ISSNAF and TEF together to celebrate Italian Innovators in North America

ISSNAF is proud to announce a new category within the esteemed ISSNAF Awards: the ISSNAF Innovator Award, specifically the TEF Award for STEM Entrepreneurs. Dedicated to recognizing young innovators, this award will make its debut during the ISSNAF Annual Event 2025 at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, DC. 

This category celebrates Italian researchers and innovators in North America who have demonstrated the exceptional ability to combine scientific excellence with entrepreneurial impact, creating meaningful benefits on both sides of the Atlantic. 

By honoring these remarkable individuals, the award reinforces the mission of ISSNAF to foster connections between Italian talent abroad and the global innovation ecosystem. 

Spotlight on Robotics 

For its 2025 inaugural edition, the award will be dedicated to innovators in the field of robotics—a discipline at the forefront of technological advancement, with profound implications for industry, healthcare, and society. 

A strategic partnership 

The award has been made possible through the generous support of the Tech Europe Foundation (TEF), a non-profit established in Milan in 2024 by leading institutions including Politecnico di Milano, Bocconi University, Fondazione ION, and FSI, with the support of the Milan Chamber of Commerce. 

TEF is developing one of Europe’s largest deep-tech innovation hubs in Milan’s Bovisa district. Its mission is to transform cutting edge academic research into entrepreneurial ventures with global relevance. By providing training, mentorship, and strong ties to the ventur capital community, TEF offers the infrastructure and resources needed to scale innovation from lab to market. 

This vision is closely aligned with ISSNAF’s mission to recognize and support Italian innovators in North America. Together, TEF and ISSNAF are fostering transatlantic connections that promote the circulation of talent, ideas, and opportunities. 

The collaboration rests on four main pillars.   First, joint mobility programs will allow PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers to engage in research and technology transfer experiences between Italy and North America, creating a genuine two-way flow of expertise. Second, a transatlantic mentorship program will connect entrepreneurs and researchers from both ecosystems, fostering long-term collaboration. Third, ISSNAF will make the expertise of its network of Italian scholars in North America available to TEF, contributing to the evaluation of research projects, doctoral and postdoctoral programs, as well as to open innovation initiatives and global challenges. Finally, the partnership includes the TEF Award, which highlights outstanding contributions and reinforces the link between the Italian and North American innovation communities. 

Together, these initiatives are cultivating a bi-directional talent bridge that strengthens the ecosystems of Italy and the United States, fueling innovation and entrepreneurial growth on both sides of the Atlantic. 

An significant recognition 

The TEF Award will be presented to a mid-career researcher or innovator of Italian origin working in North America who has already demonstrated the ability to translate scientific research into entrepreneurial activity with measurable societal or commercial outcomes. 

Candidates will be evaluated based on: 

• Innovation and Entrepreneurial Impact: founding or co-founding a company, developing products or technologies that reached the market, evidence of technology transfer or commercialization. 

• Scientific and Technological Excellence: high-impact research, patents, publications, or contributions addressing global challenges. 

• Transatlantic Engagement: active collaborations between North America and Italy, fostering cross-border knowledge and innovation. 

• Societal and Economic Impact: job creation, public benefit, or economic value generated by the innovation. 

The award will be conferred at the ISSNAF 2025 Annual Event at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, DC.

Celebrating Innovation Across the Atlantic 

With the TEF Award for STEM Entrepreneurs, ISSNAF and TEF reaffirm their commitment to recognizing and supporting Italian talent in North America, while promoting stronger scientific, entrepreneurial, and cultural ties between Italy and the United States and Canada.

Find more information: https://www.issnaf.org/innovation-awards