Innovation Agenda

Applications are now open for the new edition of the Cartier Women’s Initiative, the international entrepreneurship program promoted by Cartier to support women-led businesses that generate a positive social and environmental impact.

The initiative is aimed at women-led and women-owned businesses from any country and sector, featuring innovative, sustainable, and growth-oriented business models. Founders and co-founders of established companies with a minimum level of market traction are eligible to apply.

The program includes nine regional awards — including Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania — and the Science & Technology Pioneer Award, dedicated to solutions based on advanced scientific or technological innovations.

Three entrepreneurs will be selected for each category, receiving grants of up to $100,000, along with a one-year fellowship program that includes mentoring, executive coaching, entrepreneurial training, international networking, and global visibility.

Applications for the 2027 edition are open until June 16, 2026, via the dedicated online platform. The initial selection results will be announced in August 2026.

The call for applications Tech4Health. Innovation that Generates Health is now online. This initiative is promoted by the Department for Digital Transformation of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and implemented by the Ugo Bordoni Foundation to support high-impact innovative projects in the digital health and biomedical sectors.

The measure provides around 20 million euros to fund solutions based on advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud and edge computing, 5G, health data interoperability, and connected biomedical devices. The goal is to foster the development of tools capable of improving access to care, making healthcare services more efficient, and supporting new models of personalized care and telemedicine.

The call is aimed at companies, innovative startups, SMEs, universities, research centers, and partnerships involved in the development of health technologies. Eligible projects must have a value between 1.5 and 5 million euros and a maximum duration of 12 months.

The eligible application areas include home care and remote monitoring, advanced diagnostics, health emergency management, preventive and predictive medicine, as well as digital solutions for optimizing clinical and organizational workflows.

Applications can be submitted until June 8, 2026, at 6:00 PM.

Applications are now open for the third edition of the Swiss Italian Startup Award, an initiative promoted by the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Switzerland to facilitate networking between innovative Italian and Swiss startups and the Swiss tech ecosystem. The final event will take place on November 24, 2026, at the Campus Biotech in Geneva.

The program is aimed at startups incorporated for less than five years, based in Italy or Switzerland, and with at least one Italian founder, characterized by high growth and innovation potential. Companies operating in the ICT & Fintech, Advanced Engineering, and Health Tech sectors are eligible to apply. A minimum technology readiness level is also required (TRL 4 for the health sector and TRL 6 for the other fields).

An international jury will select up to 10 finalist startups, which will gain access to a dedicated coaching program and present their project to international investors, corporates, business angels, and stakeholders during the final event in Geneva.

The selected startups will also have the opportunity to connect with Swiss companies and organizations active in the innovation and high-tech sectors, developing new collaborations and internationalization opportunities. Special prizes awarded by partners and sponsors of the initiative are also planned.

Applications are open until June 30, 2026.

Applications are now open for the 2026 Call for Universities and Research Institutes of Maker Faire Rome – The European Edition, aimed at public and private universities, research centers, university departments, academic spin-offs, and research groups interested in presenting innovative projects within the event dedicated to technology, creativity, and innovation.

The 14th edition of Maker Faire Rome will take place from October 23 to 25, 2026, at the Gazometro Ostiense in Rome, representing one of the main European events dedicated to technological and scientific innovation.

The call is dedicated to projects, prototypes, and research activities already developed or in an advanced stage, with a specific focus on highly innovative solutions in the fields of artificial intelligence, robotics, IoT, environmental sustainability, agritech, health, digital manufacturing, education, and smart cities.

Selected applicants will have the opportunity to participate as exhibitors, present demonstrations, workshops, or talks, and network with companies, investors, startups, and innovation ecosystem stakeholders, gaining international visibility for their research and technology transfer activities.

Applications must be submitted online through the dedicated platform by June 15, 2026.

Applications are now open for GoBeyond Lab, the pre-acceleration program promoted by ITA – Italian Trade Agency (ICE Agenzia) in collaboration with the Founder Institute and dedicated to founders, un-incorporated teams, and early-stage innovators interested in developing high-potential entrepreneurial projects.

The 8-week program will guide participants through the development of their innovative ideas through training activities, mentorship, and networking with industry professionals and experts, with the goal of creating a first MVP and a structured pitch.

The program involves participants from Italy, Turkey, and Morocco, and focuses on three strategic areas: AI-Native B2B Products, GreenTech & Circular Economy, and Gaming & Fan Experiences.

GoBeyond Lab represents an opportunity to validate your project, acquire entrepreneurial skills, and connect with an international innovation ecosystem, within a framework tailored to the growth of startups in their early stages of development.

Applications will remain open until May 31, 2026.

The University of Turin is participating in the eighth edition of National Bioeconomy Day – Bioeconomy Day, promoted and coordinated by the SPRING Cluster, of which the University is a member. The event, organized in collaboration with the SPRING Cluster, will be held on May 27, 2026, at 9:30 AM in the Aula Magna of the Luigi Einaudi Campus.

The initiative, titled “Bioeconomy in everyday life and career opportunities,” will be dedicated to students, faculty, and industry stakeholders, with the goal of exploring bioeconomy applications, research and job opportunities, and the primary challenges related to sustainability, climate change, and resource management.

On May 14, 2026, the ESCP Business School Turin will host the ToMove Community Summit – From experimentation to market, an event dedicated to innovative mobility and the transfer of solutions developed in real-world contexts into concrete applications and market opportunities.

The Summit represents a meeting point for institutions, companies, startups, investors, and the research world, with the aim of highlighting the results of the City of Turin’s ToMove Living Lab and fostering new collaborations in the future mobility sector.

The day’s agenda includes international keynotes, showcases of solutions developed under the ToMove4Future call, the Demo Day of the Space ToMove acceleration program, B2B networking moments, and sessions dedicated to discussions between startups, corporates, and investors.

Among the participants is Marco Pironti, Vice Rector for Innovation and Full Professor at the University of Turin, who will speak at the round table dedicated to the urban innovation ecosystem and emerging trajectories of the mobility of the future.

The event is organized by the City of Turin and Space for Imagination, as part of the ToMove Living Lab program, with the support of the Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo and in collaboration with local partners.

Participation is free of charge upon registration.

The “ACN – Autoimpiego Centro Nord” measure is now active. This incentive is dedicated to unemployed or inactive young people under 35 who wish to start a new business, a freelance profession, or self-employed activity in the Central-Northern regions of Italy.

The measure provides non-repayable grants and subsidized loans to support the creation of new entrepreneurial initiatives, with benefits including:

-Non-repayable vouchers up to 30,000 euros, increasable to 40,000 euros;

-A 65% non-repayable grant for investment programs up to 120,000 euros;

-A 60% non-repayable grant for investment programs between 120,000 and 200,000 euros.

Applications can be submitted until all available resources have been allocated.

To learn more about the requirements, access procedures, and opportunities offered by this measure, BioPmed, in collaboration with Invitalia, is organizing an informative webinar on May 19 at 11:30 AM.

The second edition of Social Innovation Trail (SIT) is now open. This national program, promoted by ELIS in collaboration with the AICCON Research Centre and supported by UniCredit, is dedicated to Third Sector Entities looking to develop innovative projects with a high social impact.

The initiative aims to strengthen local social innovation ecosystems by accompanying non-profit organizations, startups, and local stakeholders in the design and development of sustainable and scalable solutions. The 2026 edition is guided by the “AI for Good” paradigm, which promotes the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence as a lever to improve processes, services, and organizational capabilities within the Third Sector.

The program is divided into three phases:

-scouting and project selection;

-co-design and modeling through the Social Co-Innovation Lab;

-Investor Pitch Lab and Social Investor Day, dedicated to meetings with investors, foundations, and companies.

Selected organizations will have access to training, mentorship, networking, and the development of a Social Business Plan, with the goal of transforming innovative ideas into bankable, high-impact projects.

Applications are open until June 15, 2026.

Fondazione Agrion, in collaboration with LaGemma Venture, has launched the AGRI.ON Call, an acceleration program dedicated to innovative startups operating in the Agri-tech sector.

The initiative supports the development of technological solutions capable of addressing the main challenges of the agricultural industry, promoting sustainability, competitiveness, and efficiency for farming businesses.

The call is aimed at innovative entities engaged in developing technologies and models applied to agriculture and represents an opportunity of interest also for students, researchers, and university spin-offs active in the field of agricultural innovation.

Up to 8 startups will be selected to join a two-month acceleration program featuring training activities, discussion sessions with experts and industry partners, and the chance to test their technologies in Fondazione Agrion’s living labs, with dedicated technical-scientific support.

The program also provides networking, mentoring, and visibility opportunities.

Applications are open until Friday, May 15, 2026.

On May 28 and 29, 2026, Innovation Village will take place in Naples at Villa Doria d’Angri. This event is dedicated to innovation and technology transfer, bringing together companies, institutions, startups, research centers, and universities.

The program includes conferences, working groups, workshops, and networking opportunities, featuring the participation of companies and organizations active in fields such as territorial and infrastructure monitoring, space manufacturing, technological innovation for HR management and corporate welfare, AI applications, bioeconomy and circular economy, Net Zero technologies, and energy efficiency.

Furthermore, initiatives dedicated to networking are planned, including the Business Speed Date, featuring meetings between universities, research centers, startups, and companies to foster new collaborations.

Participation is free of charge, subject to registration on the event’s website.

The first edition of R2I – Research to Innovate Italy will be held on May 12 and 13, 2026, at the Ex Gam – Gallery of Modern Art in Bologna, a national event dedicated to innovation and collaboration between businesses, research, and territories.

Promoted by the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces and organized by the Emilia-Romagna Region together with Art-ER, the initiative—funded by Regional European Funds—represents the evolution of R2B – Research to Business, expanding its scope to a national level.

The event is designed as an opportunity for discussion and networking between policy makers, investors, startups, large corporations, universities, and institutions, with a program featuring workshops, working groups, training sessions, and thematic panels.

Key topics at the center of the debate include deep tech, artificial intelligence, and technological sovereignty, as well as European tools such as the STEP platform and the perspectives of the 2028-2034 EU programming period.

The meeting represents an opportunity to foster dialogue between different innovation players, enhance the role of local territories, and strengthen connections between regional supply chains.

Participation is open to everyone, subject to registration on the event website.

The call for applications is open for Startup Breeze 2026, an initiative by the Fondazione Toscana Life Science aimed at business ideas and startups in the life sciences sector.

The program supports selected entities in validating and developing their value proposition, thanks to the interaction with a network of approximately 30 partners including investors, incubators, accelerators, and innovation centers.

Chosen projects will access a tailor-made entrepreneurial path, featuring seminars and mentoring sessions, which will conclude in November with the Pinwheel Pitching Stage, the final presentation event for investors and partners.

The call is aimed at projects with TRL 3-5 active in the fields of medical devices, digital health, pharmaceuticals/biotech, and related supply chains.

Applications will be evaluated based on criteria such as team skills, technical-scientific robustness of the proposal, market potential, marketing strategy, economic-financial sustainability, and pitch quality.

The deadline to apply is June 11, 2026.

The initiative, coordinated by the Politecnico di Torino in collaboration with the University of Turin and the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, is dedicated to connecting inventors, researchers, and the local production system.

The program includes patent presentations featuring live demonstrators, B2B meetings to facilitate direct collaboration, networking opportunities with local businesses, artisans, and regional stakeholders.

Registration Details

Registration is open via online form until May 5, 2026.

The event was created with the goal of promoting the territory as an attractive environment for talent and innovative companies, fostering dialogue between research and the local production system.

During the initiative, inventors and researchers will have the opportunity to present their patents through exhibition booths with posters, demonstrators, and multimedia materials, addressing businesses, artisans, and local stakeholders. B2B meetings will also be organized to facilitate direct contact and collaboration opportunities.

The goal is to promote concrete relationships between the research world and entrepreneurial realities, encouraging the development of joint projects and emerging technologies.

Those interested in participating are invited to fill out the online form by May 5, 2026.

• innovation capacity and the adoption of sustainable models;
• impact on the territory and local communities;
• growth potential and the strength of managerial skills.

 
Winners will be offered a personalized mentoring program with experts, aimed at managerial development.
The Award is part of the Women’s Entrepreneurship program, promoted by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy and funded by PNRR – Next Generation EU resources, with the goal of encouraging women’s active participation in the economy and stimulating new development opportunities.
Applications are open until May 31, 2026.

The public notice Social Innovation and Policy Impact is now online, promoted by the Department of Public Function and implemented by Formez PA, with the aim of strengthening the administrative capacity of local authorities and orienting public policies toward results and social impact.

The initiative provides a total budget of 10 million euros and is open to provincial capitals and Metropolitan Cities, which are called upon to develop or consolidate impact management models within their own policies.

The call aims to promote a cultural shift in public administration, favoring the adoption of ex-ante and ex-post evaluation tools, the strengthening of skills, and the dissemination of co-production models between the public and private sectors, including the involvement of the Third Sector.

Two intervention pathways are planned: one oriented toward funding models linked to social impact results and one focused on the measurement and monitoring of public policies.

Applications must be submitted by June 23, 2026, via PEC to the address impattopa@pec.formez.it.

Imagining a different Public Administration, more innovative and capable of engaging with the new generations: this is the objective of S-Punti di Vista, the contest promoted as part of the UniversiPA Award and launched by FPA ahead of FORUM PA 2026, which will be held from June 9 to 11 in Rome at La Nuvola.

The initiative is aimed at students under 30 enrolled in university courses, master’s degrees, PhDs, and postgraduate programs, who are called upon to propose a short creative piece. Academic essays are not required, but rather visions: ideas capable of rethinking PA services and models through lateral thinking techniques.

At the heart of the challenge is a question: what would Public Administration look like if it were designed from scratch, overcoming traditional constraints?

The deadline for participation is set for April 30, 2026. For details and methods of participation, the online regulations can be consulted.

Following the first session dedicated to the geopolitics of culture and the role of European Union cultural policies, the LUMEN Lab series continues. This interdisciplinary laboratory fosters a dialogue between research, design, and innovation within the humanities and cultural sciences.

The program offers theoretical insights, practical workshops, and masterclasses aimed at students, researchers, and administrative staff interested in developing project design skills, with a specific focus on European opportunities and research valorization processes.

The call for applications is now open for SMAU Italy RestartsUp in New York 2026, an initiative that brings a selection of 10 Italian innovative startups and SMEs into direct contact with corporates, investors, and partners from the U.S. ecosystem.

The mission will take place from June 10 to 12, 2026, in New York and includes pitching activities, B2B meetings, and matchmaking, with the goal of fostering collaborations and development opportunities in the American market.

Selected startups will have the opportunity to present their solutions to international investors and companies, participate in networking events, and engage with one of the world’s leading global innovation hubs.

The call is aimed at startups active across various technological and industrial sectors interested in expanding their business internationally.

Applications are open until April 21, 2026.

The Innovation Meetup – Main City Roadshow, organized by Innovation Match, will be held on Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, at Feat House, located at via Giuseppe Giacosa 15, Turin.

Innovation Meetups are events dedicated to managers, entrepreneurs, and innovators, designed to foster targeted connections between companies and innovative entities. The format combines discussion sessions with operational meetings, aiming to trigger concrete collaborations.

The day will open with a presentation session by partner organizations and will continue with one-to-one business matching activities in a speed-dating format. During these sessions, participants can meet potential partners, clients, or collaborators based on their specific interests. The event will conclude with an informal networking session.

The initiative is aimed at corporate managers and decision-makers (Innovation, IT, Marketing, HR), as well as founders and entrepreneurs interested in developing new relationships.

Participating means meeting relevant stakeholders for your business directly, discussing concrete needs, and launching collaborations in a fast and targeted manner.

The presentation event for TechTO Industry Accelerator—a program that connects tech startups and businesses to develop innovation projects—will be held on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 9:30 AM, in the Sala Mezzanino of OGR Torino.

The initiative stems from the collaboration between Fondazione Sviluppo e Crescita CRT and Zest, with OGR Torino as an ecosystem partner. It aims to facilitate the testing of innovative solutions for concrete corporate needs, triggering high-impact collaborations.

The program includes operational activities such as matchmaking meetings between startups and corporates, discussion sessions, and a final Demo Day, with the goal of generating value for the local production system and accelerating the adoption of new technologies.

During the event, the program’s content and participation methods will be presented, featuring speeches by Cristina Di Bari (Fondazione Sviluppo e Crescita CRT), Marco Gay (Zest), and Davide Canavesio (OGR Torino).

The meeting is aimed at companies interested in innovating and collaborating with tech startups.

Applications are now open for Up2Stars and In Action ESG Climate, the program promoted by Intesa Sanpaolo and Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, with the support of Cariplo Factory, dedicated to the growth of innovative startups.

The initiative combines a free acceleration program, offering selected startups training, mentoring, and business development activities, along with networking opportunities with companies and investors.

The program is organized into thematic calls on strategic fields such as new materials, robotics, aerospace, and design tech, which is currently open. Selected startups participate in an acceleration process of approximately one month, with work sessions on technology, go-to-market strategies, and growth, culminating in a Demo Day before investors and corporates.

In parallel, the In Action ESG Climate initiative rewards projects with the greatest environmental impact, providing three grants of 100,000 euros each to support their development.

The call is open to innovative Italian startups or those with a presence in Italy, active for less than five years and offering high-potential technological solutions.

Applications for the design tech call are open until April 30, 2026, through the program’s official website.

The event Magnets of Innovation – Skills and Talents at the Core of Business will be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM, at the International Training Centre of the ILO, located at viale Maestri del Lavoro 10, Turin.

The meeting addresses the theme of skills for innovation, with a specific focus on integrating research into companies, talent development, and collaboration between businesses and universities. The program features presentations and real-world case studies on active tools and initiatives, including the MatchIn call, the role of universities in training and knowledge transfer, and the experiences of researchers working within corporate environments.

Contributions will also include the presentation of the Torino Talent Gateway, an initiative dedicated to facilitating connections between qualified talent and local businesses.

The event is aimed at companies, HR managers, and stakeholders interested in developing concrete strategies to attract expertise and strengthen their capacity for innovation.

The event The Turin Scene – Startup Ecosystem Gathering, dedicated to startups, investors, and innovation stakeholders, will take place on April 18, 2026, at the ESCP Business School campus in Turin.

The gathering is designed as a moment for networking and discussion on the startup ecosystem, featuring contributions from representatives of institutions, investment funds, incubators, and innovation organizations. Participants include Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, the Turin Chamber of Commerce, LIFTT, Club degli Investitori, I3P, 2i3T, OGR, Plug and Play, SocialFare, CTE Next, Zest, Sellalab, Unione Industriali, and InnovUp.

The meeting represents an opportunity to gain an up-to-date overview of the local ecosystem, meet key players, and forge new connections between startups, investors, and organizations.

Participation is free of charge, subject to online registration.
 

Applications are now open for the I3P Startup Academy 2026, the free program promoted by I3P – Innovative Companies Incubator of the Politecnico di Torino, designed for those who wish to transform an innovative idea into a business project.

The Academy consists of 7 practical workshops, scheduled between March and June 2026, which will be held in person in Turin on Saturday mornings. The program offers concrete tools to understand how to build an effective team and how to launch a successful startup, through theoretical lessons, exercises, business games, and discussion sessions with mentors, founders, and investors.

You can apply individually or as a team: one of the main objectives of the initiative is to facilitate the meeting of talents and the creation of new entrepreneurial teams, offering the opportunity to meet potential co-founders.

Research Booster is now underway, the training program aimed at PhD students, temporary staff, researchers, and research technicians at UniTo interested in the topics of innovation and entrepreneurship in the agri-food sector.

The program aims to provide concrete methodologies and tools to transform the results of a research project into a sustainable value model, through plenary sessions, practical exercises, case histories, and activities dedicated to the creation of tools for Communication.

The meetings will be held at the Library of the Grugliasco Campus, at Largo P. Braccini 2, on the following dates, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm:

• March 10, 2026 – Innovation and Trends in the Agri-Food Market

• March 17, 2026 – Research Design and Value Models

• March 24, 2026 – Market as a Growth Opportunity

• March 31, 2026 – Effective Skills for Interacting with Customers Stakeholders

At the end of the program, an open badge will be awarded to those who have attended at least 80% of the meetings.

Applications are open until March 6, 2026, for international startups and companies interested in participating in São Paulo Innovation Week 2026, an innovation, technology, and business event that will include conferences, exhibition spaces, and networking opportunities with companies, investors, and stakeholders from the global ecosystem, which will be held from May 13 to 15, 2026 in São Paulo, Brazil.

The selection is aimed at projects that present prototypes or demonstrable solutions, physical or digital, capable of offering a concrete and interactive experience to the public. Priority will be given to initiatives that allow direct interaction with visitors at the stand, demonstrate technological maturity and logistical feasibility, and are aligned with the key themes of the event, which range from technological innovation to entrepreneurship and social transformation.

The call for the Digital & DO Impact Italy’s Data-Driven Programme, a program aimed at social economy SMEs and support organizations who want to integrate digital tools and data-driven approaches into their operational and impact models.

The program, promoted in Italy by Torino Social Impact, Fondazione Piemonte Innova, and Politecnico di Milano – TIRESIA as part of the European DO Impact initiative, includes a series of thematic workshops (online and in-person) between March and July 2026. The training content covers digital transformation, strategic use of data, artificial intelligence, and social impact measurement.

Selected organizations will receive financial support to support their participation, including travel and accommodation reimbursements for in-person events.

Applications remain open until available places are filled.

The training offers selected organizations a practical toolkit on mission-driven innovation and scaling strategies, an interactive online training course aimed at capacity building, an international in-person bootcamp in Bucharest to deepen skills and networking, and Travel and accommodation covered for selected participants.

Applications are now open for the WMF – We Make Future 2026 Startup Competition, the international competition for startups and innovative companies scheduled from June 24 to 26, 2026, at BolognaFiere, as part of the World Startup Fest.

The call is open to Italian and international companies developing technological and digital solutions in response to the main challenges of the future. Selected startups will have the opportunity to present their project to investors, venture capitalists, corporates, and international stakeholders, taking part in pitches, networking opportunities, and B2B meetings. A shortlist of six finalists will also compete on the Mainstage for the final prize.

Applications are open until March 12, 2026 via the form available on the official WMF website.

Applications are now open for the Blue Factory programs, the entrepreneurship and innovation platform of ESCP Business School, designed to support students and alumni in developing entrepreneurial projects at various stages of maturity.

Blue Factory offers a personalized support program that includes masterclasses, workshops, dedicated coaching, and opportunities to engage with experts and mentors. Participants also join an international community and gain access to the ESCP network and partners in the European innovation ecosystem. Depending on the campus and availability, coworking spaces and opportunities to access grants and funding are also available.

The programs are divided into three levels, based on the project’s stage of development:

• START: problem validation and proof of concept construction;

• LAUNCH: solution validation with Early adopters;

• SEED: market validation and entry into the growth phase.

ESCP Business School students and alumni and, subject to the conditions, members of partner institutions are eligible to apply. A willingness to actively participate in the program and complete the program is required.

The collaboration between the University of Turin and the Compagnia di Sanpaolo Foundation, in partnership with Edison and Michelin, has led to the WoW – Work on What Matters Students’ Challenge, an initiative designed to offer UniTo students the opportunity to tackle concrete challenges posed by large industrial companies.

The goal is to test skills, creativity, and the ability to work in interdisciplinary teams, developing innovative solutions to real, high-impact problems.

The event will feature professionals and representatives from organizations that support entrepreneurship, including Invitalia, ToTeM Torino Tech Map, Réseau Entreprendre Piemonte, and Fondazione Piemonte Innova.

The University of Turin, in collaboration with the ICT Innovation Hub, is organizing Research to Business, a matchmaking day between UniTO research groups and local technology companies. The initiative was created with the aim of encouraging the launch of applied innovation projects, promoting new scientific partnerships, and supporting participation in national and European funding, including EIC calls. The event is organized as part of the EIC GEN project, funded by the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation.

During the day, B2B meetings with UniTO research groups will take place. These meetings can be booked through the dedicated platform B2match. They are organized into four thematic areas: Health, Agrifood, Energy, and Digital.

The event will be held on March 11, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., at The Kyoto Room at the Environment Park (Via Livorno 60, Turin).

Event registrations are managed by the Polo ICT.

The Brava Innovation Hub open call has begun, the acceleration program dedicated to startups, micro and small businesses led by women established no more than 60 months ago, in which women hold at least 50% of the share capital and the majority of the partners or administrative roles, with a bonus for companies in which the female presence exceeds two-thirds.

The first open call concerns the Rome edition, with applications open until March 3, 2026. The Roman edition kicks off a national path divided into three acceleration programs, which during 2026 will also involve Novara and Salerno. The goal is to support 30 female-led businesses in a 12-week acceleration program in a hybrid format, both in person and online, designed to strengthen business models, managerial skills, and development strategies.

Admitted businesses will receive a grant of €40,000, as well as over 60 hours of individual mentoring, advanced training in business, finance, marketing, communication, legal aspects, and leadership, dedicated workspaces, networking activities, business matching, and visibility opportunities such as the opening event, Benchmark Day, and Demo Day. final meeting with investors and partners.

The City of Turin has published a new call for projects dedicated to culture and entrepreneurship, with strong roots in the circular economy and the urban fabric, as part of the PN Metro Plus and Città Medie Sud 2021–2027 program.

The initiative is aimed at SMEs and Third Sector Entities and supports interventions aimed at encouraging the transition towards an urban circular economy model. Projects may focus on the development and strengthening of circular urban supply chains for waste reduction and resource reuse, the creation of local infrastructure for reuse, repair, and recycling, as well as the creation of products and services based on circular design and eco-design, with the aim of reducing the environmental impact of production processes.

Selected initiatives will benefit from a non-repayable grant of up to 80% of eligible expenses, for a maximum amount of €120,000, in addition to access to specialist support and mentoring services.

ICE Agenzia is organizing the collective participation of Italian startups and innovative SMEs at PODIM 2026, one of the main European events dedicated to innovation and entrepreneurship, scheduled in Maribor (Slovenia) from May 11 to 13, 2026.

The initiative offers the 10 selected companies international visibility, B2B meetings with investors, corporations, and partners, and the opportunity to participate in the Podim Pitching Competition with the European startup ecosystem.

Applications are now open for the Startup Showcase at the Innovation Training Summit 2026, the largest Italian training event for innovative EDTECH or HRTECH startups and SMEs operating in the training and human resources sector.

The Startup Showcase is a space dedicated to presenting innovative products and technologies that support training activities and the HR world, offering the opportunity to connect with HR managers, L&D managers, training institutions, trainers, business angels, and investors.

Participation allows you to increase your project’s visibility, create strategic connections, develop new business opportunities, and receive two free tickets to Innovation Training Summit 2026, March 26 and 27 in Rome.

The deadline for applications is January 31, 2026.

Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 10:00 to 17:00, at the Aula Magna della Cavallerizza Reale (Turin), the final event of the PNRR project Strengthening the MIRRI Italian Research Infrastructure for Sustainable Bioscience and Bioeconomy – SUS-MIRRI.IT will be held.

The project, funded by the PNRR – NextGenerationEU and coordinated by the University of Turin, involves 15 institutions and 24 operational units with the aim of strengthening the MIRRI-IT research infrastructure, improving access, quality and valorization of microbial resources to support research and the sustainable bioeconomy. During the event, the achieved results will be presented and the future prospects for the infrastructure will be discussed.

The initiative will be available in person and online. Registration by February 13, 2026.

On February 3, 2026, from 9:45 to 1:00 PM, the Smart Communities Conference – Intelligences in Common will take place, a digital event dedicated to technologies, data, and impact for the sustainable and inclusive development of territories, promoted by the National Smart Communities Technology Cluster.

The program includes a session of working tables between businesses, the world of research, public administrations, and stakeholders, aimed at sharing common experiences, priorities and development trajectories. The roundtables address the following thematic areas: artificial intelligence for mobility and local public transport, tools and technologies for air quality, use cases and experiments for new scenarios of smart and sustainable urban mobility, the role of small municipalities as innovation laboratories, challenges and development interests in Net-Zero Technologies, and smart longevity.

In During registration, you are required to indicate the thematic table you wish to attend. Participation is free, subject to online registration.

Generation4Universities is back with a new edition: the acceleration program for entering the world of work promoted by Generation Italy and McKinsey & Company, with the support of Intesa Sanpaolo and partners, is open to applications until April 7, 2026.

The training program, lasting approximately 8 months, includes online training modules starting from April 13, 2026, individual mentorship with managers and experts, and professionalizing seminars with senior managers from partner companies.

The initiative is Aimed at talented university students to develop transversal and professional skills and facilitate entry into the job market.

The University of Turin, in collaboration with the Chemical Laboratory of the Turin Chamber of Commerce, is promoting the specialized course “Corporate Sanitization: Sustainable Technologies and Approaches”, scheduled for February 26 and 27, 2026 at the Grugliasco University Campus.

The course is aimed at food companies and company figures involved in quality and sanitation, with the aim of To provide a technical, scientific, and regulatory update on one of the key issues of food safety and to foster the creation of a collaborative ecosystem in which participating companies are actively involved in research and innovation processes, aimed at developing virtuous supply chains.

The deadline for registration is February 11, 2026.

The Call “MICS Futuro Made in Italy Award | Call 4 Circular Startup” is now open. This initiative is promoted by MICS – Made in Italy Circolare e Sostenibile together with the Circular Economy Lab to support circular innovation in the Italian industrial system.

The call is aimed at startups, university spinoffs, and innovative micro and small businesses operating in Italy, capable of proposing high-tech solutions to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable and circular production models, with a focus on four strategic areas: advanced materials and circular design, smart manufacturing and automation, industrial symbiosis and waste-to-value, digital and sustainable traceability.

The Piedmont Region presents the Flagship Project “Piemonte Hydrogen Valley”, dedicated to the development of green hydrogen and the energy transition. During the event, the contents of the call for proposals, fundable projects, and participation methods will be illustrated. The event is aimed at businesses and organizations interested in innovative and sustainable projects in the region.

The meeting will be held Tuesday, January 28, at 10:00 a.m., in the Transparency Room of the Region and will also be available online.

The call is now open for Open Innovation in Practice, the training program promoted by OGR Torino, the hub of the Fondazione CRT, dedicated to startups, micro, and small businesses interested in developing strategic skills in open innovation.

The program provides concrete tools for understanding and applying the main open innovation models, addressing legal, governance, and intellectual property aspects, managing data in innovation processes, and integrating ESG principles in corporate strategies and define operational roadmaps thanks to personalized consulting sessions.

The course will be held online, for a total duration of 16 hours, in the month of February 2026.
Participation is free, by completing the online form by January 30th 2026.

The Department of Law of the University of Turin launches the 2026 edition of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Law Lab. The course involves innovative companies from the Turin and Piedmont regions, who are asked to submit legal issues that will be addressed by students through legal opinions, under the supervision of university professors and qualified professionals.

The initiative was funded by Fondazione CRT, the European Commission (Erasmus+ program), and as part of a Jean Monnet Module, and is sponsored by the Turin Bar Association.

Interested companies can apply by January 28, 2026 using the online form.

The University of Turin is promoting the “Innovation & Entrepreneurship Scenarios (IES) Global Immersive Program”, an immersive program dedicated to innovation and entrepreneurship from an international perspective, aimed at enhancing the results of the University’s research and supporting UniTo entrepreneurial teams in their path to market access.

Created with the contribution of the Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, the program connects the University’s entrepreneurial projects with two of the main global innovation ecosystems—Singapore and San Francisco/Silicon Valley — offering advanced training opportunities, qualified mentoring, networking, and direct contact with international investors and stakeholders.

The IES Global Immersive Program is divided into four phases, combining remote activities and in-person experiences, with an immersive phase scheduled for Singapore in March 2026.

Registration is now open for the WIPO Global Awards 2026, which recognizes SMEs and startups capable of using intellectual property to transform innovative ideas into successful projects and generate positive impact.

The awards will be presented in the sectors of Health, Environment, Creative Industries, Agri-food, and ICT, with special mentions for the Best Female Entrepreneur, the Best Young Entrepreneur, and, new for 2026, an award dedicated to Sport.

The winners will receive personalized mentorship and support in accessing funding and business opportunities.