Design Momentum is Designtech’s flagship design-driven acceleration program supporting Italian and international startups and innovative SMEs across industrial design, fashion, furniture, living and the built environment. The program is equity-free, with participation costs reimbursed up to 80% by Regione Lombardia, and includes a grant to support the development of a Proof of Concept (PoC).
Accelerate startups and innovative SMEs through a design-driven and market-oriented approach
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The program combines structured training, expert-led sessions and hands-on mentoring to strengthen strategic, operational and design capabilities
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Selected teams work on guaranteed and curated PoCs in collaboration with corporate partners (brand and industrial companies)
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Reduce time-to-market through applied experimentation and real-world pilots
Focus areas | Industrial Design, Fashion & Accessories, Furniture & Living, Built Environment & Habitat, Lifestyle
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Enabling technologies | IoT, AI, AR/VR, Blockchain, Additive Manufacturing, New Materials
Strategy, Business & Organization
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Funding, Finance & Grants
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Design, Branding & Communication
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Technology, AI & Data
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Intellectual Property & Legal
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Sustainability, Trends & Consumer Insight
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Sales, Marketing & Growth
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Ecosystem & Inspiring Practices
Phase 1 | Capacity Building
Foundational training and workshops to align vision, strategy, design and technology choices.
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Phase 2 | Mentoring and PoC Co-Design
One-to-one mentoring and co-design activities with Designtech’s team and ecosystem partners.
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Phase 3 | PoC Development
Hands-on prototyping, testing and validation using CoFactory facilities and technology partners.
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Phase 4 | Demo Day
Final presentation of PoCs and outcomes to corporates, partners, investors and the wider ecosystem.
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title: Digital Twin Studio by R3plica
challenge: Bridging physical design icons and digital workflows, enabling architects and designers to access certified 3D assets and integrate them seamlessly into real-time design environments.
solution: R3plica built a digital twin platform hosting certified 3D design assets, integrating materials, finishes and technical data within a virtual environment, powered by the Unreal Engine real-time rendering platform.
outcome: R3plica established the Digital Twin Studio at CoFactory, accelerating the adoption of digital twins as a core infrastructure for collaborative product and spatial innovation.
partners: Startup: R3plica | Partner(s): Designtech
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image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/695e3222967b972d9622d41b/69933806dd02afa9c75fec33_dm-puntozero.jpg
title: Designtech Originals by Puntozero
challenge: Demonstrating the real potential of large-format additive manufacturing in furniture design, moving from experimentation to tangible design applications.
solution: A fully 3D-printed large-format furniture piece developed within the Designtech Originals collection. The project leverages generative design, topology optimization and implicit modeling.
outcome: A modular furniture system showcasing new aesthetic and structural possibilities enabled by additive processes, inspired by the rhythm and fluidity of dance.
partners: Startup: Puntozero | Partner(s): Furf, Designtech
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image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/695e3222967b972d9622d41b/699338055b87d48143ab356c_dm-aura.jpg
title: Modular Forest by Aura
challenge: Reducing indoor heat while improving air quality, acoustic comfort and overall wellbeing.
solution: NBS in the form of a bio-filtering wall integrated with the building’s mechanical ventilation systems designed to purify and naturalize indoor air and support a healthier indoor bioclimate.
outcome: Up to –2°C indoor temperature reduction during summer months and improved user wellbeing.
partners: Startup: Aura | Partner(s): GARC , Mangini, Pininfarina
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image: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/695e3222967b972d9622d41b/69999b474432e7ae0f7b9f7d_materially-poc.jpg
title: Material Sync by Materially
challenge: Designers and companies often struggle to access structured material data, certifications and sustainability insights, making informed decisions during product development complex and time-consuming.
solution: An AI-powered material intelligence platform that organizes material data, certifications and performance insights into a relational system supporting research, design and material-driven innovation workflows.
outcome: Material Sync MVP established the foundation for a scalable material intelligence platform supporting data-driven material selection and sustainable product development.
partners: Startup: Materially | Partner(s): Designtech
DESIGNTECH S.R.L.
Via Polidoro da Caravaggio 30B
20156 Milan Italy
VAT: IT12415810964
