UniCredit Start Lab 2026 - Politecnico di Bari, discussion among capital, university and startups
Poliba. Bari, a hub for Artificial Intelligence applied to business. Innovation, data center valley and new growth models to strengthen the competitiveness of the South
17 February 2026
UniCredit and the Politecnico di Bari are ready for the Bari stop of the UniCredit Start Lab 2026 Roadshow, dedicated to the development of startups and innovative SMEs and to the connection between the entrepreneurial ecosystem, research and capital.
The event will take place on Wednesday, 18 February, 10:30 a.m. at the Event Hall of the New Rectorate (university campus).
The event takes place in a context of strong evolution in the innovation market: in 2025, equity financing for Italian startups reached 1.456 billion euros, with generally larger transactions but concentrated mainly in Northern Italy, which absorbs over 1.17 billion euros of the total funds raised. In this scenario, dialogue among universities, businesses and the financial system becomes strategic to support the growth of the South.
The meeting will explore the role of Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies as drivers of industrial competitiveness and territorial development, with particular attention to the potential of Apulia as a European infrastructure hub.
Key topics include: the evolution of the startup ecosystem and new industrial growth trajectories; the impact of AI on production supply chains and the SME landscape; prospects associated with the Puglia Data Center Valley, with hyperscale projects reaching over 2 GW and potential investments exceeding 100 billion euros.
In the South, there are 2,825 innovative startups and SMEs, accounting for 19% of the national total. Apulia has 644 innovative entities, 329 of which are in the Bari area alone, confirming the territory as one of the emerging hubs of technological innovation in the South.
Panels and round tables are planned, bringing together representatives from academia, corporations and venture capital to discuss: AI and new opportunities for startups and SMEs; industrial innovation and its impact on business; and sustainable growth strategies.
Participants. 10:30 Registration. 11:00 Welcome remarks: Ferdinando Natali – Regional Manager South, UniCredit; Umberto Fratino – Rector Magnificus, Politecnico di Bari. 11:15 UniCredit Start Lab Giusy Stanziola – Start Lab & Development Programs, UniCredit; 11:30 AI and Innovation: impacts & opportunitiesClaudio Martina – Senior Manager Venture Growth, Opinno; 11:45 How AI enables new opportunities for startups, Giuseppe Porcelli – Group CFO, Roboze, Tommaso di Noia – Full Professor of Information Processing Systems, PoliBa, Amedeo Giurazza – Founder & CEO, Vertis SGR. Moderator: Antonio Messeni Petruzzelli – Full Professor of Innovation Management, PoliBa. 12:30 AI & Corporate: strategies and impacts on businessAngela Paparella – Exprivia Spa (TBC), Laura Tosto – Data Contact Srl (TBC), Mariella Pappalepore – Planetek Italia Srl (TBC) Moderator: Roberto Bellavista – Head of Territorial Development South, UniCredit
The article UniCredit Start Lab 2026 - Politecnico di Bari, discussion among capital, university and startups comes from Poliba Chronicle.
