The University of Pisa, the Todisco Group, Sofidel and Banco Fiorentino have joined forces to establish the Start Attractor Foundation, an innovation hub designed to bring together companies, start-ups and academic research.
On 18 December, the deed of incorporation of the Start Attractor Foundation was signed at the Rector’s Office of the University of Pisa. The Foundation is set to become a new reference point for open innovation, supporting the growth of high-potential start-ups and the upskilling and reskilling of competences in the context of the green and digital transitions. The initiative was promoted by the University of Pisa in collaboration with the Todisco Group, Sofidel and Banco Fiorentino, and is also supported by the Camera di Commercio Toscana Nord-Ovest, the Unione Industriale Pisana and CNA Pisa.
Start Attractor will serve as a gateway for companies wishing to collaborate with the University by activating joint research projects, lifelong learning and reskilling programmes, talent recruitment initiatives, and pathways for the development and adoption of new technologies. These services will be available to all businesses, without restrictions: the start-ups involved will not necessarily need to be spin-offs of the University of Pisa, but they can come from any context, as long as they are interested in a structured path of innovation and growth.
After the Foundation was established, the first meeting of the Board of Directors was held to approve the 2026–2028 activity plan and prepare the provisional budget.
Start Attractor will operate along three main strategic lines:
- Open innovation, fostering collaborative projects between companies and University research groups;
- Lifelong learning and reskilling, aimed at updating skills and roles within companies in line with digital transformation and the green transition;
- Venture building, through pre-incubation, pre-acceleration and acceleration programmes, including potential equity investments in the most promising start-ups.
All activities will be developed with the aim of connecting the productive sector, researchers and institutions, strengthening business competitiveness and contributing to local development.
The Foundation’s promoters and local organisations envisage a significant three-year commitment of approximately EUR 2.3 million, evenly divided between public and private components. These resources will be supplemented by additional contributions and contracts obtained by the Foundation from companies starting in 2026.
The Foundation’s main headquarters will be located at the Benedettine Campus of the University, while additional spaces along Lungarno Pacinotti — made available by Banco Fiorentino — will host future activities. The recruitment of dedicated staff is also planned: a small team of four to five people will be responsible for project management, liaison with the University of Pisa, founding companies and other local stakeholders, as well as organisational and administrative activities.
Statements
Riccardo Zucchi, Rector of the University of Pisa:
“The creation of Start Attractor is a strategic choice for our University. It is not a single project, but rather a stable infrastructure through which the University can offer its expertise, ideas and networks to the local area within the framework of a public–private partnership. Together with the founders and partners, we aim to consolidate Pisa’s role as a place where excellent research, entrepreneurial initiatives and institutions collaborate side by side to foster long-term development.”
Giuseppe Iannaccone, Deputy Vice-Rector:
“Start Attractor is a tool that enables the University to play an increasingly active role in the country’s economic growth. It facilitates structured engagement with the business community and supports companies in transitioning to more innovative and sustainable models.”
Corrado Priami, Vice-Rector for Knowledge Valorisation:
“Start Attractor brings together companies, start-ups and research organisations: businesses innovate faster, start-ups grow more effectively, and research groups engage with the country’s real needs. It is a reliable tool to support the green and digital transitions, attract talent, upskill staff and turn knowledge into growth for the local area.”
Chiara Galletti, Delegate for Relations with Companies:
“Start Attractor was created to strengthen and streamline the dialogue between the University and businesses, creating a space where needs, ideas and competences can be matched. This new entity will allow us to co-design innovative solutions and support company growth, thereby consolidating a collaborative relationship that adds value both to the territory and to our academic community.”
Donato Antonio Todisco, President of the Todisco Group:
“Start Attractor represents the future: the sharing of values, in this case the value of the territory as a breeding ground for talent. The Todisco Group firmly believes in initiatives like this, which demonstrate the importance of sharing projects to create new opportunities. The group will work enthusiastically to ensure that synergy between universities and entrepreneurship contributes effectively to the growth of the entire country through local expertise.”
Luigi Lazzareschi, Chief Executive Officer of Sofidel:
“Today, it is essential for companies to have access to expertise that can keep pace with the evolution of knowledge and technologies. In this regard, Start Attractor is a valuable opportunity to promote collaboration between academia and business, and a platform that can support innovation and competitiveness in our area.”
Davide Menetti, General Manager of Banco Fiorentino:
“The establishment of Start Attractor reinforces the Tuscan region’s ability to combine the significant potential of university research with the expertise of economic stakeholders. For Banco Fiorentino, this confirms our strong local commitment, focusing on both the present and the future.”
Valter Tamburini, President of the ISI Foundation:
“The ISI Foundation’s participation in Start Attractor aligns with its mission as the operational component of the Camera di Commercio in the fields of innovation and digitalisation. Its three-year contribution of EUR 10,000 is a tangible demonstration of support for a systemic project that strengthens technology transfer, supports companies in transformation processes, and brings together skills, research and human capital within the local area.”
Luigi Doveri, Unione Industriale Pisana, Delegate for Start-ups and Investment Attraction:
“The launch of Start Attractor is a strategic step in strengthening the link between the productive system, universities and innovation. As Unione Industriale Pisana, we firmly believe in the value of initiatives that support companies through technological and sustainable transformation processes, while fostering the development of new skills and the attraction of talents to the region.”
Francesco Oppedisano, Territorial President of CNA Pisa:
“Start Attractor is a concrete opportunity to bring innovation, universities and businesses closer together. As CNA Pisa, we believe that stable collaboration between academia, companies and institutions is essential to support SMEs and craft enterprises in their digital and sustainable transformation. This project creates an ecosystem that will facilitate training, technological development and competitive growth, representing a strategic investment not only for the province of Pisa but for the entire regional area, benefiting the entire Tuscan production system.”
