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partners
2025

POWERED BY

A flagship project of the innovation platform Bologna Innovation Square, led by the Metropolitan City and Municipality of Bologna, CTE COBO is a distributed technology transfer centre with a budget of nearly €20 million. Benefiting from the highest funding in Italy from the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (Ministero delle Imprese e del Made in Italy, MiMiT) as part of the House of Emerging Technologies (Case delle Tecnologie Emergenti, CTE) programme, and supported by 16 partners (including the Metropolitan City and Municipality of Bologna, ART-ER, BI-REX, G-Factor, GELLIFY, and Cineca), it aims to establish a network of stakeholders forming the basis of a unique innovation ecosystem in the national landscape. This supports the technological challenges of businesses and public sector institutions through emerging technologies enabled by 5G (IoT, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain). In just over a year of activity, it has allocated over €2.5 million to 62 businesses and startups, and involved more than 400 companies, incubators, accelerators, competence centres, professionals, and researchers. www.ctecobo.it

ART-ER - Attractiveness Research Territory is the Emilia-Romagna Joint Stock Consortium born with the purpose of fostering the region’s sustainable growth by developing innovation and knowledge, attractiveness and internationalisation of the territory. Its activities are aimed at strengthening the regional innovation ecosystem and relationships among its components, promoting the internationalisation of the business and research system to foster sustainable growth in the regions, increasing research and innovation capabilities and productivity, and successfully integrating into global value chains and new markets. www.art-er.it

The Municipality of Bologna is the local authority that governs and administers the city, promoting services and policies for its citizens.
As a European cultural and academic hub, Bologna invests in innovation, social inclusion, and sustainability.
The administration supports sustainable mobility, widespread welfare, and the preservation of historical and artistic heritage.
Through dialogue with the community, the Municipality works to build a welcoming, livable, and future-oriented city.

The metropolitan area plays a key role as a strategic hub of the regional economy. Bologna is home to a network of both physical and intangible research and innovation infrastructures that are recognised at both regional and national levels, serving as a driver for the entire regional system. The Metropolitan City and Municipality of Bologna, through the strategic mandate project City of Knowledge, promote a series of policies to foster economic development and attractiveness, strengthen innovation, and encourage synergy and collaboration among all ecosystem players. This integrated system encompasses various projects and services, including BIS – Bologna Innovation Square, the House of Emerging Technologies of the Municipality of Bologna (CTE COBO), and services promoting territorial attractiveness.

The Emilia-Romagna Region is a public authority that promotes sustainable development, innovation, and social cohesion.
With one of Europe’s most advanced economies, it supports businesses, research, and high-quality education.
The Region invests in healthcare, welfare, culture, and environmental protection to improve citizens’ lives.
Through inclusive and participatory policies, it enhances the territory and strengthens regional identity.

The Houses of Emerging Technologies (Case delle Tecnologie Emergenti, CTE), launched in 2019 by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (Ministero delle Imprese e del Made in Italy, MiMiT), represent a unique model of collaborative and regional innovation. The total funding for the project exceeds €143 million (with around €120 million provided by MiMiT from FSC resources) and is part of the Support Programme for Emerging 5G Technologies. Through this initiative, the Houses of Emerging Technologies have given rise to multidisciplinary Innovation Hubs where municipalities, universities, research centres, startups, and SMEs collaborate on areas such as Smart Cities, Industry 4.0, the cultural and creative industries, and sustainable mobility.To date, the 13 Houses of Emerging Technologies have supported over 900 innovative SMEs and startups, organised more than 650 events to promote initiatives in Italy and abroad using emerging technologies, carried out 143 technological pilot projects, and delivered 180 training initiatives, establishing themselves as real engines of local development. However, their impact goes beyond the numbers: they have helped create 13 innovation ecosystems rooted in their respective areas (Bari, Bologna, Cagliari, Campobasso, Genoa, L’Aquila, Matera, Naples, Pesaro, Prato, Rome, Taranto, and Turin), enhancing latent skills and generating both social and entrepreneurial cohesion.

IT4LIA AI Factory is one of the first European platforms specialised in accelerating the development and adoption of artificial intelligence in industry and society. Hosted at Bologna’s Tecnopolo – an international centre of excellence in supercomputing and data science – the Factory provides access to a cutting-edge supercomputer optimised for AI applications, providing Europe’s leading computing power. IT4LIA was created as a collaborative platform between research and industry, promoting technology transfer through specialist services, training, and a network of public and private partners – with the support of the European Commission, the Ministry of University and Research, the National Cybersecurity Agency, and various regional players. It aims to build a national and international ecosystem enabling startups, SMEs, large enterprises, and public institutions to access and maximise AI’s potential, positioning Italy as a global leader in the field.

BI-REX is the national Competence Centre specialising in Big Data and enabling technologies for Industry 4.0. It is a Public-Private Partnership involving 64 partners. including universities, research centres, and leading businesses. It supports companies through innovation and digital transformation paths, offering training, consultancy, test-before-invest initiatives, and co-development of technology transfer projects. At the core of its offer is the Pilot Line: a digitally interconnected factory available to businesses, integrating 4.0 technologies with traditional processes for real-world experimentation, demonstration, and prototyping.

The Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) is the Italian government body responsible for supporting businesses and industrial development.
It promotes innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable growth across national and international markets.
The Ministry safeguards and enhances the value of Italian excellence and the Made in Italy brand worldwide.
Through strategic policies and partnerships, it fosters entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and global competitiveness

KEY PARTNERS

FOUNDING INSTITUTIONS

WITH THE KEY COLLABORATION OF

Bologna Business School is a private foundation created by the University of Bologna to offer post-graduate and post-experience executive education.

In addition to the University of Bologna, the following are partners in BBS: Automobili Lamborghini, BBS Society of Scholars, Confindustria Emilia Centro, Dallara Automobili, Ferrari, Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna, Fondazione Guglielmo Marconi, Granarolo, IMA, Marchesini Group, and Unicredit.

The school is characterised by an interdisciplinary approach, integration with the productive context of Emilia-Romagna, and for its focus on “industry champions” (leading organisations in their own sectors or in their niches, regardless of size).

G-Factor, the incubator-accelerator for young businesses created in 2018 by Fondazione Golinelli, is an ecosystem that transforms the high innovation and technology potential of young people and scientists into entrepreneurial realities capable of succeeding in the market with replicable and scalable models. It addresses the growing need to foster integration between research, industry, and the market, placing young people, their business ideas, scientific research, and their ability to produce innovation and new technologies at the centre.

G-Factor adopts an experimental approach to accelerating market entry for selected companies, based on equity investments made through capital and expertise. This is underpinned by a patient approach, guided by both scientific and market logic, and driven by the belief that the combination of finance and training is critical to the success and growth of the most innovative entrepreneurial ventures. Alongside financial leverage, G-Factor offers training and support throughout the early years of development. All skill- and experience-building pathways are highly personalised to meet the specific needs of each team. In some cases, G-Factor also acts as a venture builder or startup studio. While its core focus is on life sciences, G-Factor also partners with companies in the fields of fintech, insurtech, agritech, foodtech, social impact, smart mobility, and travel.

PREMIUM SPONSOR

FNDX is a consultancy firm specialised in technical advisory for venture capital and private equity funds, helping select the most promising innovative projects and emerging technologies for investment. In addition to investment advisory services, FNDX offers M&A advisory for entrepreneurs and talented founders on digital products and companies across all stages of growth – from early fundraising, through later funding rounds, to support during the exit phase. https://fndx.vc/

Intesa Sanpaolo, with €419 billion in loans and €1,400 billion in customer financial assets as of June 2025, is the largest banking group in Italy, with a significant international presence. It is a European leader in wealth management, with a strong strategic orientation towards digital innovation and fintech. In the ESG sphere, the Bank has committed €115 billion in impact lending by 2025 to support communities and the green transition. A €1.5 billion programme (2023–2027) has been launched in support of vulnerable individuals and communities. The Bank’s museum network, Gallerie d’Italia, serves as the exhibition venue for its proprietary art collections and for cultural initiatives of recognised value.

GELLIFY is a global innovation factory that integrates strategy, design, and technology, supporting the growth of organisations from vision to execution through its “purple way”. GELLIFY helps organisations implement new business models, technology roadmaps, digital strategies, and products, also thanks to its portfolio of B2B software assets. www.gellify.com

Almacube is the innovation hub and incubator of the University of Bologna, certified by the Ministry of Economic Development. Since 1999, it has supported innovation and economic development in the region, acting as a bridge between academic research and industry. Initially created to enhance university spin-offs, Almacube has expanded its scope, now operating through two business units:

Open Innovation Unit, guiding established companies through their innovation processes
Startup & Spin-off Unit, supporting startup and spin-off growth through effective business and go-to-market strategies

With a strategic and collaborative approach, Almacube serves a diverse audience including startups, SMEs, corporates, and innovators. It actively involves students, young professionals, researchers, and professors in programmes based on advanced methodologies such as Design Thinking, Lean Startup, and Human-Centred Innovation.

With Almacube, the potential of academic research meets market needs, generating innovative and sustainable solutions for the future.

MUG – Magazzini Generativi is an innovation hub developed by Emil Banca, located at Via Emilia Levante 9 in Bologna, Italy. It was created through the regeneration of a former 1,700+ m² warehouse. It is a technologically advanced collaborative space hosting offices, coworking areas, meeting rooms, workshop spaces of different sizes, a nursery, and a 99-seat auditorium. MUG positions itself as a home for startups, third-sector organisations, talent, businesses, and stakeholders, offering an ideal environment for high-impact economic and social projects, with a strong focus on sustainability and welfare. The project fosters cross-pollination between innovation, business, and culture through open innovation initiatives that actively engage the local community and a network of public and private partners and stakeholders.

StartYouUp is a non-profit association dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.
It supports startups and young founders through mentoring, networking, and tailored growth programs.
The association connects talents, investors, and institutions to strengthen the innovation ecosystem.
By promoting education and collaboration, StartYouUp helps transform ideas into sustainable businesses.
Its mission is to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs and drive positive impact

Gianni & Origoni is an international, independent law firm and a leader in consultancy and assistance across all areas of business law.

Founded in 1988, the firm now has over 490 highly specialised lawyers based in Italy (Rome, Milan, Bologna, Padua, and Turin) and abroad (Abu Dhabi, Brussels, Hong Kong, London, New York, and Shanghai). Recognised nationally and internationally for its achievements in Italy and other jurisdictions, the firm has received prestigious awards and ranks among the top law firms in the field.

As a full-service firm, one of its core strengths is mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Gianni & Origoni plays a key role in many of the most prominent M&A transactions in Italy and is ranked among the top firms in the sector.

To meet growing client demand for legal expertise in innovation and technology transfer, the firm expanded its services in 2016 by launching GOP4Venture – a specialised team dedicated to venture capital and investments in startups and innovative companies. Its mission is to meet the needs of venture capital funds, investment firms and investors, founders, innovative SMEs, as well as accelerators, incubators, and spin-offs from research centres.

SUPPORTED BY

Cubbit is the first geo-distributed cloud storage enabler, developing sovereign solutions to protect the data of companies and institutions across Europe and worldwide. Its groundbreaking software enables service providers, enterprises, and public entities to create their geo-distributed cloud storage system in minutes, adaptable to each organisation’s infrastructure strategy. This ensures full control and sovereignty over data, simplifies management workflows, and optimises costs. Today, Cubbit’s hyper-resilient and cybersecure technology is adopted by 400+ companies and partners, including Leonardo (world leader in defence and cybersecurity) and Rai Way (part of the RAI group, active in the media and data centre sectors), and serviced by Exclusive Networks (global distributor, listed on the Paris Stock Exchange). Cubbit is also supported by international tech partners such as HPE, Accenture, and Equinix. For more information, visit: https://www.cubbit.io

partners 2025