All over the world, cities, regions, and countries are competing for startups, hoping their arrival will, among other things, revitalize the economy and the places themselves. Regions are not only competing with each other, but also seeking to build bridges between markets and ecosystems. With this goal in mind, from June 14 to 16, 2017, “Italy RestartsUp in Berlin” is taking place, organized by the Italian initiative SMAU together with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and the Italian Ministry of Economic Development.
The event was opened at the Italian Embassy in Berlin with talks by high-ranking representatives of the Italian government and various Italian regions. Italian startups were present, as were representatives of international institutions, investors, and incubators, as well as the German startup scene. This allowed first contacts to be made over vino rosso & bianco.
The main event on June 16 gave the startups a forum to present their products, developments, and solutions and, above all, to connect with potential investors. The range of products and services extended from fashion and design to ICT and fintech, all the way to cosmetics, biotechnology, 3D printing, agrifood, and Industry 4.0.
Personal highlights: PerTiNeT, a solution for 3D printing human tissue, with the aim of, among other things, replacing animal testing with tests on simulated organs. BioPic, a system for growing plants at home using special containers, lighting, sensors, and planting mats fitted with seeds and fertilizer. Also impressive, especially in action, was MIXARTISTA, an automatic cocktail mixer. It was too early in the day for a tasting, though. There were also sophisticated solutions, e.g., in IoT and fintech, which we will continue to follow.
Italy presents itself as a country of numerous innovations and innovators, but also offers monetary/tax incentives for them to set up there. One safe conclusion from the event is that it pays to watch promising innovation policy approaches elsewhere and to keep an eye on Italy as a source of a wide range of innovations. Many thanks for the invitation and the contacts made!
