Deadline: 2 November 2026
Would your company like a foothold in Italy's Data Valley, close to one of Europe's most powerful supercomputers? Land in Bo, Bologna's innovation hub, has opened its Call 4 Startups & SMEs 2026. The call is aimed at companies based outside Emilia-Romagna, from elsewhere in Europe or from other Italian regions, that want to establish a presence in Bologna. Selected companies become Landers and work from the TEK District at BolognaFiere, a few minutes from the DAMA Technopole. The Technopole houses the Leonardo supercomputer and the IT4LIA AI Factory.
The initiative is promoted by the Municipality and Metropolitan City of Bologna together with BolognaFiere, in collaboration with the Emilia-Romagna Region. It is developed with IFAB, with technical support from Fondazione Bologna Welcome and Mind the Bridge.
Who can apply
The call targets startups and SMEs that build solutions based on artificial intelligence, Big Data and advanced computing, or that develop the enabling technologies behind them. To be eligible, applicants must:
- have their registered and operational offices outside the Emilia-Romagna region
- be established in an EU Member State or in a third country associated with Horizon 2020
- qualify as an independent SME (micro, small or medium-sized enterprise)
Using high-performance computing (HPC) resources is not mandatory. Companies can also draw on the wider services of the IT4LIA AI Factory, including data management, security and compliance support, training and matchmaking.
What the programme offers
- Soft landing in Italy: hands-on support with taxation, administrative procedures, company incorporation and local incentives, plus a network of legal, tax and real-estate professionals and help finding temporary accommodation
- Access to supercomputing: end-to-end support in applying to Italian and European calls that grant access to the Leonardo supercomputer
- Workspace in Bologna: desks and offices at the TEK District for stays of 3 to 12 months, with meeting rooms, demo areas and event spaces. Workspaces are paid, with monthly fees ranging from €90 for a coworking desk to €470 for the largest office
- 1:1 mentoring: monthly sessions with a dedicated mentor on product-market fit, go-to-market, international expansion, fundraising and partnerships
- Ecosystem access: targeted introductions to corporates, investors, universities and research centres, plus events, showcases and visibility through Land in Bo's channels
Selection and timeline
Applications are assessed on six criteria:
- how central AI is to the business, and the potential use of HPC
- the feasibility of the landing plan
- product maturity and traction
- business model
- team skills and experience
- communication skills, including fluency in English
Every application must include a landing plan. It is a short outline of what the company aims to achieve in Bologna over the first 12 to 24 months and how it will use the workspace, services and local connections. Results will be announced in December 2026, and workspaces will be available from January 2027.
How to apply
- Deadline: 2 November 2026
- Full call and application form:Land in Bo official website
