The University of Bologna takes the podium at the Start Cup Ecosister Emilia-Romagna

Two entrepreneurial projects born at the University of Bologna took first and third place at the regional final of the 2025 Start Cup Ecosister Emilia-Romagna, marking the 25th anniversary of the competition.

The first prize went to RAPCO₂, a project developed at the University’s Department of Chemistry. The project devised a method to capture carbon dioxide from the air in offices and apartments, converting it into chemicals and advanced fuels. For its innovative environmental potential, it also received a special mention for its impact on climate change.

In third place came RedAI, a tele-ophthalmology platform that uses computer-vision and machine-learning algorithms to assess eye health from a simple photograph.

Also from the University of Bologna, OrthoLensAR brings augmented reality into orthodontic practice, helping clinicians position brackets with greater precision and speed. The project came fourth, and since the first-place winner  RAPCO2  — also received a special mention, it will join the other awardees at the National Innovation Award (PNI), to be held at the University of Ferrara on 4–5 December 2025.

The Start Cup Ecosister Emilia-Romagna is a business plan competition organised by the Emilia-Romagna Region and Art-ER, in collaboration with Ecosister, a project funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP – PNRR) to foster the ecological and sustainable transition of Emilia-Romagna, together with universities, research centres, and regional partners.

Thirty teams took part this year in the business-plan training programme, from which twelve finalists were selected. A total prize fund of €28,000 was provided by the initiative’s sponsors — Almaviva S.p.A., Iren S.p.A., Emil Banca Credito Cooperativo, Intesa Sanpaolo, and the Regional Federation of Engineers’ Orders of Emilia-Romagna. The final evaluation, based on the business plan and project presentation, was carried out by a jury of investors, entrepreneurs, and innovation experts.

The award ceremony took place at the DAMA Tecnopolo – Data Manufacturing Emilia-Romagna in Bologna. Among those attending were Maurizio Sobrero, President of the Ecosister Foundation; Claudio Melchiorri, Rector’s Delegate for Business Relations and Industrial Research at the University of Bologna, who reflected on the competition’s 25-year journey; Nicolò Manaresi, Founder and CSO of Silicon Biosystems and winner of the first Start Cup Emilia-Romagna in 2000; Sara El Yamani, Co-Founder of 2GCarbons and winner of Start Cup Ecosister 2024; and Cristina Maselli, Head of the Business Support Coordination Area at the Emilia-Romagna Region.