On Monday 18 May 2026, the first inspection visit for the preliminary assessment of the SEMANTICA project took place at the headquarters of the lead organisation, Gruppo Ceramiche Gresmalt. The meeting represented a key step in the technical and administrative analysis process required to access the incentives under the Innovation Agreements (Ministerial Decree of 4 September 2025).

The preliminary inspection is a significant stage in the evaluation process for research and development projects, as it allows for direct dialogue between the proposing organisations and the bodies involved in the assessment. The aim is to verify the overall coherence of the proposal, examine its key aspects in greater depth, and clarify any elements requiring additions or adjustments.

The meeting was attended by the Technical and Scientific Expert from the CNR’s Institute of Science, Technology and Sustainability for the Development of Ceramic Materials (CNR-ISSMC) and the Managing Entity, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS), who held discussions with the project’s Management Committee. The discussion focused on both technical and administrative aspects, with a joint analysis of the main components of the SEMANTICA project.

From a technical perspective, the discussion centred on the general structure of the project, the breakdown of the implementation objectives and the research and development content, starting with the proposal’s central element: the Cognitive Process Mirror, the computational model designed to interpret, simulate and optimise the behaviour of materials and the thermochemical processes involved in ceramic production. The discussion with the Technical and Scientific Expert, from the CNR institute specialising in ceramic materials, provided an opportunity to examine in greater depth the level of innovation in the proposal and the soundness of the methodological approach, key elements in the preliminary assessment phase.

At the same time, administrative and procedural aspects were examined: the completeness of the documentation, the formal correctness of the information submitted, and the consistency between the development plan, the timetable and the requirements of the evaluation process. The involvement of the Managing Body enables the project to be aligned, from the very early stages, with the expectations and operational procedures set out in the funding scheme.

During the visit, the Technical and Scientific Expert and the Managing Body provided the Management Committee with a series of specific recommendations, aimed at making the additions and adjustments to the project documentation necessary to ensure the evaluation process proceeds correctly.

This exchange of comments and suggestions represents a constructive stage in the process. The requested additions do not constitute a final assessment, but rather a means of enhancing the quality of the proposal and ensuring it is fully consistent with the eligibility and evaluation criteria.

The on-site visit also made it possible to contextualise the discussion within the industrial environment in which the project will take shape: the facilities and laboratories that will host the research activities and, during the experimental development phase, the cognitive pilot line.

With the conclusion of the first inspection visit, the SEMANTICA project now enters the next stage of its evaluation process. The partnership is already working on implementing the recommendations received and updating the documentation: these are the next steps required to progress through the evaluation process, in line with the established procedures.