Ivrea's C.Next incubator supported by SMEs, start-up call launched

A new incubator, strongly desired by a group of local SMEs that will guarantee an initial investment of almost EUR 100,000, has been set up inside C.NEXT Ivrea, an innovation hub in the historic Olivetti factories, which have been recognised as a UNESCO heritage site. 'The idea,' explains Alberto Mina, head of the C.NEXT Ivrea incubation service, 'is to propose a call every year supported by local companies that will sponsor the initiative.

The Call for Start up 2025, open to all sectors and focused on innovation, opened on 30 April and will close on 20 June. The objective is to accompany the birth and development of new enterprises through an incubation programme provided by C.NEXT Ivrea, which will be presented today. C.NEXT is a system of innovation poles spread across the country - with locations in Como, Ascoli Piceno and, in the future, Novara and Pescara - involving over 150 companies and organisations. The Canavese pole, set up and in partnership with Icona, owner of the Officine ICO complex, started its activities in 2022 and today bets on star-ups and support for new entrepreneurship.

In addition, the incubation model launched in Ivrea will be adopted by all C.NEXT poles, a benefit company that will offer the one-year programme free of charge, without reserving legal rights to the incubated entrepreneurial project or entry into the start-up's capital. The Call for Start up aims to select five entrepreneurial projects in the early stage, with a focus, however, on Sport & Leisure, ICT, Social welfare and manufacturing.

At the end of the incubation path, mature start-ups will be offered an acceleration path managed by the parent company C.NEXT. 'Ours is a participatory system,' explains Stefano Soliano, managing director of C.NEXT and vice-president of InnovUp, 'we support about fifty start-ups and we want to stimulate the active role of companies, starting with the smallest, in the various territories in supporting new projects.