"We want to discover ever newer forms of diversification. Start-ups, as well as venture capital activities, are vital for testing different sectors, which can then be turned into new business verticals."
Alessandro Benetton
Chairman of Edizione
With the Innovation Hubs at Aeroporti di Roma (part of the Mundys Group) and Avolta, we shape and consolidate our strategic vision, in which innovation is a key driver of shared growth and development.
At these hubs we invest in and promote young international start-ups that help us rethink ways of travelling, thereby making it more sustainable, efficient and enjoyable for millions of people around the world.
Dedicated spaces encourage the cross-fertilisation of ideas, creativity and the emergence of new solutions that improve services offered, reduce environmental impact and enrich the overall experience.
What's the outcome? A virtuous circle that generates value for all stakeholders, and contributes to a more sustainable and innovative future.
Aeroporti di Roma's Innovation Hub: excellence at the heart of Fiumicino
The Innovation Hub of Aeroporti di Roma (ADR), which is part of the Mundys Group and one of the companies in our portfolio, is Europe's first start-up accelerator located directly at an airport. Set up as an airport innovation hub, it provides space, technology and investment to create, test and implement tangible solutions that are already operational, which improves the travel experience for millions of passengers.
Launched in 2022, the hub has involved over 1,000 start-ups from around the world and currently hosts 13 active projects, ranging from passenger flow optimisation to environmental sustainability and security. These innovations are directly tested and implemented at the terminal, in contact with airport experts and travellers, in a space of more than 600 square metres that overlooks the Terminal 1 departure area. These are not "showcase ideas": 50% of the selected projects are already operational at the airport, which bears witness to the practicality of this vision and its real impact on the travel experience and the environment.
Avolta's Innovation Hub: innovation in the food & beverage sector
Following the success of ADR's Innovation Hub, Avolta, a company in our portfolio, also launched its own Innovation Hub.
Located in Milan, inside the historic Autogrill premises, this 220-square-metre space houses a group of selected start-ups that will develop innovative solutions to improve services in the motorway F&B sector.
The first start-up call, launched in December 2023, attracted more than 100 applications. Five start-ups were selected which, together with industry experts, are working to shape the sector's future.
The initiative, which comes from Avolta Next, Avolta's innovation and venture capital division, focuses on three key areas of innovation in the motorway F&B sector: customer experience; sustainability; and operations and employee experience.
The aim is to study solutions that improve the customer experience in retail outlets, promote the wellbeing of communities by enhancing local areas and protecting the environment, and simplify business processes by digitising and improving the employee experience related to customer management.
