The Embassy of Italy in London hosts “Italy RestartsUp in London”, a trade fair that fosters the development and internationalisation of Italian start-ups and innovation incubators.
The SMAU* roadshow “Italy RestartsUp” has arrived in London. The start-up culture in Italy is a young one but one that is growing rapidly, and “Italy RestartsUp in London” aims to nurture it by facilitating dialogue and interaction among stakeholders in the digital economy, many of them small and medium-sized companies that are leading the way in technological innovation.
The event, organised in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency, aims to create new relationships, partnerships and connections between those involved in London’s ecosystem of innovation and 40 selected Italian start-ups as well as incubators, accelerators, places of innovation and regional systems that help businesses expand internationally.
The fair began with a presentation event, which was attended by representatives of selected start-ups, Italian regional institutions and British corporations and investors. An opening address was given by the ambassador, Raffaele Trombetta, who observed how crucial technology and innovation are to the economic recovery. He also highlighted that start-ups represent the embryonic stage of a process that feeds new ideas and methods into a dynamic economy, driving development and prosperity.
The speakers at this presentation event included Pierantonio Macola, the chairman of SMAU, Gianluca Forcolin, the vice-president of the Veneto region, and Valeria Fascione, a member of the Campania region’s council on Startups, Innovation and Internationalisation.
The fair continued today, 3 May, at the Old Truman Brewery with networking and speed pitches by start-ups, given to an audience of businesses and representatives of London’s innovation scene, focusing in particular on fintech, life sciences, artificial intelligence, agrifood and smart manufacturing. Tomorrow, 4 May, there will be a tour of incubators and accelerators in London.
– Read the Italian Trade Agency’s press release
*SMAU (Salone Macchine, Attrezzature Ufficio) was established in 1964 as an annual event focusing on innovation for businesses and public authorities. Since 2012 SMAU has held roadshows around Italy to promote a culture of innovation among local businesses. The roadshow went international in 2015 with “Italy RestartsUp in Berlin”.
