world of academic research will certainly stimulate the birth of future collaborations, a privileged showcase in the regional panorama and beyond. It would be a great achievement to accelerate the territorial production chain, raising the quality standards relating to the production of sustainable industrial products in the reference domain and also favoring the local employment demand, with specialized profiles.”
