UniCredit Start Lab 2026 Roadshow Kicks Off in Bologna, Supporting Italian Innovation
Bologna, Italy – February 26, 2026 – The national roadshow for the 2026 call of UniCredit Start Lab, a program dedicated to supporting Italian start-ups and SMEs with innovative technologies, has begun in Bologna. The initiative aims to identify and accelerate the growth of promising businesses across Italy.
UniCredit Start Lab: A Decade of Supporting Italian Entrepreneurship
For 12 years, UniCredit Start Lab has been a key player in the Italian start-up ecosystem, evaluating approximately 9,000 entrepreneurial projects and supporting 700 start-ups on their growth journeys.
Focus on the Central-North Italian Innovation Ecosystem
The Bologna event, held at Palazzo Magnani, focused on the Central-North Italian innovation ecosystem, encompassing Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, and Marche. This region is home to over 2,280 active innovative SMEs and start-ups, with 1,078 in Emilia-Romagna, 669 in Tuscany, 356 in the Marche, and 182 in Umbria (data from the Italian SME and Startup Registry as of January 2026).
UniCredit’s Commitment to Innovation
Andrea Burchi, Regional Manager Central and North of UniCredit, emphasized the importance of innovation for the region’s competitiveness. “Innovation is a strategic pillar of the competitiveness of this area,” Burchi stated. “It is an engine capable of generating new opportunities, developing skills and creating employment. UniCredit plays an active role in strengthening this growth lever.”
Key Sectors and Program Benefits
The 2026 UniCredit Start Lab program focuses on five key sectors: Clean Tech, Innovative Made in Italy, Digital, Life Science, and Impact Innovation. Start-ups and SMEs selected for the program will have access to:
- Business and investment matching activities
- Access to UniCredit’s international network
- Participation in international Tech Days
- Priority access to the Global Startup Program promoted by ICE
- A network of foreign investors
- An impact platform for female founders and impact innovation
- ESG TECH DAY participation
- Advanced managerial training
- Personalized mentorship
- Dedicated UniCredit manager support
- A €10,000 prize for first place in each category
Call for Applications
The call for applications for the 13th edition of UniCredit Start Lab 2026 is open until March 25, 2026, at 6:00 PM CET. Interested start-ups and SMEs can submit inquiries to unicreditstartlab@unicredit.it.
Roadshow Schedule
The UniCredit Start Lab roadshow will continue nationally from January 29 to March 9, 2026.