MITdesignX Venice concluded: Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center on the jury
Born from the collaboration between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston and the benefit company SerenDPT together with the Venice Foundation, the MITdesignX Venice is a multi-year competition of ideas aimed at creating startups capable of solving real problems with a view to sustainability.
The 10 best ideas of each year access a free acceleration program, led by MIT professors, to support students, professionals, developers and entrepreneurs engaged in the practical application of ideas capable of being financially self-sustainable and growing to become a real company generating high quality jobs for Venetians and non-Venetian people of all ages.
For the 2023 edition of the MITdesignX Venice program, aimed at teams of 2 to 5 members, the themes chosen were:
1. Conservation and enhancement of the artistic and architectural heritage
2. Tourism of the future: accommodation and mobility
3. Water, Energy and Environment
4. Tools and services for Cities and Citizens
The program, which at the end of July had selected the 10 ideas most in line with the themes, ended on 18 December 2023 with the final presentations of the selected startups. A jury voted on the three best ideas, awarded by the Venice Foundation, while SerenDPT will offer incentives to companies that choose to establish their headquarters in Venice.
And the final day saw the participation of Bill Barber, coach and Innovation Manager, from Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center on the jury, who defines the program as very interesting, with a good potential, also given by the value of the MIT "brand". For Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, the program is also an excellent opportunity in terms of relations in the area, in particular with Fondazione Venezia and MIT in Boston, as demonstrated by the positive feedback from the Veneto Est and Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Management.