BIAT - Innovation and High Technology Lab, BIAT - Innovation and High Technology Lab, funded under the Cohesion Action Plan of Italy's Economic Development Ministry, is an initiative designed to enable enterprises and research systems of southern Italy - in particular the regions of  Abruzzo, Molise, Sardinia, Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, Apulia and Sicily -  to express their full potential for innovation and excellence. The event is organised by the Italian Trade Agency in collaboration with the partnering Regional Governments.

BIAT aims to promote the placing on the market and/or the transfer of innovative products and services or high technology and intangible assets (patents in particular) by matching commercial and technology supply and demand between startups, innovative SMEs, business networks, universities, technology parks and foreign counterparts. 
The event is divided into 3 distinct phases: 

collection of project proposals that can be applied to commercial, industrial, and technological enterprises of the South Italy Regions.

identification of foreign counterparts through an online matchmaking system that will allow foreign companies to consult the summaries of proposed projects and select those of interest.

carrying out of meetings between Italian and foreign counterparts. 

The sectors involved include biotechnology, green economy (circular economy, renewable energy, environment), ICT, innovative materials, nanotechnologies, technologies for smart cities.

The 2020 edition of BIAT was held from 9 to 11 December 2020 on Fiera 365, the Italian Trade Agency’s online exhibition platform.

Almost 100 Italian startups signed to meet with the international delegates from 26 countries: Austria, Belgium, China, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, India, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States. Machines Italia Canada recruited a delegation of venture capitals and angel investors to attend the event, including: Kanata VC, Panache VC, NACO – National Angels Capital Organization, Intergen Connect, Vitaliz,  Canadina International Capital, Eliquimedia, CVCA – Canadian Venture CapitalAssociation, Scale UP Ventures, DealPoint.

For further information on BIAT 2020 please visit: www.biat-ita.it or contact toronto [at] ice.it ?subject=Machines%20Italia%20Newsletter">toronto [at] ice.it