Business ideas from around the world and new development trajectories to continue building the airport of the future: on 3 December, the fourth edition of the Call4Startups officially kicked off at the Innovation Hub of Rome Fiumicino Airport as part of the ‘Runway to the Future’ acceleration programme promoted by Aeroporti di Roma, a Mundys Group company. This year, over 400 applications were received from more than 350 start-ups, 75% of which coming from abroad, further confirming the international appeal of the open innovation model developed by ADR.

The selected startups will work for the next eight months at Fiumicino and Ciampino airports, where they will have the opportunity to develop and test their innovative solutions directly in the field, in a real operating environment. Guiding them through this journey will be the Innovation Cabin Crew, a multidisciplinary team of 25 ADR professionals who will act as mentors to support the integration of new technologies into airport processes, helping to improve operations and enhance the passenger experience.

‘The launch of the fourth edition of the Runway to The Future programme confirms our commitment to accelerate the transformation of our airport into a true smart city,’ said Emanuele Calà, Senior Vice President of Transformation & Technology at Aeroporti di Roma & Managing Director of ADR Ventures. ‘The selected startups will implement solutions ranging from automation to artificial intelligence, working closely with the Innovation Cabin Crew inside the Innovation Hub, strengthening Fiumicino's role as a global trialling platform.’

During the December 3 event, the selected startups presented cutting-edge technological solutions across various sectors, including artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, and active noise reduction. Highlights included: an autonomous robot for sanitizing environments and surfaces; an intelligent system to digitalize inspections and maintenance; a machine for automated baggage handling; and a platform for real-time monitoring of construction progress. The event also served as a meaningful opportunity for collaboration, featuring initial working groups, networking moments, and one-on-one meetings between the startups and ADR’s partners – all with the aim of shaping the airport of tomorrow, together.

The Call4Startups is a key element of Aeroporti di Roma's broader innovation strategy, which aims to co-develop new solutions, conduct direct experimentation, and foster cross-contamination of skills in order to accelerate the evolution of the airport system into an open, international model designed to improve operational efficiency, promote sustainability, and respond more effectively to passenger needs.