TORINO (ITALPRESS) – The Intesa Sanpaolo Group consolidates its commitment to innovation and sustainability with the final event of Up2Stars and In Action Esg CLIMATE, two complementary initiatives that support the growth of innovative startups and the dissemination of solutions that contribute to the ecological transition of the country.
Both realized in collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, the two programs have special features: Up2Stars, promoted by the Banca dei Territori Division led by Stefano Barrese, supports the growth of young companies with high technological content and promotes dialogue with companies, investors and specialized operators, while In Action Esg CLIMATE, promoted by Intesa Sanpaolo Assicurazioni led by Virginia Borla, enhances projects that generate a concrete and measurable impact on the environment. The synergies developed within the Group have brought together in the same initiative Up2Stars and In Action Esg CLIMATE, further expanding the opportunities offered to startups and creating a path of excellence capable of generating economic, environmental and social value.
The Intesa Sanpaolo skyscraper in Turin hosted the world of innovation represented on the one hand by the 40 startups protagonists of the acceleration path made available by Up2Stars, offering a concrete infrastructure for the development of new realities through a network of excellence partners such as ELITE, Digit’Ed, Microsoft and Innovit as well as Factory Plus as accelerator; on the other by the award, with contributions from 230.000 Euros, Rarearth of Monte San Vito (AN), for the development of a process of recycling rare earths contained in magnets at the end of life, aimed at the sustainable production of new high-performance magnets; Pipein, from Turin, for the project “Waterguard”, which reduces losses in submerged or pressurized water pipelines, thanks to the use of robotic systems and predictive intelligence technologies; Voidless of Milan, which innovates the logistics sector producing in real time custom-made boxes for each order, with a reduction of costs, waste and environmental impact. The third edition of Up2Stars and the fourth edition of In Action Esg CLIMATE.
Launched in June 2025, the third edition of Up2Stars has collected 500 applications and selected 40 high potential startups, ten startups for each of the four areas identified as priorities for the Italian production system: New materials, Robotics, Aerospace and Design Tech. The new enterprises have followed a free acceleration path taken by Factory Plus, with mentorship and specialist insights. In the four final Demo Days, realized with the support of Visa, startups presented innovative projects and solutions in sectors ranging from circular economy to artificial intelligence, from health to construction, to digital manufacturing, industrial automation and space economy.
The geographical distribution of the 40 selected companies confirms the driving role of Northern Italy, which hosts 75%. Lombardy is the region most represented, with 16 startups, of which 13 in Milan, confirming the role of the city as a national pole for Deep Tech, Aerospace, Robotics and Design Tech. However, the presence of startups in Campania, Marche and Puglia reflects the growing capacity of territories outside the traditional North hubs to generate high potential business realities.
In Action Esg CLIMATE, on the other hand, since 2022, it has collected over 600 applications, awarded 14 projects and awarded grants for more than 2 million euros, confirming itself a point of reference for the enhancement of sustainable innovation. From growth to global expansion: full support to innovative Italian companies With 1,500 applications and 120 startups accelerated in three editions, Up2Stars confirms itself as one of the most relevant national initiatives dedicated to entrepreneurial innovation and sees Intesa Sanpaolo committed alongside startups from the acceleration stage to access to the capital market through the Lounge ELITE Intesa Sanpaolo, dedicated to innovative realities that today saw the entry of 62 startups, including 12 from this edition. The Group also promotes the development of innovative projects through extensive financial support. In the last ten years it has provided approximately 1 billion euros to more than 4,200 startups and innovative enterprises adding a market share of 31% in the segment of startups and 54% among innovative SMEs.
Finally, it is important to support Intesa Sanpaolo to international markets: in 2024 12 startups selected among the best participants in the first two editions of Up2Stars took part in a mission in the USA organized by the Banca dei Territori in collaboration with INNOVIT, the Italian Innovation and Culture Hub in Silicon Valley, taking the opportunity to confront one of the most advanced global innovation ecosystems.
The final event of the two programs offered an important opportunity to discuss the issues of innovation and sustainable growth, with the institutional interventions of Agostino Deiana, Commercial Director of the Regional Direction Piemonte Nord Valle d’Aosta and Sardinia of the Banca dei Territori Division of Intesa Sanpaolo, Anna Roscio, Executive Director Sales & Marketing Enterprises of the Banca dei Territori Division of Intesa Sanpaolo, and Serena Fumagalli, economist of the Research Department of Intesa Sanpaolo, as well as Volta Structural Energy di Milano e CDC Studio di Castelfranco Di Sotto (PI) per “Nuovi Materiali”, O Damp di Bologna per “Design Tech”, e DaidAlos di Quattro Castella (RE) per “Aerospace”.
At the heart of the debate, the round table “Innovation at the service of sustainable growth and transitions”, which saw the participation of Viviana Bacigalupo, Managing Director of Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, Matteo Bertocchi, CEO and Founder of Novac, Antonio Granito, Executive Director Area Finance and Sustainability of Intesa Sanpaolo Assicurazioni, and Stefano Peroncini, Chief Executive Officer of Eureka! Venture SGR.
During the ceremony, Lauretta Filangieri, Head of Sustainability of Intesa Sanpaolo Assicurazioni, awarded the three contributions, while Virginia Borla, Managing Director and General Manager of Intesa Sanpaolo Assicurazioni and Head of the Insurance Division of Intesa Sanpaolo, closing the work, underlined the strategic value of the innovation ecosystem and the role of insurance in supporting the sustainable development and competitiveness of the economic fabric.
-Photos press office Intesa Sanpaolo-
(ITALPRESS).
