On 7 November 2024, the Innovative SME Award 2024 (“Premio PMI Innovativa 2025”) took place at the Polo Tecnologico di Navacchio, promoted by InnovUp together with scientific and technology parks from five Italian regions, and organized in Tuscany with the support of Digital Innovation Hub Toscana and CNA Toscana.
Four Tuscan companies competed, with the winner earning access to the national final in early 2025:
- – ErreQuadro (AI and technical text analytics) received the Special Award from the Navacchio Tech Hub, also recognized for strong growth and international partnerships.
- – Macoev S.r.l. received the Special Award from Confindustria Toscana’s Digital Innovation Hub, highlighting its cross-sector digital transformation work, its UNI/PdR 125 gender-equality certification, and the early introduction of a corporate psychologist (since 2019).
- – Proxima Robotics (AGV/AMR software for logistics and production) received the Special Award from CNA Toscana, with real-world deployments including airports.
- – Sigma Ingegneria won the Innovative SME Award 2024 – Tuscany, thanks to its advanced robotics and drone solutions and its multidisciplinary brands (industrial automation, cultural-heritage digitization, and AI-based vision systems).
The event also featured a talk on the strategic role of SMEs in innovation by Anitec-Assinform, plus a roundtable (moderated by journalist Francesca Franceschi) focused on attracting and retaining talent, corporate welfare, and concrete actions to reduce the gender gap and advance full equality.
