Start Cup Lazio: finale 11a Edizione

Deep Tech Start-ups from Research to Make a Difference

Knowledge valorization is a complex and evolving phenomenon, increasingly the focus of actions and policies undertaken by Universities and Public Research Organizations (PROs), aimed at developing technical-scientific initiatives within the broader perspective of the third mission and social impact.

In this direction moves the Start Cup Lazio Network, which currently brings together 63 innovation actors—including universities, PROs, enterprises, venture capitalists, and institutions—in a generative path of innovative entrepreneurship for sustainable development. Leading the Network is the University of Rome Tor Vergata, in collaboration with the Lazio Region–Lazio Innova.

Start Cup Lazio is the regional business plan competition for research-based innovative start-ups, supporting and rewarding the best start-up projects with high deep-tech innovation potential emerging from universities and PROs located in the Lazio region, within PNICube—the National Network of University Incubators and Start Cup Competitions.

The final of the 11th edition of Start Cup Lazio focuses not only on the theme of innovation but also on the urgency of a systemic approach capable of driving sustainable growth and enhancing the competitiveness of the Lazio region and Italy on the international stage, by leveraging cutting-edge scientific research and deep-tech innovations.

The program includes a pitch session of start-up projects competing in the sectors of Cleantech & Energy, ICT, Industrial, and Life Sciences–MED Tech along with the panel ‘Deep Tech Start-ups from Research to Make a Difference.‘ The panel highlights how to support and develop start-ups emerging from research within the universities and PROs of the Lazio region, promoting their technology transfer to industry in strategic innovation sectors that enhance quality of life and competitiveness.

Leading representatives from universities, research organizations, and institutions, together with business leaders, venture capitalists, and financial organizations, will foster the exchange of ideas and concrete proposals.

The event aims to provide an ideal international setting to strengthen long-term vision and to identify effective responses to today’s increasingly complex challenges, foremost among them those related to the goals set by the 2030 Agenda (development, climate change, public health).

2:45 Registration of participants

3:00 Institutional greetings and opening session
Roberta Angelilli, Vice President of the Lazio Region and councillor for Economic Development, Trade, Crafts, Industry, and Internationalisation;
Francesco Marcolini, President of Lazio Innova
Nathan Levialdi Ghiron, Rector Tor Vergata University of Rome
Giulia Ajmone Marsan, Member of the International Secretariat of G20/Startup20
Massimo Calzoni, Head of Promotion, Services and Support, INVITALIA
Sabrina Sarto, Board Member, Rome Technopole Foundation
Michela Michilli, Head of ESA BIC Lazio & Technology Transfer
Myrka Zago, UNIVERSEH Coordinator for Tor Vergata University of Rome
Paola M.A. Paniccia, President of PNICube

3:45 Finalist researcher startups’ pitches
Moderator: Francesco Scafarto – Tor Vergata University of Rome

4:15 Panel “Developing deep tech start-ups for impactful research”
Introduction and moderation by Silvia Baiocco, Start Cup Lazio Coordinator, Tor Vergata University of Rome
Speakers: Paolo Giuntarelli – Lazio Region, Emiliano Schena – Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Ida Meglio – Università di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale, Bisan Abdulkader – Luiss Guido Carli, Silvia Testarmata – Università LUMSA, Mario Risso – Università degli Studi Niccolò Cusano, Fabiola Massa – Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Andrea Dal Piaz – Dock3, Irene Fulco – Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Alberto Pastore – Sapienza Università di Roma, Matteo Coletta – Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, Daniela La Noce – CNR, Federica Scipioni – Enea
Closing remarks: Luigi Campitelli – Lazio Innova

5:15 Finalist student startups’ pitches and Universeh Startech Summer School
Moderators: Pasqualina Cedrone – Lazio Innova, Gianpaolo Abatecola – Tor Vergata University of Rome

5:45 Awards ceremony
Monetary Awards
Awarded by: Lazio Region/Lazio Innova, Paola Paniccia, President of PNICube
Special Awards: Lazio Region-Lazio Innova, Intesa Sanpaolo, Zest, ImprendiLab, INNOVA, Rogue Data, Peekaboo
Awarded by: Luigi Campitelli – Lazio Innova, Alessandro Giussani – Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, Giulio Pezzini – Zest, Ida Meglio – ImprendiLab, Aleardo Furlani – INNOVA Srl, Gustavo Mastrobuoni – Rogue Data Srl, Paolo Napolitano – Peekaboo Srl, Christian Bilotta – Bugnion

Special Mentions: Female Entrepreneurship, Green&Blue, Social Innovation, Space entrepreneurship