Florence launches Innovation Hub linking public and private partners

Florence has signed a new agreement to create the Hub Fiorentino dell’Innovazione, a long-term project designed to strengthen the city’s innovation ecosystem by connecting institutions, universities, investors and business-support organisations.

The Protocol of Understanding was signed on Monday by the municipality and a wide group of public and private partners, including the Chamber of Commerce of Florence, PromoFirenze, the University of Florence’s CsaVRI centre, the Foundation for Research and Innovation, the Scuola di Scienze Aziendali–Murate Idea Park, Nana Bianca, Impact Hub, several angel-investment networks, Startupbootcamp Italia, Campus Innovazione, Destination Florence, ZoWorking and TSH Collab.

A coordinated space for innovation

According to the city administration, the agreement creates a single system that brings together institutions, universities, incubators, accelerators and investors, with the aim of making Florence a more dynamic and collaborative place for innovation. Officials said the hub is intended as a shared space to test solutions, build partnerships and support the development of a more sustainable and inclusive local economy.

The Chamber of Commerce described the initiative as part of its strategy to support economic development through cooperation. It noted that no single organisation can build an innovation ecosystem alone, and said the hub should help companies of all sectors access skills, training and support that are not always available on the market.

The University of Florence highlighted the importance of knowledge exchange for social progress and said the hub represents a step towards strengthening the area’s capacity for innovation, with an emphasis on sustainability. The institution expects the project to become a connected environment where start-ups, firms, public bodies and residents can meet and develop ideas.

Five-year renewable programme

The hub is planned as a five-year, renewable project intended to attract skills, companies and investment to the city. Its core activities include scouting new projects, incubating and accelerating start-ups, providing training and linking entrepreneurs with potential investors.

Partners will contribute expertise, spaces and services to support a pipeline that takes ideas from early development to the creation of new businesses. The hub will also host events, training programmes and incubation paths, coordinated through a daily operational structure. Its governance model is designed to be streamlined and participatory, ensuring shared oversight and continuity.

Measuring impact

The protocol identifies three strategic objectives: strengthening cultural and digital development; promoting the innovation ecosystem through shared initiatives; and expanding cooperation between public and private stakeholders. Impact assessments will track activities such as events, start-ups involved, investment attracted and training delivered.

City officials present the hub as a strategic investment for Florence’s future, with the ambition of attracting new professionals, supporting entrepreneurship and expanding job opportunities across the region.

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