A pioneering innovation hub for PMI LombardeThe PMI Lombarde has a new project of industrial innovation: an AI experimentation center. This AI hub, ZIS of Milan, is a candidate to the Lombardy Region that has just been approved.

This AI hub, ZIS of Milan, is a candidate to the Lombardy Region that has just been approved. It will be built at the Officina AI, Zona Innovazione e Sviluppo (ZIS), promoted by Assolombarda and managed by MADE Competence Center. The Officina AI provides enterprises with a demonstration factory and testing environments from MADE, where machines are seen in action in real industrial contexts, alongside courses based on the personnel's needs. The project covers three types of AI: generative; agentic, which performs autonomous tasks; physical AI, i.e., machines equipped with sensors that perceive the environment and act on production processes. The partnership includes 19 subjects. Assolombarda is the lead of the candidacy and MADE the managing subject, alongside Politecnico, Bocconi, Statale and Bicocca, the Chamber of Commerce Milano Monza Brianza Lodi, the Metropolitan City, from technological companies and training institutions. The project aims to reduce the gap measured by Assolombarda-Politecnico: the projects of AI are active in 79% of large enterprises and 40% of small enterprises. The financing conditions for these projects are summarized on the page on artificial intelligence in PMI and active incentives.

The rules for financing these innovation zones are those of the decree approved on February 19, 2026, on criteria set by DGR n. XII/5294 of November 10, 2025. At the investment phase, 19.75 million euros are needed. The remaining one million funds finance the candidacy, with a contribution from the lead subject equal to 50% of the consulting fees, up to 100,000 euros. After admission, the partnership has 60 days to present the Strategic Plan, i.e., the program of investments and activities of the zone, and the Region has 60 days to instruct it. Only the positive outcome is recognized as formal recognition. For Officina AI, admitted in October, the sum of the two terms shifts the concession of contributions to 2027. The funds cover up to 50% of research and innovation infrastructure investments, with a ceiling of 4 million euros for infrastructure. The reference is the Regulation (EU) .