The Innovation Lab project aims to strengthen the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the lighting sector, combining training, research, certification and experimentation. The objective is to respond to the new needs of the sector through the adoption of advanced technologies and support for digitalisation and sustainability processes. 

The event which took place last December 2024 saw the participation of over one hundred members including institutional representatives, academic bodies, trade associations and companies.  The meeting was opened by the speech of the President Alberto Sozza, who recalled the strategic nature of the project for the Network, as the main programmatic objective of the current Management Committee, and by Prof. Alberto Bassi, representing the IUAV University of Venice, who highlighted the importance of the Innovation Lab to face new challenges in the field of design for Made in Italy.

The initiative falls within the broader framework of the existing agreement between the RIR and the University to support the territory. The Innovation Lab will take the form of two main structures: the Light & Green Lab, which will be located at the university complex in Via Torino in Mestre, and the Light & Design Village, located at Villa Cà Marcello in Piombino Dese. The Innovation Lab acts as a meeting point between the academic and industrial worlds, creating an ecosystem capable of promoting innovation and knowledge transfer. The idea is to become an incubator of talents and skills, shortening the distance between the university world and the business world, creating new job and growth opportunities for young people in the area.

Marco Ghirardelli, representing UniSMART, underlined the importance of shortening the gap between the business world and university skills, confirming the desire to collaborate with Luce in Veneto for the development of a joint activity which will probably see Unismart rely on Light & Design Village with its own antenna.

Architect Silvia Codato, Art Director of the artistic project of the Light & Design Village, highlighted how the project was conceived with a strong focus on community and sharing, with a view to cooperation and networking: “The objective is create a new community of skills and exchanges. I thank Luce in Veneto for believing in a space study project that must be based on a collective and integrated identity”.

A project that also convinced the owners of the Villa, represented by Jacopo Marcello, as an opportunity to revitalize the spaces of the monumental complex currently in disuse, giving once again an active role in supporting the local economy.

Institutional and Territorial Support

The Innovation Lab has received extensive support from regional and local institutions. The Veneto Region has recognized Luce in Veneto as the entity officially responsible for representing the Venetian Smart Lighting Regional Innovative Network within the RIS-3 policies, with the role of supporting the sector through the implementation of smart specialization policies, with particular reference to the four transversal drivers: “Digital transformation”, “Green transition”, “Human capital” and “New business models”.

The mayor of Piombino Dese Cesare Mason confirmed the importance of the Innovation Lab for local companies and the need for well-established structures and organizations at a local level.

Vice-president Silvia Betteto, on behalf of the Management Committee, reiterated that “This laboratory represents a fundamental opportunity for businesses and the territory, guaranteeing a structure and solid governance that promote innovation and growth“.

Dr. Andrea Galeota, representative of the Padua Chamber of Commerce, encouraged the Innovation Lab during the event, stating: “Congratulations for the project and for carrying it forward, the Chambers of Commerce of Padua, Treviso-Belluno, Venice -Rovigo have embraced the initiative, jointly supporting it for the creation of the Light & Design Village in Cà Marcello. This represents an important opportunity for the area, at a time when companies require skilled labor and technicians, while schools struggle to provide new professionals. We will guarantee our support and closeness in future phases.”

The President of CONFAPI, Marco Trevisan, praised the initiative, highlighting the need to invest in research, training and digitalisation for local SMEs: “Our companies are often under pressure and with few resources and projects like this can make the difference to increase competitiveness and innovation”.

Walter Meneghello, President of the CNA DI PADOVA district of Piombino Dese, underlined the importance of networking, reiterating that the Innovation Lab represents a concrete example of how Associations, businesses and institutions can collaborate effectively to stimulate innovation.

Technical Partners and Collaborations

The Innovation Lab was born from a solid network of partners at local, regional and European level, including: Veneto Region, Veneto Innovazione SpA, Chambers of Commerce of Padua, Venice-Rovigo and Treviso-Belluno, Unioncamere, IPA Camposampierese, Municipality of Piombino Dese, IUAV University of Venice, UniSMART, Galileo Science Park, Italian School of Design, European Lighting Cluster Alliance and all associated companies to the Internet.

The architectural firms involved, Giorgio Marchetto and Studio Bongiana Architetture, contributed their expertise to the design of the spaces of the Light & Design Village, while companies such as: Light Cube, Mosaico Group, Inventronics, Materially, LDW and Fab Lab Venice have given availability for the introduction of advanced services to support experimentation and prototyping activities. Special thanks to De I Os for the support in filing the “Light & Design Village” trademark as good practice in the protection of intellectual property.

Luce In Veneto