Aurora Compass: Project, Financing Entities and Publicity Requirements
Aurora Compass is an innovative digital platform and service developed by VLK Studio S.r.l.s. to strengthen connections between Sardinian micro and small enterprises, startups, innovators and regional ecosystem partners. The project addresses a structural challenge within the Sardinian economy: businesses have genuine innovation needs, but these needs are often dispersed, insufficiently documented and difficult to transform into clear market opportunities. At the same time, startups frequently struggle to access real companies, validate their assumptions and identify customers willing to test new solutions.
Aurora Compass bridges this gap by collecting the needs of local enterprises, converting them into structured and comparable information, identifying priority opportunity areas and supporting rapid market-testing activities. Its purpose is not simply to create another digital directory or innovation portal. It is designed as an operational system that turns fragmented business signals into actionable evidence, facilitating collaboration between companies that need to innovate and startups capable of providing relevant solutions.
The platform follows an integrated four-stage process. First, micro and small enterprises complete a short, accessible assessment describing their operational challenges and innovation readiness. The platform uses this information to create a “Gap Map”: a structured overview of recurring needs, organised by sector, business process and level of readiness. Participating enterprises receive an immediate and understandable summary of their main gaps and possible next steps.
Second, the collected information is analysed and prioritised through the “Opportunity Stack”. Not every reported problem automatically becomes an innovation opportunity. Aurora Compass evaluates signals according to criteria such as perceived urgency, practical feasibility, the possibility of testing a return on investment within a short period and compatibility with the resources of smaller businesses.
Third, selected opportunities are translated into operational “Test Briefs”. These briefs give startups and innovators a clear framework for verifying, generally within two to four weeks, whether a business need represents a credible opportunity for their solution. Finally, the “Insight Panel” provides controlled access to participating enterprises that have voluntarily agreed to take part in surveys, interviews or prototype tests. Consent, contact preferences and interactions are managed through transparent opt-in procedures.
The expected result is a mutually beneficial regional innovation system. Enterprises gain a simple way to express their needs and receive useful guidance. Startups reduce the time, cost and uncertainty associated with customer discovery. VLK Studio obtains a reusable digital product, structured datasets and an operational methodology that can continue to generate value beyond the financed period. The project will be implemented through two principal product iterations: an initial operational MVP followed by a second release focused on robustness, clarity, scalability and support for a wider regional network.
Financing entities and financial structure
Aurora Compass is the subject of a provisional grant awarded under the PR FESR Sardegna 2021–2027, Action 1.1.1, through the programme “Aiuti Spazi di Collaborazione – Incentivi per lo sviluppo di servizi innovativi.” The provisional award was approved by Sardegna Ricerche through Determination No. 157/2026 STARTUP of 24 March 2026.
The financing framework involves several institutional levels. The European Union supports the regional programme through the European Regional Development Fund, or ERDF/FESR. The Autonomous Region of Sardinia is responsible for the regional programme, which implements European and national cohesion-policy resources in Sardinia. Sardegna Ricerche is the regional implementing body responsible for managing the aid measure, assessing the development plan, administering the grant and verifying eligible expenditure. VLK Studio S.r.l.s. is the beneficiary and project owner responsible for implementing Aurora Compass.
The approved Development Plan has a total value of €98,000. Sardegna Ricerche may provide a maximum contribution of €78,400, corresponding to 80% of eligible expenditure. The remaining €19,600, or 20%, must be covered by VLK Studio using its own resources. If the expenditure ultimately recognised as eligible is lower than the approved amount, the grant is recalculated while maintaining the 80% aid rate and respecting the maximum contribution.
The plan has a duration of 12 months from the formally communicated starting date. Eligible costs include technical personnel, software and cloud tools, branding, communication, marketing, advertising and administrative support directly connected with the project. Expenditure must be traceable, properly documented and exclusively related to the approved plan. The project’s CUP is G27H26000200004, which must be included in relevant financial transactions and supporting documentation as prescribed by the award communication.
An advance equal to 40% of the granted contribution may be requested, subject to the applicable conditions and the provision of a suitable bank or insurance guarantee. The award remains provisional pending completion of the required checks and signature of the beneficiary agreement.
