Seven innovative startups have been awarded during the third edition of Encubator, the program promoted by the Chamber of Commerce of Milan, Monza Brianza, Lodi, PoliHub, and Politecnico di Milano, aimed at accelerating the development of deep tech projects in the field of Climate Tech.
The technological innovations presented by Metis and Handy Signs have been awarded in the first edition of INNO4GOV, a new initiative designed to support the development of advanced solutions for the digital and sustainable transformation of public administration.
Encubator and INNO4GOV: Awards for Startups Driving Change for the Environment and Public Administration
The award ceremony for the startup competitions Encubator and INNO4GOV took place yesterday at Palazzo Giureconsulti in Milan, bringing together a total of 214 startups from around the world.
The top projects were evaluated by a jury composed of representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, PoliHub, Politecnico di Milano, program partners, and various experts from the fields of industry, venture capital, and intellectual property.
The 7 winning startups of Encubator were awarded a €40,000 cash grant and will take part in a 4-month acceleration program, organized, coordinated, and co-funded by PoliHub, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and Politecnico di Milano. The program is designed to support their technological growth and validate their business model.
This is a concrete growth opportunity for the development of innovative ideas ranging from green energy generation, to sustainable materials production, to circular economy systems and waste management solutions.
Among the finalists, five projects were awarded grants made available by the Chamber of Commerce of Milan Monza Brianza Lodi:
Agreenet designs and develops innovative plant-based materials for the protection and packaging of fresh food, aiming to extend shelf life using active biopolymers. The startup also received the Special Prize from COREPLA, Innovation Partner, granting access to the Encubator acceleration program.
Orbita Technologies is revolutionizing e-waste recycling with a system that uses robotics and AI to automatically extract chips, electronic components, and raw materials from electronic waste.
Hyper Wind increases turbine efficiency by up to +15%, improving wind energy production while reducing costs and consumption.
Algae Scope creates seaweed-based bio-coatings that replace harmful PFAS chemicals in the production of water-repellent, flame-retardant, and high-performance fabrics. The solution is highly effective, cost-competitive, biodegradable in marine environments, and 100% natural.
Zerow aims to lead a sustainable transformation in the fashion industry. The B2B platform transforms luxury surplus stock into sustainable opportunities, allowing brands to resell excess materials, reduce waste, and monitor environmental impact—promoting a circular fashion economy.
The startup Alkelux, active in the production of bio-additives for packaging that extend the freshness of food, received a grant from COREPLA, Innovation Partner.
Inspired by nature, the startup Limenet received a grant from BCC Milano, Empowering Partner, for its solution that removes CO₂ from the atmosphere and stores it permanently in the ocean in the form of bicarbonates, helping to combat ocean acidification.
Metis and Handy Signs were the winners of the first edition of INNO4GOV, the program launched by the Chamber of Commerce to drive innovation in the public sector, which is in urgent need of digital and sustainable transformation.
Metis has developed Legenda4Gov, a smart data room for the exploration of documents for productivity and compliance. Users can search through specific documents, policies, and up-to-date regulations in a cyber-secure environment compliant with GDPR and SOC2 standards.
The innovative startup Handy Signs has developed the only AI-based Italian Sign Language digital assistant, capable of real-time translation from LIS to Italian. The system enhances accessibility to public services for Deaf citizens and promotes their inclusion in society and the workplace.
Along with a €50,000 grant, one of the two winning startups will be supported by the business units of the Chamber of Commerce of Milan Monza Brianza Lodi in the co-innovation and pilot testing of the project.
Encubator is supported by:
Innovation Partner – COREPLA
Empowering Partner – BCC Milano
Pioneer Partner – A2A, Terna
Tech Transfer Partner – Tech4Planet
Business Partner for Regeneration – NATIVA
Technical Partners – Portolano Cavallo, Innexta, InnovHub, Jacobacci & Partners
Network Supporter – PNICube, the Italian Association of Universities, Academic Incubators, and Regional StartCups
Scientific Partner – Fondazione Politecnico di Milano
Media Partner – Gruppo GEDI
This initiative is part of the MUSA – Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action project, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, under the PNRR Mission 4 Component 2 Investment Line 1.5: Creation and Strengthening of Innovation Ecosystems, Building Territorial R&D Leaders.
More information:
Encubator: www.startupencubator.com
INNO4GOV: www.polihub.it/programmi/inno4gov
