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Trentino

Trentino stands out as a compact yet uniquely multifaceted alpine destination where pristine nature, innovation, and cultural heritage coexist seamlessly.

Trentino is a small autonomous province in Northern Italy. Covering just about 6,207 km², it offers remarkable geographic and cultural diversity. Trentino is at an historic crossroads between the Mediterranean and continental Europe. It combines Alpine landscapes, wide valleys, and traditional villages with an internationally recognised university and cutting‑edge technological infrastructure.

Trentino encompasses over 300 lakes, the northern tip of Lake Garda (Italy’s second‑longest river) and some of the most iconic peaks of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its climate ranges from high‑alpine to almost Mediterranean, creating exceptional environmental variety and rich biodiversity. One‑third of the territory is protected, reflecting a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and quality of life.

Thanks to its special autonomous status, Trentino enjoys broad self‑government, built on the core principles of responsibility, efficiency, and social cohesion. Over the past fifty years, Trentino has undertaken a major industrial redevelopment process, converting large, decommissioned manufacturing plants into Business Innovation Centres. These innovation hubs have become catalysts for science, technology, and knowledge. They are supported by the regional development agency Trentino Sviluppo.

The local research ecosystem

Trentino’s commitment to research translates into impressive figures: over € 400 million invested in R&D, corresponding to 1.46% of local GDP (ISTAT, 2023). This momentum is driven by more than 5,000 professionals working to transform scientific knowledge into tangible value, reinforcing Trentino’s position as an innovation-oriented region.


The province hosts around 40 public and private research organisations, active across fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum mechanics, neuroscience, mechatronic prototyping, agritech, biotechnology, and the humanities. The National Research Council (CNR) is also present with several operational units focusing on advanced materials, digital technologies, environmental sciences, and bioeconomy, fostering technology transfer toward the local productive system.


Trentino adheres to the European Union’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) for 2021–2027, focusing on four priority areas:

  • Sustainability, mountain ecosystems, and energy resources

  • ICT & digital transformation

  • Intelligent industry

  • Health, nutrition, and lifestyle

 

In 2024, the European Commission officially designated Trentino as a Regional Innovation Valley, recognising its coordinated policies and substantial long-term investments in research and innovation, as well as its contribution to key European challenges—from reducing fossil fuel dependence and managing digital transition to improving healthcare, promoting circular economy models, and ensuring food security. Trentino also ranks as Italy’s top “strong innovator” region in the European Commission’s 2025 Regional Innovation Scoreboard. Positioned 91st out of 241 European regions, it stands among the continent’s most dynamic areas—alongside Denmark, the Netherlands, and Spain—thanks to sustained investment in R&D and its capacity to attract European funds.
 

This achievement is further supported by the high quality of local scientific output, highlighted in the Rovereto Charter 2025, the strategic framework guiding Trentino’s new MultiAnnual Research Programme.

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EU|BIC quality

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Today, the region hosts seven BICs accommodating more than 200 companies, research centres, and vocational, technical, and university training institutes.


Highlights include:

  • Polo Meccatronica in Rovereto – specialised in mechatronics and advanced manufacturing

  • Progetto Manifattura in Rovereto – focused on sustainability

  • Polo Tecnologico in Trento

  • Multi-sectoral BICs in Mezzolombardo, Borgo, and Pergine Valsugana

  • The new Life Sciences Hub in Pergine Valsugana

 

Managed by Trentino Sviluppo, these ecosystems are built on the “knowledge triangle” and foster cross-disciplinary collaboration among business, education, and research.


Among their cutting-edge facilities, ProM Facility stands out: a prototyping and product development laboratory that integrates traditional mechanics with the latest physical and virtual prototyping technologies, testing and pre-qualification systems, and advanced 3D printing, laser cutting, metrology, X-ray tomography, and 3D scanning.
It enables startups and small enterprises to develop ideas through to market-ready prototypes.

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For forty years, EU|BIC Trentino Sviluppo has united innovation, collaboration, and skills to create a positive impact for citizens, businesses, and workers. They are a company tailored to people.

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The company is a catalyst for entrepreneurship. It works within a proactive and inclusive ecosystem, capable of attracting resources and creating concrete, measurable impacts. It builds the future based on an approach that starts with listening. In fact, EU|BIC Trentino Sviluppo is a leader in sustainable development. It does so by listening to companies and responding to their needs with a wide range of strategic services to support innovation.

EU|BIC Trentino Sviluppo is the reference for institutions, the business world, research, training and local communities. It promotes dialogue between different players in the local manufacturing base. It's a regional beacon for technological innovation, creation, growth, and internationalisation of companies. EU|BIC Trentino Sviluppo enables talents to enhance the region's excellence.


Daily, the company: 

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  • attracts investment, new businesses, and talent to the region, creating opportunities for the entire economic ecosystem

  • stimulates entrepreneurship, and the creation and development of innovative startups;

  • helps companies grow and become stronger in the domestic and foreign markets, including by leveraging facilitated financial instruments;

  • manages spaces specifically tailored to house businesses: 6 Business Innovation Centres, a technology hub, real estate and industrial areas, and conference and event rooms;

  • manages tourist infrastructures to support the local economy, with a particular focus on mountain areas;

  • offers comprehensive and integrated research, development and rapid prototyping services through the ProM Facility;

  • promotes and supports cultural businesses, with a particular focus on the audiovisual sector through the Trentino Film Commission.

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