Beyond traditional innovation: how SMEs tap into cross-sector expertise to grow

With the support of the Enterprise Europe Network and the S+T+ARTS "Hungry EcoCities" call, the company collaborated with an artist and with experts in AI and 3D printing to create nutrient biomaterial sculptures, rethinking production, waste, and material culture within the agri-food system. 
The project demonstrates how interdisciplinary collaborations can generate innovative solutions and how, thanks to the services of the Network, it is easier for SMEs to take part in transnational European projects, combining creativity, sustainability, and emerging technologies.

The Medici Effect: why innovation thrives where different worlds meet

In his book 'The Medici Effect: Breakthrough Insights at the Intersection of Ideas, Concepts, and Cultures', entrepreneur Frans Johansson introduces the idea that innovation often comes from unexpected collisions between disciplines and new perspectives. The concept takes inspiration from Renaissance Florence, where the Medici family created an environment in which artists, scientists, and philosophers could interact freely, sparking an extraordinary wave of creativity that made Florence the heart of renaissance.

Today, research continues to confirm this. Examples from MIT, Stanford, and other institutions show that teams made up of people with different backgrounds tend to produce more original solutions, spotting connections that more homogeneous teams simply miss. 

In a time when innovation is essential for both economic and strategic reasons, SMEs can draw a powerful lesson: breakthroughs often emerge not within a single discipline, but in the spaces where multiple domains overlap. Yet accessing these intersections is not always easy for smaller companies. This is where the Enterprise Europe Network comes into play, helping businesses tap into wider expertise, connect across sectors and markets, and explore new ways of developing solutions.

Interdisciplinarity as the foundation of innovation

Looking back, history is full of stories that illustrate how innovation blooms when ideas collide. Biomimetics, for example, blends biology, engineering, design, and materials science to turn natural observations into technological innovations.

Pythagoras, an ancient Greek philosopher and polymath, applied mathematics to music and uncovered simple numerical ratios that laid the foundation for centuries of Western music theory. And modern 3D printing? It exists because digital design, materials science, and mechanical engineering came together to create something that was once impossible.

Le Terre di Zoè: when art, technology, and agriculture meet

Without the many breakthroughs that emerged from converging different fields over time, stories like that of Le Terre di Zoè would not be possible today. By bringing together art, technology, and agriculture, this family-run agrifood business turned seasonal agricultural waste into a sustainable innovation opportunity. 

With support from the Network partner SPIN – Ricerca Innovazione e Trasferimento Tecnologico S.r.l. and the S+T+ARTS “Hungry EcoCities” call, the company collaborated with an artist Betiana Pavón and experts in AI and 3D printing to create nutrient-rich biomaterial sculptures that can be returned to the soil, completing a regenerative cycle.

The project, titled 'Compostable altar', reimagines production, waste, and material culture in the agrifood sector, all while being designed through a replicable and open-source method. It positions design as an act of care and regeneration, and technology as a tool that transforms raw materials into art.

How cross-sector innovation actually happens behind the scenes

The project emerged from a core challenge tied to the company’s identity: turning seasonal agricultural waste into a resource with economic and environmental value. However, converting waste into regenerative material required skills outside the company’s expertise, as well as capabilities that reached far beyond than just recycling. A re-imagining of waste was needed. 

This is where the expertise of the Network proved invaluable, helping the company identify the S+T+ARTS "Hungry EcoCities" call, thus opening the door to collaborations with artists and tech experts. Each discipline brought something essential: agrifood knowledge provided materials and environmental context, the artist reframed waste as an expressive medium, and AI & 3D printing enabled experimental forms and structures neither could have created alone. 

However, the interdisciplinary nature of the team brought certain challenges to light. The first concerned language: the farmers, the artist, and the technologists used very different terms, references, and modes of expression, which could lead to misunderstandings. As the artist involved, Betiana Pavón, explained, "One of the most challenging aspects of the experimentation was, without a doubt, finding the right language and balance between environments that seemingly belonged to entirely different ecosystems. An example of this is the definition of ‘waste,’ which, for me as an artist, was the starting point of the entire process, whereas for the company, it represents the conclusion of a cycle."

The second challenge was the risk of perceiving objectives as different. While the farm tended to focus on practicality, sustainability, and real impact on the soil, the artist was focused on creativity, form, and expressiveness of the sculpture. 

In parallel, technologists involved in 3D printing approached the project in terms of materials, technical parameters, and feasibility of the production process. The third challenge concerned the gap between natural and technical constraints: organic materials followed their 'natural rhythm,' while 3D printing processes required more stable and controllable parameters.

To overcome these challenges, the Network partner helped adopt a practical co-design approach. Different materials were tested to assess consistency, printability, and behaviour in the soil; technical and agronomic constraints were shared from the early stages; and on-site meetings were held to show everyone the operational needs of the others. This continuous dialogue allowed artistic skills, agronomic knowledge, and technological capabilities to be integrated, finding a balance between aesthetic quality, technical feasibility, and respect for the soil. Finally, transparent communication facilitated by the Network advisor proved to be essential to keep expectations aligned across the creative, technical, and operational dimensions.

Lessons for SMEs at the crossroads of different fields

What began as a technical challenge of valorising waste, became a powerful artistic narrative of environmental commitment. The artistic vision helped the company see its resources in a new light: agricultural by-products were no longer the end of a cycle, but the beginning of a new, creative and ecological process. 

Moreover, the company developed new internal competencies, such as new approaches to material experimentation, rapid prototyping, and digital exploration, providing a foundation for the company’s future innovation initiatives. 

As Alessandro Malerba, the co-owner of Le Terre di Zoè, mentioned, "This innovation has led us to explore new markets that were previously out of reach. For example, in collaboration with an agronomist and one of our clients, we are developing plant pots that allow the new plant to be planted directly in the soil while releasing nutritional elements beneficial to the plant itself."

Furthermore, the collaboration generated visibility and engagement, demonstrating to stakeholders, local communities, and European partners how art can amplify the impact of sustainable practices. It also reshaped the company’s idea of what innovation can be by helping them ask bigger questions such as
‘What new forms could our resources take?’ or ‘Who can we collaborate with to unlock new possibilities?’.

Finally, the project provided valuable insights that can benefit all SMEs. 

Lessons, such as embracing collaboration beyond the comfort zone or developing prototypes during the project execution, can help align expectations and make interdisciplinary work more tangible and manageable. 

It is also essential to engage stakeholders such as the Enterprise Europe Network that can connect SMEs with funding opportunities, partners, and innovative trends, as this opens doors that would otherwise remain invisible. 

The role of the Network: unlocking opportunities, partnerships and innovation

The Enterprise Europe Network played a crucial role in shaping the project. First, the Network advisers identified the S+T+ARTS Hungry EcoCities call, an opportunity the company might not have spotted on its own. Then, they helped refine the project concept and align it with European priorities on sustainability, circularity, and innovation.

The Network also supported the company in navigating a partnership that combined art and technology, ensuring clear communication and helping keep expectations aligned. Their guidance made the collaboration more secure and structured and contributed to the overall success of the project.

Ultimately, partners like the Enterprise Europe Network act as modern facilitators of the Medici Effect. Programs such as Horizon Europe, calls like S+T+ARTS Hungry EcoCities, and structured networks allow diverse expertise to meet and innovate at scale. Innovation no longer depends on a single patron bringing people together, on the contrary, it emerges from systems and networks that make intersections possible.