Terna Launches Adriatic Innovation Zone in Ascoli Piceno to Propel Energy Transition and Regional Entrepreneurship

Terna Launches Adriatic Innovation Zone in Ascoli Piceno to Propel Energy Transition and Regional Entrepreneurship

(IN BRIEF) Terna has opened its Adriatic Innovation Zone in Ascoli Piceno to foster technological innovation and strengthen the region’s energy-transition ecosystem. Attended by local academic and institutional figures and Terna’s Francesco Salerni, the hub will unite startups, SMEs, universities and public partners under a district-based economic model. Two major programmes—OpenHUB, an accelerator for energy and digital-transition ventures, and OpenLAB, a laboratory for HVDC cables and maritime energy solutions—will drive research, development and collaboration. Supported by regional authorities and partners such as Confindustria and Unioncamere, the initiative aligns with Terna’s €700 million investment plan for Marche and its strategic Adriatic Link HVDC project. This is Terna’s third global Innovation Zone and its first in Italy.

(PRESS RELEASE) ROME, 24-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Terna inaugurated its Adriatic Innovation Zone in Ascoli Piceno, Marche, marking the group’s latest commitment—under the leadership of Giuseppina Di Foggia—to transform the Adriatic area into a hub of technological excellence. This new centre of innovation will accelerate development of cutting-edge solutions supporting the energy transition while nurturing the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The launch event in Ascoli Piceno gathered regional academic and institutional leaders alongside Francesco Salerni, Terna’s Executive Vice President for Strategy, Digital and Sustainability. Designed as a collaborative platform, the Innovation Zone brings together startups, forward-thinking SMEs, universities and public bodies to foster inclusive, sustainable growth. Embracing a “district-based economy” model, it ensures that capital and expertise are distributed broadly rather than concentrated in a few established centres.

Within this framework, two flagship initiatives will roll out. OpenHUB will serve as an accelerator for local startups and SMEs active in energy and digital-transition sectors, offering an innovation pathway backed by the Marche Region and validated industrially by Terna. OpenLAB will function as an R&D workshop dedicated to pioneering engineering projects—especially in high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) cables and maritime energy technologies—advancing both sustainability and grid resilience.

Strategic partnerships underpinning the Innovation Zone include the Marche Region, ANCI Marche, the regional university system, Confindustria, Unioncamere, the ELIS Consortium, SMAU and various financial and industrial stakeholders. These collaborators will contribute to mentorship programmes, technology transfer, specialized training and funding support, collectively bolstering the Adriatic entrepreneurial landscape.

This hub complements Terna’s 2025–2034 Development Plan, which earmarks €700 million for investments in Marche. Key projects include the Adriatic Link—a 1,000 MW HVDC connection spanning roughly 250 km (210 km submarine)—approved by Italy’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security in January 2024 and designated strategic by national regulators. Once operational, it will reinforce central-region electricity exchange, enhance system security and flexibility, and support renewable-generation targets.

As the third global node in Terna’s Innovation Zone programme—and the first on home soil following San Francisco and Tunis—the Ascoli Piceno centre reinforces Terna’s strategy of forging strong ties with innovation ecosystems worldwide.

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SOURCE: TERNA S.p.A.