Borgo Italia opens its Melpignano hub: two days on innovation

Borgo Italia: inauguration of the Melpignano hub

Borgo Italia inaugurates its new office at Via Vittorio Veneto 17, Melpignano (LE), hosting two public days focused on territorial innovation, local enterprise and sustainable tourism in small villages. The program targets startups, SMEs, third sector organizations, local administrations and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Who should attend

• Entrepreneurs and startuppers
• Local officials and municipal staff
• Tourism operators and guides
• SMEs and startups seeking funding and partnerships
• Nonprofit organizations and professionals in place-based regeneration

Program overview

17 April 2026 — Palazzo Marchesale, Sala Gino Strada

• 11:00 — Institutional greetings and program presentation.
• 11:30 — Sessions by Invitalia and Vybra Startup Studio: keynote on schemes such as Resto al Sud 2.0, Cultura Cresce, Smart&Start and other funding tools; a workshop on the Startup Studio approach covering calls, investment planning and go-to-market strategies.
• 15:00 — Session on Artificial Intelligence in Public Administration: how municipalities can automate processes, improve interoperability and deliver more efficient digital services. The President of the Province of Lecce, Fabio Tarantino, will take part.
• Demo — Presentation of VybraOS, a SaaS platform for querying municipal documents and databases to support administrative tasks and decision-making, with a live demo on real cases.
• 16:30-18:30 — Invitalia consultation desk: individual 20-minute slots for tailored advice on calls and eligibility checks.

18 April 2026 — Borgo Italia headquarters, Via Vittorio Veneto 17

• 09:30 — Official presentation of the hub and its vision as a reference point for innovation in inland areas.
• 10:00 — Working table on tourism: integrated territorial strategies, cycle tourism, craft-based tourism, digital and AI tools, and co-design funding opportunities. The Borghi Digitali format will be presented as a replicable model.
• 11:45 — Living the Future focus: digital innovation for inclusion and independent living, featuring the European eSticky project and MonituS (augmentative communication tool for people with cognitive disabilities) in partnership with Aias Bologna, as well as local initiatives like the "Abitare Melpignano" project and the "Vita e Opportunità" call.
• Practical activities — Workshops, co-design tables and free desks to support those who want to start or innovate a business in the area.

How to register

The two days are open to the public, with consultation desks bookable in advance. For details and to reserve a consultation slot visit: https://vybrafactory.it/borgo-italia

Practical note: entry is free for operators and administrators; booking is recommended for personalized consultations. The initiative is organized in cooperation with national and local partners active in supporting entrepreneurship and development in villages.