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Italian Startups aiming to Accelerate Progress on the 2030 SDGs
The delay in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is significant in Italy, as well as across Europe and the world. However, startups and innovative SMEs - thanks to their contributions in terms of innovation, including digital technologies and AI - can help accelerate progress, as highlighted in Reach the Goals, the new report by Cariplo Factory.
Among the most commonly pursued goals by the startups featured in the report are: Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12) - with 20% of surveyed companies primarily active in this area - Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3) at 16%, and Climate Action (Goal 13) at 13%. These are followed by Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (Goal 9) and Sustainable Cities and Communities (Goal 11), each accounting for 11%.
Trying to achieve 2030 SDGs
On the other hand, the least represented goals include Reduced Inequalities (Goal 10), No Poverty (Goal 1), and Partnerships for the Goals (Goal 17). Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (Goal 16) is not among the top priorities but is still present within the broader scope.
Geographically, startups based in Southern and Central Italy tend to focus on specific SDGs such as Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3), Quality Education (Goal 4), Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12), and Climate Action (Goal 13), while those in the North demonstrate a more balanced distribution across the various goals.
The report also highlights limited access to public calls and dedicated funding for sustainable entrepreneurship: only 1 in 3 startups accessed public grants, and less than 1 in 2 collaborated with institutions for SDG monitoring and implementation. However, 80% participated in incubation and acceleration programs. Additionally, over 70% of startups reported having already received investment, with notable differences: in the South and Center, the main investors are incubators and accelerators, while in the North, venture capital and corporate venture capital also play a role.
The full report is available here: https://cariplofactory.it/en/
progetto/reach-the-goals-3/
Milan, August 26, 2025 - The new report "Reach The Goals | Italian startups for the SDGs" was presented, marking the fourth stage in a journey of analysis and promotion of the Italian innovation ecosystem launched by Cariplo Factory in 2020.
After having examined the impact of startups during the pandemic with "Startup vs Covid-19", celebrated female entrepreneurship in "Pow(h)er Generation", and explored sustainability in "Sustainability Waves", Cariplo Factory continues its commitment by giving voice to 128 startups and innovative SMEs that work every day to provide concrete solutions inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. They are only a part of the wider Italian innovation ecosystem, but their characteristics make them a representative sample of companies that can concretely contribute - with solutions tested in the market - to the achievement of the Goals set for 2030.
The report "Reach the Goals - Italian Startups for the SDGs" shows, in fact, that all the participating startups work on one or more SDGs, with particular attention to Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and Goal 13 (Climate Action). On the contrary, the least addressed by startups are Goal 17, "Partnerships for the Goals", Goal 16, "Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions", Goal 10, "Reduced Inequalities", and Goal 1, "No Poverty" - a sign of the difficulty in translating institutional and systemic themes into sustainable business models.
The report, which received the patronage of the European Commission, fits into a national and global context: according to the Global Sustainable Development Report 2024, only 17% of measurable targets are likely to be achieved by 2030, while almost half (48%) are at risk of not being reached - even considering the challenges of measuring on a global scale. The latests...
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By Irish Tech News
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The delay in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is significant in Italy, as well as across Europe and the world. However, startups and innovative SMEs - thanks to their contributions in terms of innovation, including digital technologies and AI - can help accelerate progress, as highlighted in Reach the Goals, the new report by Cariplo Factory.
Among the most commonly pursued goals by the startups featured in the report are: Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12) - with 20% of surveyed companies primarily active in this area - Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3) at 16%, and Climate Action (Goal 13) at 13%. These are followed by Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (Goal 9) and Sustainable Cities and Communities (Goal 11), each accounting for 11%.
Trying to achieve 2030 SDGs
On the other hand, the least represented goals include Reduced Inequalities (Goal 10), No Poverty (Goal 1), and Partnerships for the Goals (Goal 17). Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (Goal 16) is not among the top priorities but is still present within the broader scope.
Geographically, startups based in Southern and Central Italy tend to focus on specific SDGs such as Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3), Quality Education (Goal 4), Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12), and Climate Action (Goal 13), while those in the North demonstrate a more balanced distribution across the various goals.
The report also highlights limited access to public calls and dedicated funding for sustainable entrepreneurship: only 1 in 3 startups accessed public grants, and less than 1 in 2 collaborated with institutions for SDG monitoring and implementation. However, 80% participated in incubation and acceleration programs. Additionally, over 70% of startups reported having already received investment, with notable differences: in the South and Center, the main investors are incubators and accelerators, while in the North, venture capital and corporate venture capital also play a role.
The full report is available here: https://cariplofactory.it/en/
progetto/reach-the-goals-3/
Milan, August 26, 2025 - The new report "Reach The Goals | Italian startups for the SDGs" was presented, marking the fourth stage in a journey of analysis and promotion of the Italian innovation ecosystem launched by Cariplo Factory in 2020.
After having examined the impact of startups during the pandemic with "Startup vs Covid-19", celebrated female entrepreneurship in "Pow(h)er Generation", and explored sustainability in "Sustainability Waves", Cariplo Factory continues its commitment by giving voice to 128 startups and innovative SMEs that work every day to provide concrete solutions inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. They are only a part of the wider Italian innovation ecosystem, but their characteristics make them a representative sample of companies that can concretely contribute - with solutions tested in the market - to the achievement of the Goals set for 2030.
The report "Reach the Goals - Italian Startups for the SDGs" shows, in fact, that all the participating startups work on one or more SDGs, with particular attention to Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and Goal 13 (Climate Action). On the contrary, the least addressed by startups are Goal 17, "Partnerships for the Goals", Goal 16, "Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions", Goal 10, "Reduced Inequalities", and Goal 1, "No Poverty" - a sign of the difficulty in translating institutional and systemic themes into sustainable business models.
The report, which received the patronage of the European Commission, fits into a national and global context: according to the Global Sustainable Development Report 2024, only 17% of measurable targets are likely to be achieved by 2030, while almost half (48%) are at risk of not being reached - even considering the challenges of measuring on a global scale. The latests...