Quite interesting partnerships are being signed in the Made in Italy startup universe. Digital Magics, a major startup venture incubator part of the Italian SME stock index since last July, has recently signed a partnership agreement with Nice SpA. The whole project is very interesting because of the two players involved. The founder of Digital Magics is Enrico Gasperini, one of the first pioneers of the Italian digital industry, and its incubator funds and sets up startups turning brilliant ideas into concrete business models well integrated in the Italian and international digital industry. Nice SpA is one of the most interesting international companies focused on home automation systems and lighting design with the famous Italian brand FontanaArte.

FontanaArte Milan Showroom (photo by Architonic, follow the link)

The three-years partnership is focused on a common investment activity in Internet of Things (or thingernet) startups. Nice and Digital Magics are setting up a common programme called Open Innovation Advisory, with the aim to perform a targeted scouting and invest in the best ideas (startup, R&D projects, patents, technologies and digital innovations). It’ll perform a screening of the whole home automation industry with a specific focus on several segments like remote management, HVAC, lighting systems, security devices.

With this partnership Nice is now part of Digital Magics Angel Network with more than 100 private investors, institutional funds, and industry top player (some of the biggest ones are Atlante Seed (Intesa Sanpaolo group), Banca Sella, Tamburi Investment Partners, RCS Media Group, Gate14 Group, Uvet group and UniCredit Bank). Nice will work together with DM in several activities like selection process, mentorship, co-investment, with his specific know how and industry background. A smart move focused on identifying the leading trends in the market and set up concrete synergies with startup reshaping the market perspectives. A market that’s expected to double its business volume in the next four years with amazing growth trends.

Several home automation products by Nice

Lauro Buoro, President of Nice, is pretty aware of the strategic approach of his company looking at the startup world to determine concrete R&D advantages in the next market scenario:

This agreement allows us to be more sensitive towards new influences in the development of innovative solutions in the home automation management and the lighting systems productions. It’ll carry eventually new synergies with the world of technology and research

Mr.Gasperini, founder of DM, focuses on the know how sharing too, for a successful market positioning strategy in the thingernet industry:

Home automation and Internet of Things are industries attracting the deep attention of top international players. Our digital know how centre, with its expertise in scouting and R&D will successfully co-operate with a leading industrial group like Nice SpA, in its continuous innovation process

It’s an effective connection with disruptive players leading innovation, in a fast paced growing market (according to several top commentators, recently BGR and Business Insider for example). Now the market is defining its future assets. It’s imperative, therefore, to activate partnerships and synergies focused on tech research and build a concrete added value while competing with the other players.