Innovation management of a high-technology academic Start up: The case of DInESto

An academic spin-off is a new company born by the idea of merging the competences of different academic or institutional research groups. The main goal of a spin-off is to transfer and commercialize technological innovations. This article describes a high-technology Italian innovative spin-off named DInESto, (Drive the Innovation in Energy Storage); the core business of this company is in the field of electrochemical energy storage systems and in particular in the production of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) as cathode material in lithium ions batteries. The development of an efficient energy storage system is very crucial both for its use in renewable energy production systems and in the automotive sector. One of the limitations of the extensive employment of these batteries concerns the cathode materials. The activities of the spin-off are described as case study including discussion of issues and innovations related to management aspects, risk taking and related consequences. Moreover a summary of the new Italian legislative framework for Start-ups is given and a new tool to improve self awareness of future entrepreneurs named PES, Promoting Entrepreneurship Skilful, is described.