Sicily launches startup incubation and acceleration programs

Two major initiatives have been launched in Sicily to foster innovation and combat the brain drain by supporting entrepreneurs through incubation and acceleration programs.

In Catania, the ‘Catania Crea Impresa’ project, led by DBhub and Wylab, has been established at the Palazzo delle Poste. Supported by €515,000 in regional funding, the program offers two tracks: incubation for new ideas, providing minimum contributions of €15,000 alongside mentoring, and acceleration for existing startups, offering services up to €25,000 plus a final €30,000 grant. The initiative aims to strengthen industrial networking and retain local talent.

Simultaneously, the INN-SO project, known as the ‘Western Sicily Innovation Hub,’ has launched in Partanna within the Valle del Belice. This program focuses on an acceleration track for 15 innovative startups that already have market-ready products or existing revenue. To stimulate economic growth in rural areas, the call for applications is open to startups from other regions or abroad, provided they establish an operational headquarters in Sicily.