Iren Startup Award 2026: AI4Automation & Physical Processes

Artificial Intelligence and automation are transforming the management of plants, infrastructure and essential services. These technologies make physical processes more efficient, safe and resilient, whilst also promoting a smarter and more circular approach to resource management.

To play a leading role in this transformation, the Iren Group is launching the 2026 edition of the Iren Startup Award: AI4Automation & Physical Processes, an Open Innovation project developed for the Iren Group by the Circular Economy Lab, an initiative of the Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Centre and Factory Plus.

The call for entries is aimed at innovative Italian and international start-ups and SMEs developing technologies based on Artificial Intelligence, automation and robotics that can be applied to physical processes. 

The aim is to identify high-potential solutions to be integrated into the Iren Group’s assets, helping to address strategic challenges such as operational autonomy, workplace safety, predictive maintenance and the smart management of plants and infrastructure.

The project’s objectives

Through the Iren Startup Award 2026, the Iren Group aims to identify and promote innovative solutions capable of accelerating the evolution of operational and industrial processes, whilst fostering concrete collaborations with innovative start-ups and SMEs at both national and international level. In particular, the initiative has the following objectives:

To identify the best technologies to integrate into the Iren Group’s assets through proof-of-concept (POC) studies or pilot projects, testing the solutions through collaboration with innovative start-ups and SMEs at an international level.
To address real needs whilst also responding to potential future innovations in support of the operational activities of the various business units and the Group’s strategic priorities.
To strengthen the Iren Group’s position within the European innovation ecosystem, through the dissemination of the call for proposals at national and international level and the involvement of international partners.

The Iren Group

Iren is one of Italy’s leading multi-utility companies and a key operator in the north-west of the country, active in the sectors of electricity, gas, district heating, integrated water services, environmental services and energy efficiency solutions. The Group’s activities are organised into four Business Units — Networks, Environment, Energy and Market — and contribute to the development of the regions in which Iren operates, with a particular focus on technological innovation and the transition towards more sustainable and circular business models.

For Iren, innovation is central to its strategic decisions and to the development of the products and services it offers. Adopting an Open Innovation approach, the Group establishes partnerships with external organisations — start-ups, SMEs, universities and research centres — and utilises tools dedicated to sourcing innovation, including Corporate Venture Capital projects, with the aim of introducing and leveraging new solutions within its services and processes.

The Call and the selection process

The AI4Automation & Physical Processes Call is aimed at innovative start-ups and SMEs, both national and international, offering Artificial Intelligence, automation and robotics solutions that are easy to implement, scalable and interoperable with existing systems.

The process involves an initial phase of scouting and collecting applications, followed by the evaluation of the most promising solutions. The organisations with the highest potential will proceed to an assessment phase, at the end of which the finalists will be selected to take part in the Demo Day.

During the Demo Day, the selected organisations will present their solutions to the Business Unit Managers and senior management of the Iren Group, with the aim of exploring opportunities for technological synergies through pilot projects or proof-of-concept initiatives, commercial partnerships or corporate venture capital investments.

Areas of interest

Particular interest is focused on solutions that integrate intelligent software, robotics, autonomous systems, AI agents, advanced industrial automation and cyber-physical technologies, which are easy to implement and interoperable with existing systems. Solutions capable of increasing the level of operational autonomy, safety, resilience and productivity of people, processes, plants and infrastructure, as well as operational efficiency, service quality and the circular use of resources, will be viewed favourably.

Business Units of Application

The proposed solutions may be applied across all or within any of the four Business Units of the Iren Group:

Networks (Ireti) — management and distribution of electricity, gas and water, and wastewater treatment, with a particular focus on the monitoring, inspection and efficient management of infrastructure.
Environment — waste cycle management and the circular economy, seeking technologies that automate waste collection and treatment, improve urban hygiene and recover resources.
Energy — production and distribution of electricity and heat, district heating and public lighting, with a focus on energy efficiency and smart plant management.
Market — sale of electricity, gas and related services, including those linked to home automation and solutions that improve customer interaction and the personalisation of the offering.

Examples of innovative technologies

Below are some examples of innovative technologies – a non-exhaustive list in relation to other similar solutions – which may contribute to the evolution of the Iren Group’s operational and industrial processes:

Physical AI and autonomous systems that integrate Artificial Intelligence, sensor technology and robotics, enabling machines and devices to adapt to operating conditions, make decisions and act autonomously.
Autonomous monitoring and inspection using drones, swarm robotics and facility navigation, with real-time monitoring of construction sites, plants and electrical and water infrastructure.
Inferential solutions that enable plants and infrastructure to react automatically to events, anomalies and emergencies, with fault detection and predictive maintenance.
Intelligent systems for human-machine collaboration: voice assistants, smart wearables, exoskeletons and hands-free systems, and ‘embedded AI’ devices.
Operational safety tools for the prevention of accidents and errors: dynamic risk monitoring, automatic verification of safety procedures, and human-machine anti-collision systems.
Advanced and humanoid robotics to support operational activities in the field: material handling, sample collection, manual tasks

Opportunities and project developments

Following the Demo Day, all eight finalist start-ups and innovative SMEs will have the opportunity to establish partnerships with the Iren Group.

Taking part in the Iren Startup Award 2026 means having the opportunity to:

Develop proof-of-concepts (POCs) and pilot projects within the Iren Group’s assets and facilities, gathering data, feedback and visibility in an industrial setting.
Build strategic commercial partnerships and explore potential avenues for collaboration as suppliers to the Group.
Accelerate the development of their solution through engagement with a multi-utility leader in innovation.
Gain access to potential direct or indirect investment from the Iren Group, including through corporate venture capital vehicles.

Stages and Timeline

31 July 2026 – 2 October 2026 | Scouting and call for applications
October – November 2026 | Assessment and selection of applications
December 2026 | Demo Day
February 2027 | Launch of collaborations (PoCs, industrial partnerships, investments, etc.)

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