The most innovative Sardinian startups and the most interested ones in having new markets and new investors as their international audience will have privileged access to the Silicon Valley ecosystem thanks to the creation of the “San Francisco Desk”.

Aspal – the Sardinian Agency for Active Labor Policies and the Regional Programming Center of the Sardinia Region – will in fact open their offices within the Mind the Bridge Innovation Center in San Francisco. An innovation antenna to intercept evolutionary trends and to offer support services to Sardinian companies in their quest to attract funding and enhance the Sardinian productive system. The innovation antenna will be officially launched today during the “Government Organizations in California: Share best practices among trade organizations in California focused on Innovation” Workshop as part of the Mind the Bridge Scaleup Summit Silicon Valley 2021 program which is taking place these days.

“With this further initiative the role of Sardinia Region as facilitator is strengthened in a decisive way. Sardinia Region wants to favor its innovation system and Sardinian companies that are increasingly carving out a relevant role in the world” declared the Sardinia Regional Program councilor, Giuseppe Fasolino. “An innovation ecosystem – he continued – by its nature cannot do without connections and dialogues with the most advanced and performing realities such as that of the Silicon Valley. The happy synergy between the Regional Programming Center and ASPAL, strongly committed to promoting the growth of Sardinia and the precious collaboration with Mind the Bridge demonstrate the continuous commitment towards this direction.”

“With the San Francisco Desk we try to support Sardinian companies, to promote the economic development of the region and to increase job placement opportunities”, underlines the general manager of Aspal, Maika Aversano, who adds: ” the project is extensive because it also includes training and capacity building for different targets that can really strengthen the internationalization skills of young Sardinians “.

“Opening an innovation outpost in Silicon Valley is a strategic step for any company or organization that wants to intercept market trends in advance or to participate in the evolution of the working environment and new professions” added Alberto Onetti, chairman of Mind the Bridge who has been supporting Italian companies for the past 15 years. “There are many opportunities such as e-mobility, decarbonization or tourism which, if properly monitored, could represent an added value for the Sardinia Region and a boost to the innovation and growth for Sardinian companies, both for those already present in the Silicon Valley area as well as for those who would like to expand their market here”.