On May 14, 2026, the Investor Arena Meeting, the final event of the third edition of BioInvestIT, took place at Cariplo Factory in Milan. Among the finalist startups, Immunoveg received the Ennio Ongini Award from Bio4Dreams.

BioInvestIT is an initiative conceived by Cluster SPRING in collaboration with the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund – ECBF, with the support of Bio4Dreams, Terra Next, LCA (Lega Colucci Associati), BioInvest Europe, Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, and a network of local partners.

Eight startups reached the final stage of this edition and presented to an audience of investors, Italian and European venture capital funds, and industry stakeholders: Nasier, EVEBiofactory, Farmech, NOIET, 2Pack, i-Foria, Immunoveg, and Myconic.

Immunoveg wins the Ennio Ongini Award

This year again, Bio4Dreams sponsored the Ennio Ongini Award, now in its third edition, dedicated to the memory of a friend and internationally renowned scientist, in order to keep his contribution to scientific research alive.

The award was granted to Immunoveg, a startup developing solutions to produce plant-based bioactive compounds in a more sustainable and predictable way — ensuring consistent production thanks to tightly controlled environmental conditions — by using plant cell cultures to move part of the production process from the field to the laboratory.

The startup originates from research activities carried out at the University of Naples Federico II and the National Research Council – CNR.

The award consists of one year of membership in the Bio4Dreams ecosystem and an incubation pathway including a range of services with a total value of €15,000.

“BioInvestIT once again confirms itself as an event capable of generating real connections between innovation and capital. This third edition strengthens the awareness that the circular bioeconomy, and biodiversity as one of its essential components, are strategic pillars for Italian and European competitiveness, particularly along the path from research to enterprise. In this context, the active collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center and Cluster SPRING represents a key element in promoting new synergies among research, industry, finance, and local territories, helping to grow an ecosystem that is increasingly able to transform high-potential ideas into concrete market solutions. We continue to believe in this mission and to work so that the best ideas can find the market they deserve.”

Elisabetta Borello, Co-founder, VP Strategy & External Relations, Bio4Dreams