The Designtech Hub in Milan, Italy by Mind Milano Innovation District

Article source: Mind Milano Innovation District

Today more than ever the emergency of Coronavirus forces us to redesign our lifestyle and the spaces we live and work in. In such a complicated moment for Italy and the entire world with the ongoing healthcare crisis, the opportunity to transform the future of design and to rebuild the economy starts right from Milan thanks to the DesignTech project. The first hub for technological innovation in the design sector will rise in the MIND Milano Innovation District, currently under construction by the developer Lendlease in the ex-Expo 2015 space.

Image Courtesy © Mind Milano Innovation District

• Architects: Mind Milano Innovation District
• Project: The Designtech Hub
• Location: Milan, Italy

Image Courtesy © Mind Milano Innovation District

The goals of the project are to build an integrated great Living Lab with spaces for coworking, coliving and cofactory designed to support companies and startups in prototyping new products quickly. But also to support the development of open innovation programs and to stimulate the spread of digital technologies in the field; and lastly to build the foundation for a sustainable ecosystem able to make way to a new post Covid-19 society and to represent an exemplary model for the future urban regeneration in the world. All this with the support of important partners like Lendlease and PwC.

Selecting startups and companies who want to establish themselves as innovators in the sector is Hi-Interiors, the italian scaleup that developed the concept behind DesignTech, that has recently launched the second edition of HiHack program with its first call – the call4Solutions. This call aims to scout for furnishing solutions for the coworking spaces inside the DesignTech Hub, whose inauguration is planned for October 2020. In its first phase the hub will be hosted at the MIND Village, inside what used to be the Intesa Sanpaolo pavilion designed by architect Michele De Lucchi.

“After the success beyond expectations of the first edition of HiHack, we are excited to see this year’s candidatures and to be able to ease the first tangible collaboration between startups and companies to furnish the work spaces of the future (and of the DesignTech Hub). This will grant the call participants access to the opportunities sponsored by MIND – announced Ivan Tallarico, Hi-Interiors CEO. The initiative aims to gather under one roof companies, designers, studies and professionals of the sector scattered around Milano with technology startups from more advanced ecosystems of innovation at an international level. This union will give life to a design innovation hub with global breath”.

Image Courtesy © Mind Milano Innovation District

Image Courtesy © Mind Milano Innovation District

All the selected products, solutions and technologies will become integral parts of the project. They will guarantee visibility to the companies behind them not only within the MIND ecosystem but also at an international level, as Milan will attract attention as Design City and innovation destination on a global scale.

“Picking MIND as address for the DesignTech Hub seemed to us as the most forward-thinking business choice – continues Hi-Interiors CEO – also due to its proximity to the Rho fair that hosts the Salone del Mobile (the Furniture Show), the biggest event for the industry in the world. We felt it was the right choice to start the project now, to offer a positive message amidst the current crisis. This venture represents in fact a catalyzer for new opportunities to overcome the recession and restart the socio economic growth of our country”, concludes Tallarico.

Here are the partners of this venture. Lendlease – an international company leader in real estate and responsible party for the private development of MIND. PwC provided the Open Innovation Brightidea platform that allows to manage all the initial phases of the call digitally (this allows great minds to get together without the need of physical presence) but also the New Ventures team’s skills which contributes to the creation and population of the ecosystem. DDN Design Diffusion News reaffirms itself as media partner of the venture, having hosted the first edition of HiHack among the Fuorisalone network (Fuorisalone is a parallel event to the furniture show).

Image Courtesy © Mind Milano Innovation District

Image Courtesy © Mind Milano Innovation District

Also reaffirming as partner, RDS 100% Grandi Successi who actively participates in the ecosystem of innovation. Ghénos Communication will lead the activities of PR&Press Office. SIB Società Italiana Brevetti (The Italian Society of Trademarks) is a call partner that will make its know-how on safeguarding intellectual property available to the participants; and Two Hundred, the Italian portal for equity crowdfunding that will share its platform to financing the projects deemed most worthy. Pininfarina, historical player in the sector, will put its expertise at disposal facilitating sessions of design thinking and mentoring on the call topics; while STMicroelectronics, global semiconductors leader with clients in all applicable electronics industries, will set up a PoC (Proof of Concept) Lab within the DesignTech space. This will be the place where new Internet of Things projects proposed by companies and startups will be verified and made tangible.

Image Courtesy © Mind Milano Innovation District

Image Courtesy © Mind Milano Innovation District

Tags: Italy, Milan

Categories: Office Building, office Complex, Office space, Offices

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