IASP Bolzano 2025: Enabling innovation through community, technology, and European synergy

The 2025 IASP European Division Event brought together science parks, innovation districts, and leading experts from across Europe to Bolzano, Italy from May 7–9, for a deep dive into the future of innovation. Hosted by NOI Techpark, the conference celebrated community, connection, and collaboration, with a strong European spirit.

A warm welcome from IASP CEO Ebba Lund and International President Lena Miranda set the tone for the days ahead, stressing the importance of innovation spaces in addressing global challenge. Ulrich Stofner, CEO of NOI Techpark, echoed this vision, highlighting European values and cross-border partnerships as fundamental to NOI’s mission. Participants got a closer look at NOI’s story and research impact thanks to Vincent Mauroit, Director of Technology Transfer and Innovation Management, who explained that the name NOI stands for the "Nature Of Innovation."

Celebrating the nature of innovation at IASP Europe 2025 with thought-provoking sessions

The event began with a Pre-Conference Workshop on Communication Tools & Community Building, offering practical insights into how innovation spaces enable meaningful connections — from WhatsApp broadcasts and Discord channels to summer festivals and internal apps. The European Projects Working Group ran in parallel, with professionals exchanging updates on EU-funded projects and identifying synergies, particularly in the area of artificial intelligence — a focus for nearly all participants. The start of the event also featured a networking meeting for the Women in IASP subnetwork which served as an opportunity to discuss the community's latest endeavors.

The conference sessions tackled some of the biggest topics transforming innovation spaces across Europe. In a panel on Green Technologies, experts explored how lab infrastructure, solar, and heat pump technologies are driving progress, with standout examples like the MOBSTER project. Panelists emphasized the importance of local ecosystems and cross-sector collaboration, especially in smaller regions that are punching above their weight. A technical tour took attendees through a repurposed aluminium factory, now a cutting-edge research facility for climate testing, electric vehicles, and sustainable materials. Another session focused on Food & Health, where speakers explored the future of fermentation, sustainable proteins, and biobased production systems, along with omics and precision health.

The Smart Manufacturing and Sustainability session showcased how SMEs, university partnerships, and tech transfer labs in Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and Sweden are strengthening regional industries and nurturing talent. Discussions also covered the need for more data-driven policymaking and support for defence-related innovation. In the final session, Digital Technologies took centre stage, with examples ranging from AI-powered crop monitoring to sustainable smart textiles and the integration of IoT and open data in research. Speakers highlighted the role of digital innovation hubs in accelerating collaboration between startups, universities, and industry across Europe.

The event also included dynamic workshops, where participants debated how science parks can better collaborate on funding, training, and harmonising regulations at the European level. IASP Board members Lena Miranda, Salvatore Majorana, and Jean-François Balducchi reflected on the session outcomes, offering strategic insights into the road ahead.

We closed on a high note, celebrating Europe Day with new ideas, stronger connections, and a renewed commitment to innovation. Our heartfelt thanks go to our hosts at NOI Techpark and to every speaker and participant who made this event such a success.

We look forward to even more inspiring discussions and collaboration opportunities at our upcoming events in Saint-Hyacinthe, Canada, and Beijing, China, to keep linking the best innovation spaces around the world.

Photo credits: IASP & NOI Techpark / Francesco Giuliano