Aeroporti di Roma’s Innovation Hub launches third ‘Global Call For Startups’

Rome airport’s Innovation Programme to attract start-ups from all over the world.

Aeroporti di Roma’s Innovation Hub launches the third ‘Global Call For Startups’, on 24/01/2024, with the aim of attracting innovative companies and projects in the airport sector from all over the world.

Start-up’s can submit proposals for new solutions for the macro-areas: Smart Operations & Processes, Infrastructure Management & Development, Passenger Experience, NetZero Target and Sustainability and Disruptive Solutions, with the support of other major industry players who will support in each area of application, inside the Fiumicino Smart City.

During the project period of eight months, the start-ups will have the opportunity to develop, inside the Fiumicino airport’s Innovation Hub at the Terminal 1, Proof of Concept (PoC), testing the solutions within the unique context of the airport, where they will be supervised by members of the ADR Innovation Cabin Crew, a team of specialists who will support them in the development of their projects in each area of expertise. A budget of EUR 80,000 will be assigned to each start-up and, as in the two previous editions, in the event of a positive outcome, they will also have access to potential business opportunities of up to EUR 2 million, contributing to shape the airport of the future.

The programme includes not only financial support in the realisation of the projects, but also the engagement from ADR’s corporate partners, such as Plug and Play Tech Centre – the leading private investor in start-ups in Silicon Valley– other industrial and academic partners and Airports for Innovation – the network of airports (more than 700 million passengers per year) launched by ADR, dedicated to innovation and now joined by several other major international airports on 3 continents and to get in touch for possible investments with the Corporate Venture Capital vehicle ADR Ventures.

In the first edition, in 2022, within the first industrial accelerator in the heart of an airport, 10 innovative start-ups from all over the world, were identified from among 96 candidates and 5 of them were given the opportunity to integrate and launch their services within Fiumicino Airport. The second edition, in 2023, saw a growing number of applications – 116 in total – including the 13 selected (of which seven in the field of Artificial Intelligence) that are currently undergoing final testing.

During the two months following the opening of applications, ADR’s Innovation Team will also be supporting start-ups with online webinars dedicated to broadening the scope of each of the proposed challenges and for registrations.