Start Cup Toscana 2026: IMT School to host the final event

On Thursday, 23 October 2025, the award ceremony for the Start Cup Toscana 2025 was held at the "Centro Congressi Le Benedettine" of the University of Pisa, an event dedicated to innovative business ideas from university start-ups based in Tuscany. 

Sibilla Di Guida, delegate of the rector for the third mission, gave the closing remarks on behalf of the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, which will host next year's final event. Sibilla Di Guida, the rector's delegate for the third mission, who emphasised how university researchers have, on the one hand, a moral duty to use their freedom in scientific research to conduct research with a positive impact on society and, on the other hand, how scientists, with their tools, knowledge and connections, have a real opportunity and the power to change the world for the better. 

For the 2025 edition, the first prize went to the Lachesis Bio project (from the Scuola Normale Superiore), which combines artificial intelligence and the biology of ageing for drug discovery. In second place was the NSight Dynamics | Human Through Data project (from the University of Florence), with an inexpensive and scalable optical biosensor for rapid and non-invasive diagnosis. Third place went to MAGYS DRIVE (from the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna), with a magnetic technology mechanical reducer that improves energy efficiency in robotic applications. 

Special mentions were also awarded for social innovation, female entrepreneurship and climate impact; the top three projects will participate in the national final of the 2025 National Innovation Award (PNI) to be held in Ferrara.