On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Genoa hosted the final of SMARTcup Liguria 2025, the competition that celebrates entrepreneurial ideas and innovative projects promoted by Regione Liguria and managed by FILSE S.p.A., in collaboration with the University of Genoa and PNICube. The event transformed the BIC – Business Incubator into a vibrant hub of talent, creativity, and forward-looking vision.
Among the 51 competing projects, two teams – Easy VR and AquaSense – both from the RAISE Up mentorship program under Spoke 5 of RAISE, earned a spot among the top ten finalists. They stood out for their technical excellence, innovative strength, and ability to clearly convey the value of their ideas.
Easy VR also won over the audience, taking home the “Marco Paganuzzi” Public Award thanks to a captivating presentation that demonstrated how virtual reality can turn science into an engaging, interactive experience.
The competition once again showcased the dynamism of the Ligurian innovation ecosystem, capable of fostering new enterprises and supporting the growth of young innovators. During the final event, the eight selected projects took the stage before more than 200 spectators for an elevator pitch session — a concise and impactful presentation format designed to communicate the projects’ potential to investors and partners. The finalists included both established startups and experimental prototypes ready to enter the market.
A key addition to this year’s edition was the SMARTcup Academy, a traveling training program that reached all four Ligurian provinces. Through webinars, workshops, and mentorship sessions, aspiring entrepreneurs gained practical tools to craft effective business plans and sharpen their pitching skills, strengthening the link between research, innovation, and market application.
The initiative was supported by 76 partners – including companies, universities, incubators, trade associations, and local institutions – that collaborated with FILSE in promoting and developing the event. IREN confirmed its role as Main Partner, while Nova Connect, as Media Partner, contributed to content dissemination and awarded a special prize. Liguria Digitale also played a key role in highlighting the most significant moments of the day and showcasing participants’ work.
The SMARTcup final turned the BIC into a space where ideas take shape and creativity becomes action. The Easy VR and AquaSense teams perfectly embodied the spirit of RAISE, showing how mentorship, training, and networking can transform an idea into tangible results.
