Creativity and Society

Thursday, March 26, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Binario 3 of OGR Turin, Future Urban Trends returns, the event organized by Stratosferica dedicated to urban tech and urban innovation. Participation is free, with mandatory registration.

The 2026 edition brings to Turin four international startups, presenting their solutions in Italy for the first time: Starship (robotics for last-mile logistics), Made of Air (carbon-negative construction materials), The Great Bubble Barrier (technologies to intercept plastic in rivers), and Coding the Curbs (digital management of urban spaces).

The event focuses on the main trends transforming cities, from autonomous mobility to decarbonization of buildings, to the management of environmental resources and public spaces.

In addition to the talks, there will be opportunities to participate in 1:1 business matching meetings with international founders to explore collaborations and development opportunities.

On March 18, 2026, the Energy Center of Politecnico di Torino will host the Forum on Business, Innovation, and Impact 2026, a day of discussion between startups, companies, investors, institutions, and the academic world from Italy and France on topics such as the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems, open innovation, and the green and digital transition.

The event, organized as part of the ATENA – Cross-Border Support for Emerging Impact Entrepreneurship project, funded by the Interreg France–Italy ALCOTRA program, brings together innovation stakeholders from both countries to discuss the conditions that foster the creation and growth of new businesses and the role of investment in supporting startups.

The morning will focus on the Italy–France entrepreneurial ecosystem, with interventions from institutions, investors, and researchers, and a panel on open innovation presenting collaboration experiences between startups and companies, with a focus on human resources and corporate welfare. In the afternoon, the discussion will continue on the challenges of the green and digital transition, with sessions dedicated to the agri-food, digital, and tourism sectors, involving companies, startups, and organizations from both countries.

Applications are open for S4S – Simonelli for Startup, the program promoted by Simonelli Group in collaboration with Visionar, Università Politecnica delle Marche (UNIVPM), SMAU, Regione Marche, Comune di Belforte del Chienti, and Confindustria.

The initiative offers a six-month incubation program at the Simonelli Group Campus, including training activities, mentoring, and opportunities to engage with managers and experts on topics such as business management, marketing, financial planning, and innovation.

Selected startups will have access to workspaces, networking, and opportunities to meet investors, culminating in a final Investment Day dedicated to presenting their projects.

Applications are open until March 31, 2026. Program activities will take place between April and September 2026.

Last days to apply for the Second-Level Master’s in Social Innovation at the University of Turin – Department of Management, developed by IUSEFOR and SAA – School of Management, in collaboration with the Forum Terzo Settore Piemonte and other local partners.

The one-year program includes 432 hours of classes, including courses, labs, and workshops, and 300 hours of internship, aiming to train professionals capable of designing, managing, and evaluating social innovation initiatives.

On Tuesday, March 17 at 6:30 PM, at the ESCP Turin Campus, the 2026 edition of the Research on Startups and the Innovation Ecosystem in Turin will be presented, conducted by the Club degli Investitori with ToTeM Torino Tech Map, in partnership with ESCP Business School and Growth Capital.

The meeting will provide insights into the evolution of Turin’s innovation system over the past year, through updated data, scenario analysis, and firsthand accounts from startups, companies, and other ecosystem actors.

The program includes a presentation on “Venture Capital in Italy” by Growth Capital, the presentation of research results by Giancarlo Rocchietti, President of the Club degli Investitori, and a talk with startups from the Turin ecosystem moderated by Noa Segre from Zest Group.

The Shaping AI Futures Across Africa and Europe event will take place on Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC-ILO), focusing on cooperation between African and European Artificial Intelligence ecosystems.

The initiative is co-organized by the City of Turin and the Casa delle Tecnologie Emergenti di Torino, in collaboration with MIMIT, MAECI, AI Hub for Sustainable Development, ITC-ILO, the Italian Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and the Turin Industrial Union, along with other innovation ecosystem partners.

The day aims to facilitate structured matchmaking between African startups from the AI Hub Startup Cohort, companies, research centers, and institutions, promoting collaborations, pilot projects, and industrial partnerships.

The program includes a plenary session with startup pitches, sector-themed tables (Education & Health; Sustainable AI Infrastructure & Compute; Climate, Energy & Food), and B2B and B2I meetings.

The registration form allows participation in both the plenary session and the sector-themed tables.

Sono aperte le candidature per la I3P Startup Academy 2026, il percorso gratuito promosso da I3P – Incubatore di Imprese Innovative del Politecnico di Torino, pensato per chi desidera trasformare un’idea innovativa in un progetto d’impresa.

L’Academy si articola in 7 workshop pratici, in programma tra marzo e giugno 2026, che si terranno in presenza a Torino, il sabato mattina. Il percorso offre strumenti concreti per comprendere come costruire un team efficace e come lanciare una startup di successo, attraverso lezioni teoriche, esercitazioni, business game e momenti di confronto con mentor, founder e investitori.

Ci si può candidare individualmente o in team: uno degli obiettivi principali dell’iniziativa è favorire l’incontro tra talenti e la nascita di nuovi team imprenditoriali, offrendo l’opportunità di conoscere potenziali co-founder.

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.

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 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.

On February 20, 2026, at OGR Turin (Platform 3), the Officine d’Intelligenza, the first national forum dedicated to Artificial Intelligence for industry, will be held.

The event, promoted by the Italian Institute of Artificial Intelligence (AI4I), OGR Torino, and Fondazione CRT, brings together institutions, businesses, and the research community to discuss AI and governance, industrial processes, supply chains, skills, and technological development. The program includes institutional presentations, thematic sessions, and roundtable discussions, with a focus on the concrete applications of AI in the industrial sector. The AI4I Strategic Plan 2026–2030 will also be presented during the day.

Full program and registration available online.

The new Eurostars call is now open, an initiative of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs within Horizon Europe. It is aimed at innovative SMEs interested in developing research and innovation projects in international collaboration.

The call funds R&D projects in all technological sectors, with the aim of developing products, processes, or services with high market potential. Proposals must be submitted by consortia composed of at least two independent entities from two different Eurostars participating countries, at least one of which must be an innovative SME and act as lead partner. Businesses, universities, and research organizations are also eligible to participate.

The program is co-financed by the European Commission and the participating Member States. In Italy, the point of contact is the Ministry of University and Research (MUR).

On February 19, 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., the University of Turin is organizing a webinar aimed at businesses to present the regional measure MATCHIN – Mobilizing Advanced Talents for Competence and High Innovation, a strategic opportunity for Piedmontese SMEs interested in hiring highly qualified professionals.

The meeting will illustrate the contents of the call for proposals and the role of the University of Turin in supporting businesses in their dialogue with the research community, exploring the skills and expectations of researchers and the methods of collaboration between universities, incubators, and businesses.

The initiative, promoted by the Piedmont Region as part of the 2021–2027 ERDF Program, has a budget of €5 million to strengthen businesses’ internal skills, support innovation, and enhance the human capital of the regional production system.

Registration deadline: February 16, 2026.

On February 17, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., the Master in Startups, Entrepreneurship and Open Innovation open day will be held in the Aula Magna of the SAA – School of Management. This program trains entrepreneurs, innovation managers, and consultants by providing the practical skills to bring an idea to market. During the meeting, the program and the Call for Ideas will be presented, allowing students to develop their entrepreneurial project during the master’s program.

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.

Applications are now open for UniCredit Start Lab, UniCredit’s business platform dedicated to supporting innovative startups and SMEs. The 50 selected companies will access a structured program that includes mentoring, training, networking with investors and corporations, internationalization support, and grants for the most deserving projects. The reference sectors range from Digital to Life Science, from Clean Tech to Innovative Made in Italy and Impact Innovation. The presentation roadshow will stop in Turin on February 5, 2026. The deadline for applications is March 25, 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.

Enter Academy, the foundation created by the Investors’ Club to inspire, educate, and connect the next generation of entrepreneurs in Italy, is launched.

On January 14th at 6:00 PM, at Platform 3 of the OGR, the project will be presented through the stories of founders who have transformed an idea into a business. This will help us understand how an entrepreneurial journey begins and what skills, choices, and relationships make the difference. The program of courses, experiences, and mentorships to accompany young people on their journey and connect them with entrepreneurs and investors will also be presented.

Registration is now open for the Master’s Degree in Intellectual Property Valorization for Knowledge Exchange & Impact, a higher education program designed to train professionals capable of transforming scientific and technological knowledge into economic and social value.

The program, promoted by Netval, with the support of the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy and the patronage of CODAU, is developed through a collaboration between ten Italian partner universities. Among these, the University of Turin will host the module on Open Innovation and Open Science.

The Master’s Degree is aimed at master’s graduates and PhDs interested in specializing in innovation and research valorization processes, with career opportunities in Technology Transfer Offices, spin-offs and incubators, innovative companies, and knowledge-intensive public organizations.

Take part in the Final Pitching Event of the IUSS Call for Ideas 2025, an initiative by the University School for Advanced Studies IUSS of Pavia aimed at PhD students and early-career researchers. The program supports the valorization of scientific results and the entrepreneurial training of young researchers through a path that integrates intellectual property, business skill development, and the definition of projects with real-world application potential. The event will be an opportunity to watch the final pitches, join a roundtable with experts and investors, and learn about technology transfer experiences originating in academia.

On November 25, 2025, Budapest will host the EIT Innovation Awards 2025. Organized by the EIT European Institute of Innovation and Technology, the Awards will bring together teams, companies, and changemakers from across Europe to share impact and transformation stories. The day will include the EIT Jumpstarter program’s finale, the EIT Awards in the categories of Most Promising Changemaker, Best Innovation Team, Most Promising Venture, and the Public Award, voted on by the audience. The EIT Red Kalyna Award will also be presented, recognizing the contributions of Ukrainian women in innovation, education, and entrepreneurship.

On October 30, 2025, Brussels will host the EIT EdTech Conference 2025, a one-day event promoted by the EIT Community and coordinated by EIT Urban Mobility, at The EGG (Rue Bara 175). The conference will bring together European edtech stakeholders, including universities, startups, public institutions, and companies, to discuss digital innovation, education policy, co-creation, and the scale-up of learning technologies. The goal is to support the edtech ecosystem and make it the next major European success story.

Do you have contacts with companies interested in innovation? Invite them to take part in the new edition of the University of Turin’s Students’ Challenge, carried out with the support of the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation. The Students’ Challenge brings students, organizations, and companies together to develop innovative solutions based on real-world challenges and to spread an entrepreneurial mindset. After the success of previous editions, the call is now open for organizations and companies that wish to propose a new challenge for the 2026 edition, scheduled from late March to late April.

Expressions of interest can be submitted until November 9, 2025.

Vento Venture Building is an acceleration program that supports talent in creating high-impact startups from scratch. Starting in January 2026, 40 selected founders will take part in an intensive 6-month full-time program in Turin, with a scholarship to focus on team building, refining their ideas, and market validation. The program includes hands-on activities, mentorship, networking with investors, and a seed investment of 80,000 € to accelerate the development of the most promising projects. The experience will conclude with an Investor Day during Italian Tech Week in October 2026.

Applications are open until October 12, 2025.

I-Tech Innovation Program is the entrepreneurial acceleration program that supports high-tech startups and SMEs, organized by Golinelli Foundation and CRIF, and implemented by G Factor. The 2025/2026 edition is structured around six thematic verticals: EdTech & Life Sciences, AI & Data in Finance & Green Economy, AgriTech & FoodTech, Industry 4.0, Social Impact, and TravelTech & Smart Mobility. The program will run from January to May 2026, following a hybrid format alternating between remote sessions and in-person activities. Selected teams will have access to a personalized path including mentoring, training, workshops, and networking with industrial partners and investors, up to opportunities for international scaling.

Application deadline: October 15, 2025.

Reinforcing.eu is launching its 6ᵗʰ Open Call to develop Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) projects. Activities include co-creation processes with citizens; training and dialogue programs for innovators; models for engaging civil society; and tools to make innovation trajectories socially desirable and sustainable. The call is open to public and private organizations, including startups and SMEs. Consortia of at least two organizations from an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country are eligible, with funding of up to 60,000 € per project.

Proposal submission deadline: December 2, 2025, at 5.00 pm.

From Zero to Startup 2025, the free training program organized by Blue Factory, the business incubator of ESCP Business School, with the support of the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation and the contribution of the Turin Chamber of Commerce, is now accepting applications from aspiring entrepreneurs.
The program will run from November 29, 2025, to May 16, 2026, featuring 12 in-class workshops, 12 hours of talks with founders and investors, and 16 hours of mentoring, for a total of 100 hours of practical training.

Applications are open until November 9, 2025.

Italy’s most influential tech event is back at OGR Torino from October 1 to 3: three days at the heart of innovation. The stage will host over 180 world-class speakers, including Jeff Bezos, John Elkann, Luciana Lixandru, and Niklas Zennström. The program features more than 70 talks, 45 masterclasses, 70 side events, and over 3,000 meetings that can be scheduled via the app. More than 1,500 startups, 1,500 investors, and over 100 media outlets will gather in Turin. It’s a unique opportunity to engage with global trends, test ideas in real-world contexts, and open international doors.

During Italian Tech Week, UniTo is organizing Academia to Unicorn, a peer-learning and networking event for technology transfer officers and innovation intermediaries working in entrepreneurship, with the participation of the University of Helsinki. The initiative aims to highlight and share strategies, tools, and connections that help accelerate the transition from academic research to successful entrepreneurship, while strengthening collaboration and the culture of innovation among European ecosystem actors.

Applications are now open for the call launched by the Italian Association of Women Inventors and Innovators, aimed at Italian women or women residing in Italy who are entrepreneurs, licensed professionals, or researchers in public or private institutions. Candidates must have created an invention or innovation distinguished by originality and creativity, with potential economic or social impact.
Winners will receive an award and access to consultancy services.

The application deadline is September 30, 2025.

PowerUp is Qonto’s call for startups that are bootstrapping or have raised up to €3 million. The program includes participation in the Founders Night on September 18 —a networking evening with over 200 founders and VCs— and the Pitch Night on October 16, where the winning startups will be announced.
Prizes include mentorship sessions with Qonto’s C-level team, visibility at We Make Future, and rewards offered by partners.

Applications are open until September 25 via the official form.

The WomenX Impact 2025 Startup Competition is now open for applications from startups in Lifestyle, Sustainable & Circular, Education, Health & Fitness, and Fintech & Insurtech sectors, led by women or with female representation on the board. Selected teams will present their projects on stage at the event in Milan (November 27–29) and online, with access to mentorship programs and networking opportunities within the WomenX Impact community and ecosystem partners for the winner.

Application deadline: September 15, 2025.