by InTrieste
Wednesday morning witnessed the unveiling of a new era at the Trieste Urban Center during the “Innovation and Connection” event. Recently entrusted to the management of the Upper Adriatic Technological Hub “Andrea Galvani,” the Urban Center aims to redefine its role under this new leadership.
The event also served as a platform to outline the upcoming initiatives for the next period (perhaps a quinquennium?). Notable participants included Serena Tonel, Deputy Mayor and Commissioner for Economic Policies on behalf of the Trieste Municipality, and Elisa Lodi, Commissioner for Real Estate Heritage Policies. Additionally, Massimiliano Ciarrocchi, the Director General of the Upper Adriatic Confindustria, also serving as Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce of the Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Franco Scolari, Director of the Technological Hub, represented their respective organizations.
The gathering featured insights into the developmental and entrepreneurial support activities that the Urban Center, now managed by the Upper Adriatic Technological Hub, will provide. Presenters included Fabrizio Rondo, Business Unit Leader for Startups and Sustainability at the Upper Adriatic Hub, Stefano De Monte, Cluster Manager for Life Sciences in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Andrea Fornasier, Business Unit Leader for Digital Innovation at the Upper Adriatic Hub, Alberto Miotti, Business Unit Leader for Industry 4.0 at the Upper Adriatic Hub, Alessandra Gruppi, Founding Partner and Administrator of Strategia&Control collaborating with the Upper Adriatic Hub on corporate growth, organizational restructuring, digitization, and change management projects, and Emanuele Ciccone, coordinator of the Urban Center’s FabLab. Caterina Petrillo, President of Area Science Park, also shared her perspectives.
During his address, Franco Scolari, Director of the Upper Adriatic Technological Hub, emphasized the Urban Center’s commitment to building upon its initial success by expanding services for startup development and enhancement, bridging the scientific and entrepreneurial realms. This vision aims to accelerate the original mission of the Urban Center, fostering territorial collaboration and inclusivity across diverse sectors. The Urban Center reiterates its dedication to innovation, positioning itself as a physical convergence point where science can ground itself and become a catalyst for new enterprises.
Elisa Lodi, Commissioner for Real Estate Heritage Policies, highlighted the long-standing belief of the Trieste Municipality in the Urban Center, emphasizing the crucial role of “innovation and connection” for the city’s future. Deputy Mayor Serena Tonel expanded on the significance of the Urban Center’s location as a pivot between two city zones. She stressed that the Urban Center, facilitating the connection between the realms of research and economic entrepreneurial development, serves as an early example of the need to network institutional entities such as the Municipality, Region, Scientific Institutions, Economic System, Chamber of Commerce, and Professional Associations with businesses, startups, and ideas within a shared physical space. Massimiliano Ciarrocchi, Director General of the Upper Adriatic Confindustria and Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce of Friuli Venezia Giulia, reiterated the Urban Center’s pivotal role in bridging the gap between science and the city, essential for generating new enterprises. Caterina Petrillo, President of Area Science Park, affirmed the intention to collaborate with the Urban Center and the Upper Adriatic Technological Hub, pooling their respective expertise.
The event continued with representatives from various Business Units of the Upper Adriatic Technological Hub presenting the services and support activities to be offered at the Urban Center. These include cooperation support, networking, digital transformation, investment plan analysis, energy efficiency services, ESG sustainability analysis, audit 4.0, cybersecurity services, pre-incubation, business incubation, and other initiatives supporting both young startups and established companies in the technological, innovation, and scientific sectors. The focus is on enhancing synergies with regional clusters, such as the Life Sciences Cluster, managed by the Upper Adriatic Technological Hub, which will find its headquarters at the Urban Center. The Life Sciences Cluster recently organized a two-day event in Trieste, engaging over 750 participants, to showcase the research and innovation ecosystem in the Life Sciences sector in Friuli Venezia Giulia, promote the industry, stimulate national and international exchanges, and announced its role as the managing entity for innovation and research attractiveness projects sponsored by the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia over the next two years.
Lastly, the event emphasized the central role of the Fab Lab within the Urban Center. This space will remain open to citizens, students, researchers, designers, professionals, and businesses, encouraging hands-on learning and collaborative community building. The Fab Lab will not only facilitate the development of 3D models but also serve as a hub for learning digital fabrication technologies, fostering a sense of community.
