Valeria Fascione

Valeria Fascione serves as the Councillor for Research, Innovation and Startup of Regione Campania, a position she has held since July 2015, and again since October 2020 for her second mandate. Her career has been dedicated to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional development within Italy and through international collaborations. Fascione graduated with honors from the University of Naples Federico II with a degree in Economic Development Theory and Policy.^[1]

Her professional journey began in 1994 with a scholarship at Fondazione Idis, where she played a pivotal role in the establishment of Città della Scienza. She was instrumental in developing Italy's first innovative business incubator, which garnered international recognition, including a European Award for Best Science-Based Incubator in 2007 and 2008.^[1] In 2002, she was appointed Director of the Business Innovation Centre at Città della Scienza, supporting startups, SMEs, and local entities in accessing European funds and reindustrializing disused areas.^[3] From 2009, Fascione directed the evaluation of Regional Programme Contracts for industrial development at Regione Campania, before returning to Fondazione Idis in 2011 as Strategic Marketing Director.^[1] In this capacity, she coordinated the China Italy Innovation Forum and spearheaded internationalization projects.^[1] She also contributed to the creation of the first Knowledge Industry Area (AIC) and launched the Fab Lab at Città della Scienza in collaboration with MIT Boston in 2015.^[1] As Councillor, Fascione has been a proponent of open innovation strategies, leading Regione Campania to become a significant hub for innovative startups, particularly in the life sciences sector.^[1] She has publicly addressed the convergence of life sciences with emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and quantum technologies, emphasizing the importance of equipping young professionals with both traditional and digital competencies for future careers.^[4] Her work underscores a commitment to leveraging advanced technologies for regional growth and human capital development, aligning with the themes of the Human Driven AI Summit 2026.^[5]