Fourth edition of Basilicata Open LAB gets underway

The fourth edition of the Basilicata Open LAB innovation programme gets underway again to support innovation and entrepreneurship and contribute to the development of the regional ecosystem.

The initiative, which aims to foster collaboration between businesses, startups, young people and local organisations, is promoted by Eni through Joule – its Business School – and with the support of Shell Italia E&P.

The five verticals of the fourth edition

The five areas are particularly relevant to supporting the energy, ecological and digital transition and to maximising the skills and opportunities present in Basilicata.

• Agritech;
• Energy;
• Sustainable cities;
• Water and land;
• Health and well-being.

The programme, as in previous editions, is structured around several areas of intervention and opportunities, such as the Call4Innovation, the Regional Desk and the Training initiatives.

The Call4Innovation includes two pathways. The Co-Innovation Award is aimed at national startups interested in developing innovative projects and solutions in collaboration with companies in Basilicata. The Entrepreneurship Award, on the other hand, is dedicated to local businesses that intend to develop their own innovative proposals. Participants will be supported through training and mentoring activities and, at the end of the pathway, grants will be awarded to the selected projects. Applications for the Call4Innovation are open from 14 October 2026 to 29 January 2027 and are intended for startups, spin-offs and teams of innovators from across Italy and companies in Basilicata.

The Sportello Basilicata Open LAB, a point of reference for businesses, aspiring entrepreneurs, students and stakeholders, is growing stronger. The project is expanding its presence across the region, once again extending its activities to inland areas as well, with the aim of facilitating access to expertise, tools and opportunities and promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurial growth.

Training with the Lucania Power Camp is now an established format that grows together with the local area, with the aim of generating an increasingly tangible impact on young people and local communities. The growing involvement of schools and local entities demonstrates the interest in a programme that brings innovation, skills and new opportunities to Basilicata. The ambition is to continue to grow, making the Camp increasingly widespread across the region and strengthening the network among young people, schools, businesses and local stakeholders.

The Young Innovator Award also returns, aimed at upper secondary school students in Basilicata. The award is dedicated to creativity and the development of innovative ideas capable of responding to real needs in school life. The initiative provides support and a prize fund to enable the winning team to implement its idea within the school.

Among the main new features of this edition, in addition to the expansion to five verticals, is the new Basilicata Open LAB platform, a single access point for the programme’s services. The “Calls for proposals & opportunities” section brings together calls for proposals and funding aligned with the programme’s verticals, while the “Job vacancies” board enables companies in the ecosystem to give visibility to their open positions, enabling local talent to find them. The programme is also opening up to the “Public Administration”: in a specifically dedicated area of the platform, where local bodies can share their innovation needs, to which startups can respond by submitting their solutions.

Over the first three editions, Basilicata Open LAB has helped strengthen connections between Basilicata’s business community and the national innovation ecosystem, supporting businesses and startups in the development of new projects: Call4Innovation has involved over 400 startups and more than 140 companies from Basilicata, has led to the implementation of 27 trials in the region and has disbursed 720,000 euros in grants.

“Basilicata Open LAB is a programme that grows together with the region,” says Antonietta De Sanctis, Head of Acceleration Program at Joule.“Edition after edition, we have learned to listen to emerging needs, challenges and opportunities, adapting tools and pathways to respond ever more effectively to the needs of the local ecosystem. The introduction of new verticals, the strengthening of services and the opening to new players are the result of this journey of continuous evolution.” De Sanctis concludes: “Our goal remains to transform ideas, skills and collaborations into tangible projects, capable of generating lasting value for businesses, young people and the communities of Basilicata."

Basilicata Open LAB is among the Development Projects promoted by the co-holders of the Val d’Agri Concession under the New Memorandum of Intent, the so-called "Non Oil" projects, aimed at supporting initiatives for the development of the region.