It is born Adriatic Innovation Zone, the new innovation hub opened by Terna in the Brands in order to contribute to the transformation of the Region and the Adriatic area into a centre of excellence for developing technological innovation in favor of the energy transition and to enhance the innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem of the Adriatic.
Terna: what is the Adriatic Innovation Zone and how does it work?
Terna's new innovation hub will be located in Ascoli Piceno and will be dedicated to research, experimentation and collaboration between startups, innovative SMEs, universities and institutions, with the aim of promoting entrepreneurial growth in the area in an inclusive and sustainable way. “The initiative aims to generate shared value and opportunities for local communities, according to a 'district economy' model that overcomes the concentration of resources in a few consolidated areas and, on the contrary, favors widespread access to capital and local skills,” explains Terna in a note, also underlining that the new hub intends to promote innovative technological solutions for the energy transition and for the sustainability of electrical infrastructures.
OpenHub and OpenLab
They are already planned two concrete initiatives: the first, which is called “OpenHub”, is a program for support startups and SMEs innovative, accelerating the growth of local entrepreneurship thanks to synergies with industrial, financial and institutional players in the area. The program will mainly consist of the launch, with the support of the Marche Region, of an innovation acceleration path dedicated to the most promising local SMEs and startups, active in sectors related to the energy and digital transition, which Terna, in its role as industrial validator of the proposed solutions, will support by encouraging their entrepreneurial growth.
The second initiative will be called “OpenLab” and it will be a laboratory for experimenting with engineering solutions advanced, particularly in the field of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables and maritime technologies, strongly connected to the issues of sustainability and energy transition.
“Both projects will strengthen the position of the Marche region and the Adriatic area as a strategic hub for innovation, encouraging close collaboration between the public and private sectors,” Terna underlines.
Within the framework of the project, a network of strategic partners which includes Regione Marche, Anci Marche, Sistema Universitario della Regione Marche, Confindustria, Unioncamere, Consorzio Elis, Smau, and other industrial and financial entities. “The partners will be involved in various initiatives, from support for startups, to the promotion of research projects or technology transfer and specialized training programs, to support with financial resources and other services to encourage the growth of entrepreneurial activities related to the project,” explains the company in a statement.
