The Municipality of Genoa in collaboration with Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, already main partner of ToTeM Torino Tech Map, and with the operational management of Feat. Ventures launched Nova Connect at the beginning of November, a project designed to connect and enhance Genoa’s innovation ecosystem. The initiative is designed to support startups, innovative SMEs, large companies and local talents, creating a dynamic and conducive environment for innovation.

Nova Connect is proposed as a meeting point for those who want to be protagonists of the Genoese technological revolution, which touches key sectors such as Robotics, Cybersecurity, Energy, Logistics and the Blue Economy.

Among the ecosystem partners involved in the project: Genoa Chamber of Commerce, Compagnia delle Opere Liguria, CNR Research Area of Genoa, Cofoundry, CONDIVISO , Confindustria Genova, Ligurian District of Marine Technologies, Filse – Finanziaria Ligure for Economic Development, Italian Institute of Technology, Job Centre, Legacoop Liguria, LigurCapital, Liguria Digitale, EASS Hub, Ligurian Life Sciences Hub, PwC Italy, Social Hub Genoa, START 4.0 – Competence Center, Talent Garden Genoa, TRANSIT Hub, University of Genoa and Wylab.

In the province of Genoa there are about 200 innovative startups; however, the local economic potential is equal to that of centers that boast up to more than 10 times the number of innovative companies compared to the Ligurian capital. Hence the need for a force that coordinates and facilitates synergies between local and non-local actors, to facilitate access to capital, improve communication and encourage collaboration towards shared growth objectives.

Nova Connect was created with the aim of responding to this need, facilitating dialogue between Genoese innovation players and focusing on entrepreneurial and innovative development.

Paolo Mulassano, Head of “Obiettivo Pianeta” and of the Impact Innovation Department of the Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, said: “With Nova Connect, the Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo renews its commitment as an ecosystem developer to consolidate Genoa’s position among the main European innovation hubs. We are creating the conditions to strengthen the local entrepreneurial ecosystem and attract capital, talent and projects of excellence, through a strategy that favors the aggregation and synergy of a plurality of complementary players such as startups, investors, corporates, institutions, the world of research, incubators and accelerators. Genoa has the potential to drive technological and sustainable growth of its entrepreneurial fabric. Our goal is to support this path, integrating skills and resources for the development of the territorial innovation system.”

Fabio Sferruzzi, Cofounder & CEO of Feat. Ventures , added: “The quality of life, extraordinary talents and affordable costs make Genoa an ideal place for innovation, with all the credentials to emerge as an international leader. With Nova Connect, we want to put our experience at the service of Genoese innovation and our long-term vision is bold: to connect Genoa with Turin, creating a complementary and synergistic mix, capable of redefining the rules of the game on an international and European scale. Feat. Ventures is proud to support this project, which aims to generate a lasting and transformative impact on the entrepreneurial and social fabric”.

The impact of the project on the Genoese ecosystem will leverage the active involvement of the main local stakeholders, both in the definition of content and in the organization of animation activities, and in supporting the construction of a valuable network. Nova Connect is open to anyone – companies, institutions or associations – who want to contribute to strengthening the Genoese ecosystem, making Genoa a reference point for innovation at national and international level. Through the collaboration between institutions, companies and entrepreneurs, Genoa aims to establish itself as a pole of technological and creative development.

Nova Connect Meetup #1: the launch event on November 6th

On November 6, the project was officially presented during the first Nova Connect Meetup, an event that will be monthly, periodic and continuous, designed to create a physical meeting point for the entire Genoese ecosystem. Each meeting will address a different topic, involving different players in the ecosystem to stimulate discussion and collective growth.

Over 120 people gathered at the Genova Blue District for the event Tracing new routes for innovation in which guest speakers experts in the culture of innovation and the creation of entrepreneurial ecosystems discussed the growth prospects of the Genoese entrepreneurial ecosystem, with a focus on development trends and Italian success stories: Mario Mascia, Councilor for Economic Development, Labour and Urban Planning of the Municipality of Genoa, Fulvio Bersanetti, Impact Innovation Department of the FFondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, Enrico Pavesio, Ecosystem Builder, Fabio Sferruzzi, CEO & Co-Founder of Feat. Ventures , Giovanni Ciferri, CEO & Co-Founder of Buddyfit, Vittoria Gozzi, President of Wylab, Francesco Lato, Talent Investor & Chief Vision Officer, Co-Founder of Genova Startup, Mattia Riva, Equity Partner & CEO of OneDay Group, Cosimo Panetta, CEO of aipermind, Partner of Zest Innovation and of our ToTeM Torino Tech Map project.

The next appointment with Nova Connect Meetup will be on December 4 and tickets are already available on Eventbrite.

(Source: Nova Connect press release)