Nineteen deep-tech start-ups born out of research carried out by Italian universities and public research bodies (EPRs), divided into four sectors of innovation, for a competition that focuses not only on the quality of the technology, but also on the results achieved in the market and the prospects for growth.
Young, innovative start-ups will be the stars of the 2026 edition of the Italian Master Startup Award (IMSA), promoted by PNICube - the national network of universities, academic incubators and regional Start Cup competitions - with the aim of fostering the commercialisation of research, and organised once again this year in collaboration with I3P, the Innovative Companies Incubator of Politecnico di Torino.
The competition will take place in Turin, Italy, in person in the Agorà Hall at the I3P headquarters, on the afternoon of Thursday 8 October, from 2.30 pm, as a side event of the Wave by Vento tech conference.
The Italian Master Startup Award 2026
Several young talents, including brilliant researchers, will compete for the Italian Master Startup Award 2026 – now in its 20th edition - in recognition of their achievements in the journey from research to market. Active in the innovation sectors of Cleantech & Energy, ICT, Industrial or Life Sciences - MedTech, the 19 finalists for the 2026 edition represent the evolution of Italian research as it transforms into impactful business ventures.
The start-up projects taking part in the competition range from technologies for precision medicine, physiological and motor monitoring, and the use of virtual reality to improve the patient experience during procedures and treatments, to biosensors for real-time monitoring of plant physiology; from technologies for recycling batteries and critical raw materials, to the production of new circular materials, and platforms for corporate sustainability management.
Rounding out the picture are innovations with AI for video processing and infrastructure security, autonomous robotics for precision farming, as well as advanced sensor technology, quantum technologies, adaptive protection systems and solutions for industry. A diverse range of technologies and applications that share a common origin in research and the ability to tackle real-world problems, meeting the needs of industry, market and, more broadly, civil society.
The growth seen in recent editions, in terms of both the number and quality of entries, has led to a new feature in this year’s IMSA format: for the first time, a cash prize will be awarded for each innovation sector. The four category winners will then compete for the title of overall IMSA 2026 winner, with a cash prize of €10,000, co-funded by PNICube and I3P.
The 2026 Award will thus offer a real opportunity for the development of start-ups arising from scientific research, as well as a chance to gain visibility and enter the orbit of major companies and investors. In addition, the Invitalia Special Prize, consisting of support services, will be awarded to selected companies; the Special Mention of the Fondazione Marisa Bellisario will go to the best female-led start-up, in collaboration with the Scientific Observatory for Women-Led Enterprises (OSIF) of the University of Rome Tor Vergata; and free support from Business France will be offered to IMSA finalist start-ups interested in setting up a business in France.
The 19 finalist start-ups
AraBat (from Start Cup Puglia, category: Cleantech & Energy) is an Italian deep-tech startup developing bio-based technologies for recycling lithium batteries and other industrial waste, with the aim of recovering critical raw materials and transforming waste into new resources. Its proprietary AraMet technology employs a green hydrometallurgical process that replaces some traditional chemical reagents with organic acids and biomass derived from agri-food waste - such as orange peels and artichoke leaves - to recover lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, copper, and aluminum. This approach combines circular economy principles with waste valorization, reducing the reliance on harsh substances and minimizing the process's environmental impact. AraBat is also extending its technology to recover materials from WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) and other complex waste streams, while working on the industrial development and scalability of its solutions.
Billd (from Start Cup Campania, category: Cleantech & Energy) is a green fintech start-up that digitises tax receipts and purchase documentation, eliminating paper and streamlining interactions between consumers, merchants and payment systems. Through a platform integrated with POS terminals, electronic registers and payment networks, Billd enables digital receipts to be received, stored and managed securely and in compliance with regulations. The solution delivers environmental benefits, enhances the customer experience and creates new engagement opportunities for merchants, facilitating the transition towards a more sustainable and digital retail sector.
BI-REX SB (from Start Cup Lombardia, category: Cleantech & Energy) is an Italian materials technology company that has developed ReVita, a proprietary technology for transforming agri-food by-products - including rice husks, bran, brewers’ grains and tomato residues - into new raw materials for paper and packaging. The technology, which has been scaled up for industrial production in Italy and has reached Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 8, is already being used in the production of cardboard and tissue paper and enables up to 80 per cent of virgin fibre to be replaced, creating a circular, industrially scalable material suitable for high value-added applications. In 2026, ReVita began marketing its own cardboard products and is developing projects with brands, paper mills, converters and industrial groups in the packaging, cosmetics, food, tissue and display sectors. The model is highly scalable through new agri-food supply chains, new applications and commercial expansion into European markets, without relying on a single product or a single raw material. The next phase will focus on accelerating the go-to-market strategy, expanding the product portfolio and internationalisation.
Bluen (affiliated with the University of Naples "Parthenope", category: ICT) supports businesses and supply chains in their digital and sustainable transition journeys, developing innovative solutions that integrate Industry 5.0 enabling technologies with brain-computer interface (BCI) systems. It collaborates with companies operating in the manufacturing, logistics, transport and defence sectors, whilst also participating in nationally and internationally funded research projects. Its activities focus on the research and development of multi-sensory wearable devices, designed to transform traditional personal protective equipment into intelligent and proactive systems capable of safeguarding users’ safety and wellbeing. A concrete example is 7Sense – Multi-Sensor Human Monitoring System, a device that detects the user’s cognitive state via electroencephalographic (EEG) signals, monitors their position and altitude, and, in the event of a fall or medical emergency, automatically sends a georeferenced alert, facilitating a prompt response.
Displaid (from Start Cup Lombardia, category: Industrial) offers a turnkey solution for infrastructure monitoring, primarily for bridges and viaducts. The system overcomes the limitations of traditional solutions by integrating proprietary wireless IoT smart sensors, featuring microsecond-level synchronisation and high energy efficiency. The data collected is processed by proprietary artificial intelligence algorithms based on structural archetypes to identify actual damage, filtering out exogenous variables. Through the Iris digital platform, also developed in-house, B2B and B2G clients gain a digital twin of the infrastructure with real-time measurements, KPIs and alerts. The business model converts substantial initial costs (CAPEX) into recurring operating costs (OPEX), making Displaid an affordable solution even for public authorities and scalable for the continuous monitoring of entire infrastructure networks, enabling maintenance work to be scheduled based on the actual condition of the infrastructure rather than fixed deadlines.
FieldRobotics (from AlmaCube, category: Industrial) is an innovative start-up, a spin-off from the University of Bologna, which designs, industrialises and markets autonomous robotic systems for precision farming. It integrates mechanics, electronics, software, artificial intelligence and electrification to develop more sustainable and efficient solutions, with a focus on fruit growing and viticulture. Its flagship product is HammerHead, a fully electric tracked rover - which can be operated autonomously or by remote control - with a load capacity of one tonne and a modular architecture compatible with standard agricultural equipment, designed to automate tasks such as mulching, soil preparation, treatments, harvesting and pruning. The technology is protected by four patents. A finalist in the Tractor of the Year – TotYBot 2024 awards, FieldRobotics won the euRobotics Tech Transfer Award 2025. With 6 employees, 7 collaborators, systems installed on 8 Italian farms and a turnover of €2 million from sales, FieldRobotics is now aiming to consolidate its production and expand internationally.
HARMONIC V (from Start Cup Lazio, category: Life Sciences – MedTech) is a deep-tech company that develops user-centred innovation at the intersection of biomedical engineering, biomechanics and sports and motor sciences, drawing on mathematical, engineering and biomedical discoveries. The core technology involves real-time monitoring of physical exercise based on HRV (heart rate variability) measured during exertion, to keep the subject within the target physiological zone in real time and ensure autonomic and haemodynamic stability during rehabilitation and in the geriatric population. The technology is scalable to elite sport, where it enables the assessment of fitness levels and fatigue, the prevention of overtraining and injuries, and the measurement of training readiness through non-invasive monitoring of internal load. The company also incorporates motion analysis based on the golden ratio and generalised Fibonacci sequences – the basis of the patent application – to identify harmonic patterns in cyclic movements and improve sporting technique, as well as to monitor chronic conditions that compromise motor function.
Highsensetech (originating from the National Research Council - CNR, category: Industrial) is an innovative start-up and spin-off of the CNR that develops ultra-high-resolution MEMS sensors for measuring deformations and physical quantities such as force, torque, pressure and weight. The proprietary HRSS technology offers a resolution up to 1,000 times higher than that of traditional strain gauges, whilst maintaining a high dynamic range and enabling precise, non-invasive measurements directly on the surface of components and structures. By integrating sensors, electronics, firmware, software and algorithms, Highsensetech transforms traditional mechanical components into smart, connected systems capable of generating data, monitoring their own operation and enabling new diagnostic and maintenance services. Applications range from industry and robotics to structural health monitoring. Founded in Bologna in 2023 by a team from the CNR, the company has already established collaborations with major industrial partners and is currently in the process of industrialisation and commercial growth.
Kazaam Lab (from Start Cup Sicilia, category: Life Sciences – MedTech) is a spin-off from the University of Palermo, established to accelerate precision medicine, making it accessible on a large scale and applicable to the widest possible range of complex conditions. It utilises proprietary, patented technology that leverages AI and network medicine to manage biological and medical big data. It addresses specific industrial and clinical needs through a microservices-based software platform with three ready-to-use verticals: clinical trial selection, developed in collaboration with a pharmaceutical company; early diagnosis of oral cancer; and the selection of surgical incisions for breast lift procedures, developed at the request of specialist doctors, with the latter already in use in clinical practice. The company’s solidity and momentum are validated by over €100,000 in funding secured, including €50,000 from an EIT Health grant and €50,000 from a pre-seed investment by the Giordano dell’Amore Social Venture Foundation, part of which has already been invested in development, branding and marketing. All of this positions Kazaam Lab as a high-return investment with mitigated risk.
Lemons in the room (from Start Cup Toscana, category: Life Sciences – MedTech) is developing a scientifically validated virtual reality solution, used during hospital procedures and treatments, to reduce stress, anxiety and perceived pain, thereby improving patients’ experience and quality of life and supporting healthcare staff. It is currently in use in over 20 Italian hospitals and collaborates with clinicians and research centres to measure the impact of the technology in clinical practice. The aim is to make innovation a practical tool for a healthcare system that is increasingly person-centred.
MYWAI (from Start Cup Liguria, category: Industrial) is a European platform for the management, orchestration and execution of Edge AI and Local Sovereign AI applications in industrial and high-stakes contexts, where security, resilience and data sovereignty are strategic requirements. The result of over 40 man-years of research and development and backed by more than six international patents, it enables AI algorithms to be applied and controlled directly within operational infrastructures, without necessarily relying on non-European cloud services, whilst maintaining control over data and decision-making processes. The platform enables predictive maintenance, quality control, adaptive process control, the training of robots and humanoids, and real-time decision support, helping to reduce costs, energy consumption and plant downtime. Open, interoperable and hardware-agnostic, its flexibility allows it to operate in strategic sectors such as Space, Defence, Underwater, Energy and Industry 4.0/5.0. It is already being used in projects with organisations such as ESA, the National Centre for Underwater Activities, Esaote, Acciaieria Arvedi and Fiat Research Centre.
O-DAMP (from Start Cup Emilia Romagna, category: Industrial) is an innovative spin-off from the University of Bologna (Sport Technology Lab) that is revolutionising personal safety in the motorcycling, high-risk sports, micromobility and workplace sectors. The start-up has patented a helmet protection system based on smart shock absorbers capable of adapting in real time to the intensity of an impact. By dynamically dissipating energy, O-DAMP technology reduces head acceleration by up to 33% more than standard helmets, drastically reducing the risk of serious head injuries and addressing a long-standing critical issue in road and workplace safety.
Pestop – Boccamatta (from Start Cup Liguria, category: Industrial) transforms the age-old art of the mortar into a new food-tech innovation designed to make artisanal production scalable without compromising on quality. Pestop has developed a patented technology that replicates the principle of the mortar and pestle through controlled crushing and rubbing at low speed, rather than the high-speed cutting action of blades. The initial market is for fresh, seasonal pesto and pounded ingredients for the Ho.Re.Ca. sector, selected retail outlets and direct sales. The technology will then be offered to professionals via a plug-and-play single-mortar unit, enabling restaurateurs and food industry operators to produce their own fresh preparations on-site. Looking ahead, it will be made available to food companies via a multi-mortar system, either for sale or under licence, and subsequently to other sectors. Pesto is just the starting point: the technology can in fact be applied to sauces, creams, vegetable and herbal preparations and, in addition to the food sector, to cosmetics, for all processes requiring cold processing.
PlantBit (from Start Cup Emilia Romagna, category: Cleantech & Energy) is an agritech start-up born out of CNR-IMEM research, which has developed Bioristor, a patented biosensor for the direct, real-time monitoring of plant physiology. Inserted into the stem, it detects ionic signals and sap flow, providing information on the crop’s water, nutritional and physiological status. The data enables the optimisation of irrigation and fertilisation and the early detection of stress conditions, more than 48 hours before they become visible. Unlike systems that monitor soil and climatic conditions, Bioristor measures what is happening directly within the plant. In the field, it has already delivered water savings of up to 45%, a 7% increase in yield and a 12% improvement in quality for tomatoes. The same diagnostic platform can also be used for phenotyping, varietal selection, the study of biostimulants and cultivation in extreme environments.
QSENSATO (from Start Cup Puglia, category: Industrial) is a spin-off from the University of Bari founded in 2024, specialising in the development of components for sensor technology and quantum metrology. It has patented a technology that uses laser writing to produce, on an industrial scale, extremely compact three-dimensional vapour cells (Laser-Written Vapour Cells – LWVCs) integrated with photonic components. Compared to traditional MEMS or blown-glass cells, LWVCs offer greater robustness, portability and flexibility, paving the way for smaller, more easily integrable quantum devices. Through the development of magnetometers, frequency standards and RF sensors, this technology finds application in strategic fields such as medical diagnostics, infrastructure monitoring and space systems, as well as in positioning, navigation and timing systems.
RarEarth (from Start Cup Lombardia, category: Cleantech & Energy) is an innovative deep-tech start-up supported by I3P that produces sintered neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) using a direct ‘magnet-to-magnet’ recycling process, recovering end-of-life magnets from WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) and transforming them into new magnets. The proprietary technology enables equipment to be dismantled automatically and the magnetic alloys to be regenerated through mechanochemical processes, transforming the waste directly into new, 100% recycled magnets with performance comparable to that of magnets produced from virgin raw materials. The process reduces greenhouse gas emissions by over 90% and water consumption by over 99%. Having raised around €10 million in funding, including through the EIC Accelerator, RarEarth now operates a pilot plant and is building its first industrial plant, thereby contributing to strengthening Europe’s self-sufficiency in the supply of strategic raw materials, in line with the objectives of the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act.
Small Pixels (from Start Cup Toscana, category: ICT) is an Italian deep-tech company that develops artificial intelligence software for real-time video processing and enhancement. Drawing on advanced research in the field of computer vision, the company has created SPAIQ, a proprietary AI framework that enhances video quality, restores damaged content and optimises both transmission and motion across a wide range of applications. Designed to operate in real time with limited computational resources, SPAIQ integrates seamlessly into existing workflows and infrastructure, regardless of hardware, codec or deployment environment. Today, Small Pixels offers television broadcasters, media companies, video surveillance operators and technology partners AI solutions designed to make video more efficient, accessible and sustainable.
Up2You (from Start Cup Lombardia, category: Cleantech & Energy) is a Benefit Corporation and B Corp that transforms corporate sustainability into a driver of growth, combining a proprietary AI-powered SaaS platform with ESG consultancy services. The company covers the entire process: from measuring CO₂ emissions to the reporting required by regulations (CSRD, VSME), right through to engaging the supply chain and training employees on ESG issues. Through its modular ecosystem, AI is integrated to offer cutting-edge solutions that make managing corporate sustainability simple, fast and secure. The solutions are designed to be accessible even to those without technical expertise and are developed with companies’ needs in mind. Established in 2020, Up2You now has over 450 clients, including Brembo, Bancomat and Snam.
VESevo Smart Technologies (from Start Cup Campania, category: Industrial) is a spin-off from the University of Naples Federico II, born out of research into vehicle dynamics. It develops hardware and software technologies to analyse tyres and polymeric materials non-destructively, without taking samples or compromising their use. Its flagship product, VESevo – an acronym for Viscoelasticity Evaluation System EVOlved, a name that evokes the ancient name for Vesuvius – is already used in motorsport by Formula 1, Formula E and MotoGP teams to collect data and predict the behaviour of tyres and vehicles as conditions of use and wear vary. The technology is now also making its way into the industrial sector: VESevo has developed applications for tyre manufacturers, bringing rapid analysis of material properties directly onto production lines and into quality control processes.
The event programme
The event on Thursday 8 October in the Agorà Hall at I3P will open with a speech by PNICube President Paola Paniccia, Delegate for Business, Start-up and Spin-off Development at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, followed by Vice-President Enrico Bracci, Vice-Rector responsible for the Third Mission and Technology Transfer at the University of Ferrara, and Giuseppe Scellato, President of I3P. The introduction will be followed by a pitch session featuring the 19 finalists, who will outline their progress to date and their future objectives to a jury comprising expert representatives from the worlds of public and private investment, business and research.
The awards ceremony will be preceded by a panel discussion titled ‘Innovative start-ups from research, competitive ecosystems and sustainable growth’, featuring leading representatives from institutions and organisations that promote high-impact innovation. Speakers will include Francesco Profumo (EIC and Isybank), Francesco Morgia (MIMIT), Michele Mazzola (MUR), Danila Sansone (Invitalia), Stefano Corgnati (Rector of Politecnico di Torino and member of CRUI), Riccardo Di Stefano (Confindustria), Sara Poggesi (Scientific Observatory on Women-Led Enterprises – OSIF, University of Rome Tor Vergata).
IMSA 2026 has the patronage of: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, the French Embassy in Italy, CRUI – Conference of Italian University Rectors, ASviS – Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development and the Italian Embassy to the Holy See. The Award also benefits from prestigious partnerships with Invitalia, the Marisa Bellisario Foundation, Osif (Scientific Observatory on Women-Led Enterprises, University of Rome Tor Vergata), Business France – the public agency for the internationalisation of the French economy, the Institut français, GammaDonna and Social Innovation Monitor.
The Award Jury will be composed of: Andrea Basso of Mito Technology, Alessio Castelli of Huawei, Mario Cristiani of Giesseti, Federico Davini of A11 Venture, Francescantonio Della Rosa of Sipow - La Mia Energia, Marina Gandini from Prysmian Group, Amedeo Giurazza from Vertis, Daniela La Noce from CNR, Alfonso Nardi from Invitalia, Luca Passoni from CDP VC, Francesco Scafarto, Alberto Silvani from CNR, Stefano Stefanelli from Day One, Davide Turco from Indaco, and Matteo Vacchetti from Iren.
