Scientifica and IREFI launch the second edition of the Call4Ideas connecting research, industry and capital to strengthen Europe’s technological competitiveness
In a global landscape increasingly defined by competition over critical technologies – from artificial intelligence to advanced materials, from quantum technologies to advanced manufacturing – Scientifica announces the second edition of Super Sapiens Europe, the international Call4Ideas dedicated to identifying and accelerating deep tech startups strategic to Europe’s technological future.
The initiative, developed in collaboration with IREFI – Institut pour les Relations Économiques France-Italie – aims to contribute to the development of a European ecosystem capable of transforming scientific research into industrial capabilities and technological autonomy.
Applications opened on March 2 and will remain open until May 15, 2026, with finalists expected to be announced in June 2026.
Applications opened on March 2 and will remain open until May 15, 2026, with finalists expected to be announced in June 2026.
From Research to Industrial Capability
Super Sapiens Europe contributes to the broader European debate on technological sovereignty, addressing one of the continent’s most persistent structural challenges: the difficulty of converting scientific excellence into scalable companies and industrial supply chains.
The program focuses on enabling technologies including smart materials, advanced manufacturing, AI & software engineering and quantum technologies, assessing their potential impact across strategic sectors such as energy, healthcare, space, cybersecurity, robotics and infrastructure.
This approach enables the identification and support of cross-sector technological projects, dual-use solutions and innovations capable of strengthening Europe’s industrial resilience.
A Model Integrating Capital, Laboratories and Market Access
Unlike traditional Call4Ideas, Super Sapiens Europe combines financial and infrastructural tools to reduce technological risk and accelerate industrial adoption.
Selected startups will gain access to:
- direct equity investment
- non-dilutive grants for research and prototyping
- proof-of-concept projects with industrial partners
- commercial opportunities with leading corporates and stakeholders
- C-level mentorship from investors and deep tech experts
- access to Scientifica Labs and the Lab Approved network, more than 4,000 m² of advanced laboratories and distributed research infrastructure
The program aims to generate technology pipelines ready for industrial production and deployment in the European market.
Strengthening Europe’s Innovation Ecosystem
The second edition expands the network of corporates, institutions, venture capital firms and research centers involved, consolidating a value chain that connects capital, scientific knowledge and industry.
Among the industrial partners are major corporations engaged in technological transition processes – including Edison – contributing to the real-world validation of solutions and their transformation into operational applications.
“Europe has extraordinary scientific excellence, yet it still struggles to translate it into industrial capability and technological leadership. With Super Sapiens Europe, we aim to help bridge this gap by creating an infrastructure that connects capital, laboratories and markets, enabling critical technologies to emerge and scale within the continent” said Riccardo D’Alessandri, Managing Partner of Scientifica.
“Deep tech is not only about innovation: it is about economic competitiveness, supply chain resilience and technological sovereignty. This is why we need operational models capable of supporting startups beyond the research phase, guiding them through industrial validation and international growth.”
