Innovation and Start-ups

The IUF – acronym for Incubatore Universitario Fiorentino - is the section of the University of Florence that, since 2010, promotes and supports graduates and young researchers interested in developing innovative business ideas arising from their research work. IUF improves business culture and entrepreneurship in the academic field, and encourages the interaction with the territory by offering training courses, consulting services, mentoring, networking and equipped spaces. Thus far more than 250 business projects have been supported, with over 1000 people involved, and 55 startups and spin-offs have been set up by the University of Florence.

Manifattura Tabacchi is an ex-industrial area of 100,000 square metreswhich is located in the immediate vicinity of the historic centre of Florence: the complex houses 16 buildings, elegantly arranged to create a variety of squares, streets and alleyways. Constructed in the1930sby Pier Luigi Nervi, the Manifattura representsone of the most significant expressions of Italianrationalist architecture. Up until its closure in 2001, the site produced cigars and cigarettes.

The redevelopment project is based upon the restoration and conservation of the site, enhancing its unique character and historical importance. With an innovative process of urban regeneration, Manifattura Tabacchi, will actas a magnet for contemporary art, fashion, education andnew trends in craftsmanship.

Nowadays the premises house events, resident artists, crafts; the international fashion school Polimoda is there together with a lively café-restaurant. In summertime open air cinema. 

Nana Bianca is a Startup Studio where startups, companies and freelancers cooperate. Its mission is to promote digital technologies in all its forms; it’s a big bang of entrepreneurial ideas and launch pad for both internal and external startups.

Nana Bianca flourishes in Nana Space, a co-working dimension where you can take part in workshops and different events. It’s the perfect place for those who would like to be part of a community where you can share ideas with other digital addicted.

In the ancient halls of the former Murate prison, new business ideas come nowadays to life.

Here thrives a new community, united by love for innovation, by trust in the future and by a sense of belonging to the system of knowledge economy.

The Murate Idea Park’s project aims to connect human resources and business ideas by providing training and mentoring, to develop entrepreneurial culture.

Through its “calls for ideas”, the team of Murate Idea Park selects the most promising projects that, inserted in targeted mentoring programmes, will be transformed from simple business ideas to enterprises ready to open up to the global market.

Impact Hub Firenze offers, to more than 200 professionals, startups and co-operative societies, co-working spaces and offices; it hosts and organizes meetings, events, workshops, consultations, in an area of more than 1.200 square meters.

In the evening, Impact Hub Florence becomes BUH, an urban cultural center, a meeting point for those who are looking for music, culture and conviviality.

TSH Collab is a co-working space inside The Student Hotel, a great example of hybrid hospitality, gathering students, travelers, freelancers and digital nomads.

TSH Collab can take advantage of the new design hotel's different services; it's the place where work becomes passion, an international community of creatives, startups and entrepreneurs who share spaces, projects and ambitions.

The WorkinFlorence space offers rooms for all needs - for meetings, office or seminar use - equipped with mega screens and/or touch screen televisions of the latest generation. The area is covered by free high-speed wi-fi; computers, qualified technical assistance, interpreting services, catering, meetings’ recording and public or private live streaming are available on request.

FIRST Lab is a laboratory of the University of Florence in the heart of Florence Metropolitan Area. It welcomes new ideas and shapes them into services and high value-added prototypes for citizens, public administrations and businesses.

First Lab’s mission is the collaboration and knowledge sharing between companies, institutions and universities; it houses students with multidisciplinary knowledge, who are ready to respond to territorial needs and to offer solutions that can become European projects, startups and business initiatives.