• SmartCityLab Milano is a certified incubator and accelerator that promotes smart city solutions through research, experimentation and shared programmes connecting startups, companies and citizens.
• Located on a former industrial site, the eco-efficient building integrates geothermal energy, photovoltaics and sustainable solutions, contributing to the transformation of Milano's southern quarter.
• Integrated, multifunctional spaces to host events and projects for visitors and local residents, putting forward an Italian vision of smart cities.

SmartCityLab Milano is far more than a building: it is an urban device that weaves together entrepreneurship, research and civic engagement. Inaugurated in July 2025, the Milanese laboratory was created with the aim of becoming a certified incubator and accelerator, as well as a centre for technological experimentation and cultural promotion around smart city themes. Across its 2,000 square metres it houses startups, office spaces, an auditorium, a rooftop for events and an area called the "tech aggregator" dedicated to technology exhibitions and startup incubation. The goal is to create an open and dynamic place capable of generating innovation that is useful not only to businesses but to the entire community.

Governance and international alliances

As Milano's councillor for economic development Alessia Cappello emphasised, "SmartCityLab will be an incubator for companies specialising in innovative projects to make our cities more intelligent, sustainable and inclusive". The project was born from a programme agreement between the Municipality of Milano, the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, and Invitalia, which oversaw design and construction with an investment of 5 million euros. Management has been entrusted to a temporary business grouping led by PwC Italia, LifeGate Way, LifeGate, Lhub, Webgenesys and Designtech.

The project's core activities include a business incubator and accelerator, a research and experimentation laboratory, and a centre for promoting urban innovation. In addition, there are initiatives organised around four platforms, each reflecting the expertise of the managing partners: venture clienting to bring startups and corporates together; citizen experience for citizen-centred digital services; social innovation bearing LifeGate's imprint; and urban design integrating creativity and urban regeneration. The project has an international vocation, confirming Milano's ambition to engage with global urban innovation networks.

Sustainable architecture and role in the urban fabric

SmartCityLab occupies a remediated former industrial site in Milano's southern quarter, not far from the former Porta Romana railway yard that will host the 2026 Olympic Village. The building is a manifesto of environmental efficiency, featuring geothermal energy, photovoltaics, rainwater recovery systems, green roofs and green walls that improve the microclimate and air quality. The structure holds an energy class A2/A1 rating and incorporates acoustic insulation and biodiversity enhancement solutions. Its strategic location connects it to university campuses, research centres and urban regeneration areas, reinforcing the laboratory's role as a catalyst for transformation.

During the inauguration, the space came alive through the tech aggregator hub, which hosted nineteen innovative companies and startups. Among these, several solutions clearly illustrate the Lab's direction. Glauk has patented a technology that transforms glass, wood or marble into invisible speakers, ideal for public spaces and museums; Flowy uses artificial intelligence to analyse pedestrian flows in real time for the benefit of urban safety and logistics; Maxi Mobility supports taxis and corporate fleets in transitioning to electric vehicles through subscription-based solutions; GenoGra offers a platform that democratises genomic analysis with intuitive visualisations for applications in medicine and urban resilience; Flaskk installs smart dispensers for microfiltered and sparkling water, reducing single-use plastic and providing sustainability reports to companies. The presence of these projects made the Lab's mission tangible: uniting applied research, social impact and new urban economies.

Human+AI, the SmartCityLab Milano acceleration programme

One of SmartCityLab's key assets is Human+AI, a free, equity-free acceleration programme dedicated to entrepreneurial teams and startups. The programme, which will select ten projects at the launch stage and five for the full stage, offers mentorship from experts, access to a network of investors and institutions, and personalised support to validate the business model.

Against this backdrop, SmartCityLab is a key piece in Milano's transformation into a smart city, where technology, sustainability and civic participation merge to improve everyday life. It is not merely a laboratory for insiders, but an open space that hosts events, talks and moments of dialogue with citizens, bringing startups, public administrations and communities into conversation. With startups on the launchpad and the Human+AI programme, the Milanese centre positions itself as a European observatory on the urban future, capable of inspiring replicable solutions for other cities.