StartUp Day 2026 returns to showcase entrepreneurial ideas born at the University

The twelfth edition of StartUp Day, one of the leading regional events dedicated to bringing together universities, businesses, startups and local stakeholders, will take place on Wednesday 24 June, from 10 am to 6 pm, as part of WMF – We Make Future (BolognaFiere, Viale della Fiera 20, Bologna). The initiative is promoted by the University of Bologna in collaboration with the University of Ferrara, the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, the University of Parma and ART-ER. 
This year, hosted within the international trade fair dedicated to digital innovation, artificial intelligence and technology, the initiative will once again showcase entrepreneurial projects emerging from university research and education, placing them in dialogue with a national and international network of companies, investors, innovators and professionals.

Over its eleven editions, StartUp Day has involved hundreds of students, researchers, startups, university spin-offs, businesses and investors, helping to foster entrepreneurial culture and technology transfer across the region. This year’s edition will once again highlight high-potential ideas and startups in strategic fields such as artificial intelligence, deep tech, health and life sciences, ecological transition, cultural and creative industries, emerging digital technologies and innovative services. 

The 35 University of Bologna projects selected for StartUp Day 2026 reflect the diverse directions currently shaping university innovation and entrepreneurship. From digital and industrial technologies to solutions for environmental sustainability, from social impact to health and life sciences, students, researchers and interdisciplinary teams will present ideas capable of turning research and expertise into practical applications. 

Projects featured in the programme include artificial intelligence platforms for educational cybersecurity and access to public services, IoT systems for precision agriculture and environmental monitoring, haptic devices for augmented and virtual reality, digital healthcare and neuropsychological rehabilitation solutions, workplace safety tools, and innovative circular economy models applied to agri-food and industrial supply chains. Alongside emerging technologies, the event will also feature initiatives focused on social inclusion, accessible mobility, responsible tourism and personal wellbeing, reaffirming the University’s role as a place of experimentation capable of generating technological, social and environmental innovation.

The programme for the day includes pitch sessions dedicated to participating teams and startups, round tables, workshops, laboratories and in-depth discussions on innovation, entrepreneurship and technology transfer. The event will also foster dialogue between universities, businesses, investors, incubators, accelerators, institutions and citizens, with the aim of strengthening the connection between academic research and the productive system.

The event will be structured around three key dimensions:
– Pitch sessions and presentations of new business ideas: entrepreneurial teams from universities across Emilia-Romagna will present their innovative ideas through elevator pitches and opportunities for discussion with experts, investors and representatives from industry;
– Expo area and networking: startups, university spin-offs, companies, investors, incubators and partners from the regional and national innovation ecosystem will showcase opportunities, tools and pathways supporting entrepreneurial development;  – Round tables: meetings and in-depth sessions exploring new frontiers in technological innovation, sustainable entrepreneurship and the impact of emerging technologies, involving professionals, researchers and local stakeholders.

Così ha affermato il prof. Claudio Melchiorri, delegato del Rettore per i rapporti con le imprese e la ricerca industriale all’Università di Bologna, “La dodicesima edizione dello StartUp Day conferma la forza della collaborazione tra gli Atenei dell’Emilia-Romagna e la sinergia che si può stabilire fra ricerca universitaria e impresa. Per quanto riguarda il nostro Ateneo, questo evento è anche il culmine di una serie di attività che sviluppiamo nel corso dell'anno per mettere in luce il talento di studentesse e studenti e il loro contributo per promuovere un’imprenditorialità orientata all’innovazione, alla sostenibilità ambientale e tecnologica e di respiro sempre più internazionale. L’iniziativa dimostra anche come il dialogo con il territorio ed i suoi attori possa generare valore concreto”.

Con StartUp Day 2026, l’Università di Bologna e gli Atenei partner rinnovano il proprio impegno nella promozione di un modello di innovazione fondato sulla collaborazione tra ricerca, formazione e impresa, capace di generare valore per il territorio e di accompagnare le nuove generazioni nella costruzione di percorsi imprenditoriali e professionali orientati al futuro.