Analysis of the state of Social Incubation in Italy in 2023

This thesis provides an in-depth analysis of the state of the Incubation industry in Italy in 2023, with a specific focus on Social Incubation, exploring its evolution, characteristics, and challenges. By leveraging a mixed-methods approach that combines an extensive literature review, data from the Social Innovation Monitor (SIM) survey, and financial analyses from databases such as AIDA, this study offers a comprehensive view of the dynamics shaping social incubation in Italy. The research categorizes incubators based on their support for social and environmental impact enterprises and examines their services, revenue models, and challenges. Key findings reveal a notable YoY growth in the total number of incubators (+10.5% from 2022 to 2023), yet also highlight significant regional disparities and a predominance of private rather than public management. The thesis concludes by commenting on the low DEI scores of Italian incubators, their relatively small size, and the relatively scarce number of Social Incubators (only 10% of all Italian incubators) as key challenges that must be addressed to promote social entrepreneurship as a catalyst for sustainable development and innovation in Italy.