Big data & green: data science is at the heart of the Impact Deal, the first European program of business acceleration with social and environmental impact that has been launched by Fondazione CRT, OGR Torino and Microsoft. The aim, as stated by the three entities that presented the project, is to give shape to a system of concrete actions to enhance data and the skills related to their use. In a joint note, in fact, it has been specified that "Impact Deal was created with the aim of stimulating, through the application of data science, the growth of entrepreneurial activities with social and environmental purposes, also favoring the evolution of more traditional ones through the integration of existing models and new business plans". To achieve these goals they also involved Top-IX, The Data Science for Social Good Center, Impact Hub, Ashoka and The Data Appeal Company.
The first Call for Impact Enterprises to access the program was launched on February 3, 2022 on impactdeal.eu and will remain open until April 3, 2022. The program will connect large corporations with social and environmental impact startups, with the involvement of investors, mentors and data science experts. This call will select companies from across Europe to participate in this hybrid, in-person and remote accelerator program, developed in two main phases:
- PHASE 1: training path for specific skills in the fields of Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Entrepreneurship. Duration: 2 months.
- PHASE 2: a selection of companies will have access to this phase and will have the opportunity to participate in a business acceleration process - thanks to training, mentorship and strategic collaborations - aimed at developing projects, proof of concept and solutions enabled by big data. Duration: 3 months.
The second phase will end with a Demo Day in which the accelerated companies will present the results and progress of the months of work spent to a group of potential investors specialized in impact investing.
To support the entire program, a group of companies, organizations, public and private entities has been formed, the Data Club, and it will contribute to the process of acceleration of business projects by putting their datasets at the service of the community, as a contribution to this collaborative project with social and environmental impact The first entities to join the Data Club are Banca Sella, Fondazione Snam and City of Turin , which have provided resources and data, both open and proprietary, to accelerate the social and environmental impact of the selected companies.
Massimo Lapucci, Secretary General of Fondazione CRT and CEO of OGR Torino, commented: " Fondazione CRT's support for social entrepreneurship and the Data for Good movement finds its further and natural evolution in the new specific acceleration program that comes to life in collaboration with Microsoft. Data will be used for the creation of social value at the service of the community through new models of collaboration and strong support for innovation, aimed at improving the quality of people's lives. This will also favor the reduction of growing inequalities and the evolution towards a new sustainable balance in respect of the environment and for a more conscious use of the planet's natural resources ".
Matteo Mille, Chief Marketing & Operations Officer of Microsoft Italy, added: "Together with OGR Torino and Fondazione CRT we are looking for innovators who, with the support of digital technology, can generate a positive impact in Italy, Europe and the world and push the accelerator of sustainable change. It is now clear to everyone how an intelligent use of data can be a real driver of development and competitiveness able to unlock the potential of organizations of all sizes and sectors. Technological innovation, Cloud and Artificial Intelligence in primis, now allows us to identify data and insights and transform them into valuable information, not only to increase the business of a company but to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable development, protecting the environment and improving the quality of life".
