Elio Morino, URBIT
In addition to initiatives already underway, such as Mind – Milano Innovation District, OGR Torino, the Emilia-Romagna Technopole Network and the Navacchio Technology Hub in Pisa, new initiatives have emerged, including Rome Technopole and Taranto. The overview presented at Urbanpromo 2025 deserves further exploration, focusing on the different development paths of the innovation ecosystems that cities and territories are establishing to strengthen the research, education and technology transfer value chain. By way of example, alongside the sectors identified as strategic, the discussion will address location strategies, relations with public administrations in territorial governance, and new forms of financing, such as venture capital, to support technology transfer and foster territorial innovation.
One key aspect to explore is the role of the urban and territorial dimension, which is now more crucial than ever in fostering innovation. However, the acceleration driven by innovation itself can lead to pronounced spatial polarisation and, consequently, to potential territorial disparities. Appropriate policies are needed to support emerging management models that are sensitive to local contexts and inclusive, based on “plural partnerships” and supported by new innovation service providers, system integrators, and specialists in accelerating and integrating start-ups and businesses. These organisations promote the enhancement of knowledge and technology transfer processes, helping to address a structural weakness of Italy’s innovation system: the difficulty of translating academic research excellence into economic and industrial value, to the benefit of local territories and the human capital involved. Climate change and social inclusion are among the key challenges that innovation is now called upon to address, through the adoption of impact investing models and patient capital.
Finally, attention must be paid to the legal challenges involved in formally recognising these technological and territorial systems. The excessive fragmentation of the ecosystem, coupled with the lack of formal administrative and legal recognition, weakens their positioning and makes dialogue with institutions and access to funding more difficult.
PROGRAMME
14:30 Opening
Welcome remarks
Stefano Stanghellini, INU – URBIT
Introduction and moderation
Elio Morino, INU – URBIT
Speakers
“Building Competitive Territories in the Knowledge Economy”
Giancarlo Corò, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice – CNR
“The Role of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation in Territorial Development: The Kilometro Rosso Experience”
Salvatore Majorana, International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation – Kilometro Rosso
“Innovation: Lessons from the Past for the Future”
Matteo Olivetti, Architect, Industrial Historian, President of Spille d’oro Olivetti
“Science and Technology Parks as Key Players in the Innovation Value Chain: Unlocking Their Potential”
Giorgio Ciron, Director General of InnovUp
“CNR Projects for Urban Innovation: Territorial Engagement, Inclusiveness and Replicability”
Maurizio Gentilini, CNR, Interdepartmental Centre for Urban Science – CISC
“Between Science and Technology: The Transformative Power of Artificial Intelligence”
Andrea Orlandini, Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies and President of the Italian Association for Artificial Intelligence
“DIG421: From Territory to Community – Turning a Business into a Foundation for Economic and Social Development through Open Innovation”
Giuseppe Pacotto, President of DIG421 Foundation (Digital Innovation Gate for XXI Century)
“Technology Transfer as a Strategic Investment Lever for Economic Development and Territorial Innovation”
Claudia Pingue, Senior Partner, Head of Technology Transfer Funds, CDP Venture Capital
“Technopoles and Technology Transfer: From National Competitiveness to Territorial Development”
Raffaele Spallone, Head of Division II, Policies for Business Digitalisation, Innovation and Analysis of Productive Sectors, Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy
Discussion
Conclusion remarks
Michele Talia, President of INU
18:30 Closing of proceedings
Italiano
Contributions