Overview
Job title: SME Ecosystem Senior Research Specialist
Workplace: Pavia, Italy
Deadline: 28.01.2026
How to apply: send your application to hiring@chips.it attaching your CV and a motivational letter – in the email subject reference #SMEEcosystem
About Fondazione Chips-IT
The Foundation “Italian Center for the Design of Semiconductor Integrated Circuits,” also known as the Chips-IT Foundation, is a nonprofit research and technology organization under the supervision of the Ministries of Industry.
The Foundation is Italy’s first RTO (Research and Technology Organization) vertically focused on semiconductor research and stands as a center of excellence in frontier research on semiconductor design, as well as a pivotal center of the Italian semiconductor ecosystem and expertise.
Missions Of The Foundation
* promote the design and development of integrated circuits
* strengthen the system of professional training in the field of microelectronics
* ensure the establishment of a network of universities, research centers and enterprises that fosters innovation and technology transfer in the field
Role
Fondazione Chips-IT is looking, for its Pavia office, for a Senior Research Specialist to lead a one-year applied research initiative focused on building and validating models of technology transfer and innovation-network development for Italian SMEs and start-ups, with a specific emphasis on the integration of IC design and semiconductor know-how into SMEs’ value chains.
This role, managed by the Technology Transfer Directorate is ideal for a professional with deep industrial experience in high-tech product realization (preferably semiconductors/microelectronics) and a proven track record in technology transfer, industrial innovation partnerships, and start-up ecosystems.
Key Responsibilities
* Define the research framework, hypotheses, methodology, KPIs and evidence collection approach (interviews, surveys, case studies, pilot monitoring).
* Map and segment Italian SMEs/start-ups and their value chains where IC design and semiconductor components can generate competitive advantage (performance, security, quality, innovation).
* Identify and engage ecosystem “multipliers” (science parks, competence centers, accelerators, clusters, chambers of commerce, associations) and co-design pilot actions with them.
* Design and run pilots such as:
o Innovation assessment & opportunity screening for SMEs (IC relevance, feasibility, go-to-market constraints)
o Training modules on semiconductor productization and IC design adoption
o Demo/experience formats and “problem-to-architecture” workshops
o Test-before-invest pathways connecting SMEs to technical validation and (when relevant) investors/industry partners
o Translate industrial needs into actionable collaboration formats with Chips-IT (technical sprints, feasibility studies, PoCs, joint development, licensing/spin-off pathways).
o Contribute to start-up and venture-oriented initiatives (deal flow, incubation/acceleration alignment, industrial mentoring, partner matchmaking)
o Produce clear, decision-grade deliverables: ecosystem mapping, pilot design documents, interim reports, and research white papers.
o Work closely with Chips-IT leadership, technical teams and legal/IP functions to ensure pilots are implementable and scalable.
Required Qualifications
* Degree in Engineering/Physics/Computer Science or equivalent. A PhD/MBA is a plus but not mandatory.
* Significant industrial experience (typically 8–15+ years) in high-tech product development and delivery (from concept to productization), preferably in semiconductors/microelectronics/electronics systems.
* Strong, hands-on experience in technology transfer / innovation management, including building partnerships between research organizations and industry.
* Solid experience with start-up ecosystems (accelerators, corporate venture, incubation programs, founder support, tech commercialization).
* Ability to operate at the interface of technology, business and stakeholder management, turning ambiguity into structured plans and experiments.
* Excellent communication skills and the ability to write high-quality technical-strategic documents.
* Fluent English (written and spoken). Italian proficiency is strongly preferred.
Nice-to-have Qualifications
* Direct exposure to IC design flows, EDA/IP ecosystem, semiconductor supply chain constraints, or microelectronics qualification/productization processes.
* Experience interacting with territorial innovation actors (competence centers, clusters, tech parks) and designing “repeatable” innovation services.
* Familiarity with EU innovation instruments (e.g., HE/Chips JU) from an exploitation/valorisation perspective.
What We Offer
* Competitive compensation and contract type, to be negotiated based on qualifications and experience
* Possibility to enter into a PhD conjugating your job with a research program that will grant you the PhD title.
* Lunch tickets
* Private health care coverage depending on your role and contract
* Structured growth path, with ongoing access to training and updates
* Networking opportunities with industry-leading professionals
* International environment
* Hybrid work policy
* Tax deductions: Candidates from abroad, comprising Italian citizens, who have carried scientific research activity abroad and meet specific requirements, may be entitled to a taxable income deduction up to 90% for a period of 6 to 13 years
Disclaimer
No ranking list or list of suitable candidates will be prepared and published.
The Foundation Reserves The Right To
* extend or reopen the deadline of this notice;
* revoke this notice;
* not make any selection from among the applications submitted if they are deemed not to meet the functions set forth in the notice;
without any claims or rights being asserted by the interested parties.
Non verrà redatta e pubblicata alcuna graduatoria o elenco degli idonei.
La Fondazione Si Riserva La Facoltà Di
* prorogare o riaprire il termine di scadenza del presente avviso;
* revocare il presente avviso;
* non procedere ad alcuna scelta tra le candidature presentate, ove ritenute non rispondenti alle funzioni di cui all’avviso; senza che gli interessati possano avanzare alcuna pretesa o diritto.
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