Startup Ecosystem Stars Awards 2025: I3P honoured in Paris for its ecosystem of innovative enterprises
The third edition of the Startup Ecosystem Stars (SES) Awards, held last December at the headquarters of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris, concluded with the presentation of awards to 54 global winners. These were selected from among the world’s leading organisations committed to fostering innovative entrepreneurship ecosystems at local, regional and national level. Among the organisations receiving this prestigious recognition was I3P, the Incubator of Politecnico, named one of the 36 “Stars” of 2025 and one of only three institutions representing Italy.
Presented by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Mind the Bridge, in collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Commission, the SES Awards recognise leadership and best practices adopted by institutions, associations and industry clusters in supporting the growth and internationalisation of start-ups operating within their territories. Particular attention is given to public sector initiatives aimed at fostering dynamic, competitiveand high-impact start-up ecosystems. The award is divided into two categories: “Stars”, presented to leading organisations that have demonstrated sustained impact and all-round excellence in supporting their entrepreneurial networks; and “Rising Stars”, dedicated to organisations that are following a promising path towards becoming leaders in the development of innovative ecosystems.
“We are honoured to have received the Startup Ecosystem Star 2025 award from the International Chamber of Commerce and Mind the Bridge: we are particularly pleased that the ecosystem of innovative enterprises developed and supported every day for over 25 years by the Incubator of Politecnico di Torino is now at the centre of international evaluation and recognition,” commented Giuseppe Scellato, Professor at the Department of Management and Production Engineering-DIGEP and President of I3P. “This achievement will encourage us to grow further and to intensify our internationalisation activities in order to reach even more ambitious goals in the coming years, always for the benefit of our start-ups.”
Founded in 1999 and already recognised as one of the leading and longest-established university incubators also internationally, I3P was selected as a Startup Ecosystem Star 2025 on the strength of the breadth and quality of its portfolio of innovative enterprises. To date, nearly 400 start-ups have completed its standard incubation programme. The recognition also reflects the overall scale of its ecosystem and its ability to build networks of leading players capable of providing tangible support to new entrepreneurial ventures. In particular, the award to I3P acknowledges excellence in the “Talent & Research” dimension, in relation to its support for the enhancement of scientific expertise and the promotion of technology transfer.
“We are proud of this recognition, which reflects the commitment of Politecnico di Torino to technology transfer and innovation, also through the creation of new start-ups, in order to enhance the industrial impact of research activities,” added Giuliana Mattiazzo, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Technological Innovation. “The award confirms the growth of the local innovative entrepreneurship ecosystem, also thanks to the contribution of our University.”
The selection of the most deserving organisations for the award was carried out by two international bodies with extensive experience in the field of innovative entrepreneurship. The International Chamber of Commerce - which is also present in Italy through ICC Italia - institutionally represents more than 45 million companies across over 170 countries. Its core mission is to make international trade work better and more inclusively for everyone, every day, everywhere. Its members include many of the world’s leading companies, SMEs, business associations and local chambers of commerce, among them the Camera di Commercio di Torino, one of the shareholders of I3P together with Politecnico.
Mind the Bridge, on the other hand, is a global consultancy that promotes economic development and connects the corporate world with the leading start-up ecosystems worldwide. Founded in 2007 by the Italian entrepreneur and business angel Marco Marinucci, Mind the Bridge is now headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices on three continents. The firm works with over 10,000 start-ups annually, supporting large companies through Open Innovation initiatives and benchmarking services.