About the Challenge

In collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, the National Center is proud to present the first edition of the GeneRNAtion Challenge. This call for proposals aims to identify and support the most innovative startups and research projects in the field of RNA technologies and gene therapy.

The call seeks bold teams, visionary researchers, and entrepreneurs capable of transforming scientific discoveries into tangible solutions that improve people’s health and quality of life.

What we offer

• The top 8 startups will be awarded grants of up to €110,000 each and three-year membership (fee waived) with the National Center for Gene Therapy and Drugs based on RNA Technology Foundation.*
• The top 3 research projects will be awarded grants of up to €40,000 each.*

*see the official Regulations and consult the FAQs document (updated 14 Nov. 2025) for more details

Timeline

• Call remains open from 3 to 30 November 2025
• Candidates announced by 21 December 2025
• Deal Line up completed by 18 January 2026 (candidates invited to participate in 30-minute interviews)
• Award ceremony by 31 January 2026

Before completing an application, please consult the official Regulation and the FAQs document (updated 14 Nov. 2025) for details regarding eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria, and areas of interest.

How to apply

1. When prompted with “Are you applying to a specific open call?” select “GeneRNAtion Challenge”
2. Complete all required fields in the application form (providing additional details will help us evaluate your proposal)
3. Upload any supporting documentation that describes your project. The mandatory documents are:

• • a pitch deck
  • the “GeneRNAtion Challenge Form Candidatura” (Word document), which can be downloaded here. Fill out the form completely, handwrite or digitally sign the form and save it as a PDF.

4. Failure to include these documents will result in exclusion from the Challenge.
5. After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation email.

For further question or more information, please contact startup@intesasanpaolo.com