The Start Cup Lazio project (Italy) is a regional business plan competition, which yearly awards the most innovative entrepreneurial ideas generated by the system of regional research for local development.

The competition is promoted by universities and research centers in the Lazio region, in collaboration with a number of industrial and financial institutions. Coordinated by the Tor Vergata University of Rome, the competition is connected to the National Award for Innovation, promoted by the Italian Association PNICube. This association involves 50 Italian universities (and associated start-up incubators), together with 17 regional Start Cup projects.

Ended on October, 26th, 2020, the 6th edition of the Start Cup Lazio has witnessed the commitment of 20 teams, for an overall amount of 72 engaged, aspiring enterpreneurs.

In the article entitled “In search for talents able to change the world”, Paola Paniccia, project coordinator and Full Professor of Management at the Tor Vergata University of Rome, exploits the value of this kind of projects for the entrepreneurial ecosystem and for the professional development of students as well. The article was published in the Italian newspaper Avvenire on December, 6th, 2020.