Initiative supports funding drive of innovative businesses in Italy in partnership with Italfinance Milano and SPIN 360

TelecityGroup, Europe's leading provider of premium carrier-neutral data centres, has today announced the launch of the "Innovation Accelerator Project", an initiative dedicated to furthering innovation in Italian business. Launched in partnership with financing consultancy Italfinance Milano and specialist small business service promotion firm SPIN 360, the scheme will help provide the support, consultancy and IT infrastructure that Italy's most innovative young companies need to secure funding from Europe's flagship research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020.

Horizon 2020, the European Union's biggest ever research and innovation programme, will pledge nearly €80 billion of funding over the next seven years (2014 to 2020) to progressive European businesses, with the objective to drive economic growth and create digital jobs. The "Innovation Accelerator Project" is designed to support innovative Italian businesses to secure this funding, with eligible companies receiving one year of IT hosting and services from TelecityGroup Italy, in addition to strategic consultancy from SPIN 360 and financial advice from Italfinance Milano.

Luca Beltramino, managing director of TelecityGroup Italy said: "As Italy continues to establish itself as one of Europe's leading digital economies, it must continue to foster the innovation coming from small enterprises. Committing and investing in new innovative businesses is key for the ongoing development of the wider economy and the "Innovative Accelerator Project" is a fantastic way to recognise some of the incredible work being carried out in Italy. Our data centres are designed to form the backbone of the digital economy, housing the IT infrastructure of companies of all sizes and providing a platform for them to grow their businesses and expand operations throughout Europe."

Ennio Manzi, equity partner at Italfinance Milano said: "Investment can often be hard to come by, even for the most cutting edge Italian businesses. Horizon 2020 will be a key driver of economic growth throughout Europe over the next seven years and this project is an excellent opportunity for those businesses to get ahead of the curve as funding is allocated. The commitment from the EU to financially back those businesses is great news for Italy's pioneering enterprises and startups."

Federico Brugnoli, managing director and founder of SPIN 360 said: "This project has been designed to ensure that innovative Italian companies are given the international platform that they deserve and opportunity they need to develop. In order for Italy to lead the way when it comes to digitally progressive, transformative technologies, we need to be doing everything we can to encourage and develop those businesses. The package of consultancy and services that the "Innovation Accelerator Project" is offering is a unique chance for these companies to work with some of Italy's leading businesses, learn from them, and utilise their market-leading services."

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