MATCHIN: Politecnico di Torino makes research talent available to SMEs
Increasing the research, development, and innovation capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with an operational or production base in Piedmont by encouraging the inclusion of highly qualified profiles from the public research sector. This is the objective of the MATCHIN call (Mobilizing Advanced Talents for Competence and High Innovation), funded by resources from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which Regione Piemonte launched a few weeks ago. An important initiative with a €5 million fund for companies for the direct hiring or temporary mobility of researchers, with the specific objective of strengthening companies’ innovation capacity. Politecnico, a university whose DNA includes support for territorial development, helps companies seize and effectively implement this important opportunity. Giuliana Mattiazzo, Vice Rector for Scientific and Technological Innovation, explains the core of the project and Politecnico’s commitment to its implementation.
Why is the MATCHIN call important, and what does a researcher bring to a company?
“Politecnico is a central player in the Piedmont innovation ecosystem, thanks first and foremost to the expertise of its research staff. The MATCHIN call allows SMEs to directly leverage this expertise, by incorporating these highly qualified professionals on a permanent or temporary basis. Maintaining a high level of competitiveness is essential, and a researcher is accustomed to solving complex problems with original solutions, naturally identifying new opportunities for innovation. Piedmont SMEs have a strong base of expertise that, however, is often undersized in relation to current conditions and needs and must in any case be adapted to the complexity and speed of innovation processes. Last but not least, this call represents an excellent professional opportunity for researchers, in a context different from the university”.
So Politecnico supports this initiative and the participation of its staff?
“Certainly. Politecnico, together with the other Piedmont universities, strongly supports the initiative. It is both an incentive and an additional tool to connect local companies with the academic and scientific community, fostering cooperation. This is an objective the University has pursued for years, more recently also through measures funded by the PNRR, in strategic areas at national and European levels”.
What exactly does MATCHIN provide?
“The call funds the hiring of researchers holding a PhD through non-repayable grants. Alternatively, it supports the temporary mobility of researchers, technologists, and professors through specific agreements between SMEs and research organizations”.
In practical terms, what must companies do to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the call?
“A company must have a research and innovation challenge and, on that basis, identify a researcher with the appropriate skills to address it. From March 2, it will then be possible to submit a funding application. To facilitate the selection of the right profile, Politecnico’s Career Hub has activated a portal through which companies can indicate their innovation needs and their interest in recruiting researchers from the University. In parallel, the Career Hub can search for suitable profiles aligned with companies’ needs. In addition, thanks to the Research Database, companies can consult researchers’ profiles, while researchers can easily make their skills and experience visible to companies”.
MATCHIN can therefore truly be a tailor-made tool for SMEs aiming to take a qualitative leap.
“I would say so. It is an innovative measure that can strengthen the competitiveness of local companies while at the same time offering researchers valuable professional development opportunities. It fully aligns with the European Union’s strategic directions for competitiveness and the valorization of research talent. MATCHIN represents an important example and an opportunity not to be missed”.
Interested SMEs can write to careerhub@polito.it to indicate their innovation needs and their interest in collaborating with researchers from Politecnico di Torino.