Who we are

Almacube

Almacube is an innovation hub, certified incubator and accelerator, recognised by the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy. Founded in Bologna in 2000 by the University of Bologna, today it serves the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Emilia-Romagna as a connection point between the research system, the industrial fabric and the institutions of its territory.

Almacube’s shareholders are the University of Bologna (founding partner, 2000), Confindustria Emilia Area Centro (2013) and Fondazione Golinelli (2026).

Almacube works on two complementary fronts. On one side, it enables startups and academic spin-offs to valorize research — knowledge valorization — guiding them from idea to business through incubation and acceleration. On the other, it supports companies, SMEs and corporates in their innovation processes, connecting them with startups, talent and research to turn concrete challenges into projects, prototypes and new market opportunities.

Across both fronts, Almacube puts people first: it builds innovation capabilities within organizations and supports the growth of the next generations of innovators — because valorization starts with people, not technologies.

Its goal is to foster the economic development of the territory through innovation, the creation of new ventures and collaboration between research and industry. Empowering Innovators.

Our Evolution

Our value for every stakeholder

Startup e Spinoff

We support growth through incubation, mentorship, and tailored services. We enable access to capital, expertise, and strategic connections to transform ideas into solid, market-ready ventures.

Partner dell'Ecosistema

We support foundations and institutions in activating their assets and resources for the innovation ecosystem, connecting them to our community and turning initiatives into measurable results.

Corporate e PMI

We transform priorities and challenges into real projects: activating talent, startups, and research, enabling access to grants and resources, and accelerating the adoption of new technologies within your processes.

Università e Centri di Ricerca

We enhance research and expertise by supporting the creation of spin-offs, educational programs, and joint projects with companies, building stable bridges between academia, the local ecosystem, and the market.

Studenti e Talenti

We train and connect talent through programs in entrepreneurship and Open Innovation, internships, and real-world projects with companies and startups, accelerating market-relevant skills and career opportunities.

Our team

Shiva Loccisano
CEO
Francesco D’Onghia
Head of Open Innovation Unit
Nicole Monti
Head of Startup Spinoff Unit
Felippe Fontanelli
Head of Marketing & Business Development
Giampaolo Pagliuca
Finance Administration Manager
Federica Tadini
General Manager G-Factor

Almacube is part of Oper.Space, the Innovation Factory of the University of Bologna​

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