Frequently Asked Questions
Beyond Lab is Iveco Group’s open innovation platform, created to explore cutting-edge solutions and disruptive technologies. It serves as the backbone of the Iveco Group venture client unit, managing all activities with startups and international innovation ecosystems.
Beyond Lab is a permanent innovation hub and the single point of entry for startups looking to connect with Iveco Group.
This is an open innovation model where a large company becomes an early customer of a startup's solution. Instead of offering funding, the company provides real-world use cases, feedback, and business opportunities by integrating the startup’s technology into its operations. This allows startups to validate and refine their offering while gaining traction and enables the company to access innovative solutions early and stay ahead of the curve.
Both established startups and pre-revenue teams can apply. Individual groups not yet incorporated as a company are not eligible.
Pre-revenue startups are welcome even if they are still in the ideation or product concept phase, as long as they are ready to develop a working prototype in the short term.
For Iveco Group, a startup is a company with a strong focus on innovation and technology, developing advanced solutions or new business models with the potential to transform mobility and related industries.
To qualify as a startup, companies should generally meet the following criteria:
High technological content and/or innovative business models
Annual revenues below €10 million
Fewer than 80 employees
Less than 10 years old
We are particularly interested in startups that leverage cutting-edge technologies and bring fresh, scalable ideas that can create tangible impact.
Applying to Iveco Group Beyond Lab is completely free. To submit your project, simply visit our website and fill out the application form.
The requested information is divided into sections:
Section 1: General information
Section 2: Technology / solution description
Section 3: Equity status
Section 4: Business status
Section 5: Upload of useful files
You can apply anytime! Beyond Lab was built to make it easy for startups to connect with Iveco Group. Even if you don’t see a challenge that perfectly fits your tech, there’s a form where you can still submit your solution. We’re always open to fresh ideas - as long as they’re clear and relevant to our business.
All applications submitted through the website will be carefully reviewed and logged in a dedicated project card. The Beyond Lab team will run an initial check to make sure all the key information is included and may request additional details if needed.
Next, Iveco Group, with the support of i3P, will evaluate each proposal, looking at factors such as the company’s maturity, the added value of the use case compared to market alternatives, the relevance of the application area, and the solution’s potential fit within Iveco Group.
The most promising applicants will be contacted directly by the Beyond Lab team to support you in the definition of your proposal for presentation to Iveco Group’s management.
Successful candidates will then have the chance to discuss a Proof of Concept agreement with Iveco Group, giving them the opportunity to test their solution in real-world conditions.
If your startup is selected for a PoC (Proof of Concept), our innovation team will be your main point of contact, guiding you through the project and all the steps needed to get things moving quickly. To keep things fast and smooth, we’ve put together a “startup kit” with ready-to-go documents like Non-Disclosure-Agreement, Letter of Intent, and Self-Disclosure forms, plus fast payment processes.
Applicants will have the opportunity to come into direct contact with Iveco Group and its brands: in fact, the initiative presents itself as a first step between the parties involved.
Startups applying to our Open Challenges have the chance to turn their most innovative solutions into practical applications. If a Proof of Concept (PoC) is successful, it can open the door to more structured collaboration agreements with Iveco Group, taking your solution from pilot to partnership.
Beyond Lab is a venture client unit. Through this platform, we scout technologies to test in Proof of Concepts and look for partners to co-develop solutions and transfer know-how from other industries.
We do not manage equity investments or venture capital activities - so fundraising requests submitted through this platform won’t be considered.
Through our network of partners, we can support the most valuable startups we collaborate with, throughout their growth journey by enabling collaborations and venture clienting opportunities.
For any further information on privacy protection and confidentiality of the data provided to apply to Beyond Lab, please refer to the contents of the privacy policy section at https://ivecogroup.com which the participant will accept at the time of registration.