Leonardo Da Vinci Rome Airport makes European first with launch of Innovation hub.

All the startups' projects were presented last October 17th during the official opening of the Innovation Hub, who hosted a discussion on the topic of innovation with the startuppers in attendance, led by the Chairman of Edizione, Alessandro Benetton, together with the Managing Director, Co-Head EMEA of Plug and Play, Omeed Mehrinfar, and Chiara Piacenza, Scientist, ISS Science & Utilization Planning at ESA. At the event attended also the Chief Executive Officer of Edizione, Enrico Laghi, the Chairman of Atlantia, Giampiero Massolo, and the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer of Aeroporti di Roma, Claudio De Vincenti and Marco Troncone.

    Aeroporti di Roma has been awarded the title of Best Airport in Europe in 2021 by Airport Council International for the fifth consecutive time.

    Startups from all over the world will be able to develop projects and prototypes directly in the terminal buildings, working alongside airport experts and passengers.

    Around 100 startups took part in the first Call for Ideas, with 10 selected and a further 3 innovative businesses added by ADR. Most startuppers are under 30.

    Project partners include Plug and Play, one of largest early-stage investors in Silicon Valley, PWC and LVenture Group.

"ADR's Innovation Hub marks a new, open approach to the way our Group intends to provide strategic guidance to investees, investing significantly in innovation and sustainability and, above all, providing openings for anyone with ideas, projects and willing to take a risk. Watching young people, from both Italy and other parts of the world, working with their startups at the heart of Fiumicino airport, engaging with passengers and talking to airport experts gives a clear indication of how we can build the future by nurturing new skills and through exposure to a wide range of knowledge and experiences. This is how, by working closely with all our partners, we want to build a new "Made in Italy", making our country more attractive to young talent and creating new jobs through investment and by internationalising our know-how," said the Chairman of Edizione, Alessandro Benetton (look at the video).