by InTrieste
The University of Trieste has inaugurated a new edition of its innovation training program, the Innovators Community Lab (ICLab), aimed at equipping students with entrepreneurial skills and real-world business experience.
Building on the legacy of the Contamination Lab—an initiative that trained around 300 students over ten editions—the ICLab seeks to foster a culture of innovation among young people through a mix of mentorship, co-design, and networking opportunities. The 2025 edition, launched today in the renovated former Military Hospital space, welcomed 29 students from undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs.
Described as a space for learning, collaboration, and cross-sector engagement, the ICLab represents the university’s continued commitment to bridging academia and industry. The lab is housed in a facility specifically designed to encourage interaction between students, researchers, businesses, and the broader regional community.
Salvatore Dore, Head of Technology Transfer and University-Industry Relations and the lead organizer of the program, presented key updates for this year’s edition. These include curricular academic credits, individualized mentoring, training sessions with business leaders, and a site visit to industrial group Marcegaglia, where students will engage with senior executives. At the conclusion of the program, the five most promising projects will be awarded €5,000 scholarships, funded by the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia.
“This year’s edition introduces an international dimension, which we will unveil in the coming weeks,” Dore noted during the event.
In his opening remarks, Professor Rodolfo Taccani, the Rector’s Delegate for Technology Transfer and Industry Relations, reflected on the evolution of the program as his six-year term nears its end. “The Contamination Lab has long been a living workshop of ideas—and of people,” he said. “Over the years, we’ve seen skills, relationships, and initiatives grow beyond the university’s walls.”
With a renewed format and an emphasis on cross-disciplinary collaboration, the Innovators Community Lab is set to continue the University of Trieste’s investment in student-led innovation—offering a platform for the next generation of entrepreneurs to take their first steps into the business world.
