Udine Innovation Hub, new life for the former Udine – Campoformido airfield

History, Nature, Energy, and Innovation are the four pillars of Udine Innovation Hub, the regeneration project for the historic airfield located between the municipalities of Campoformido and Pasian di Prato (Udine), promoted by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region together with the masterplan designers, led by LAND with the support of Kallipolis and Kroll.

The shared goal is to establish an innovation hub—a multifunctional space connected with the surrounding area and neighbouring municipalities—starting from nature and biodiversity. The project, born from a participatory process involving local stakeholders and associations, combines innovation with historical and environmental enhancement, transforming a site rich in history into a creative laboratory for the future.

The master plan aims to create a dynamic and interconnected car-free ecosystem: the innovation boulevard will serve as the central axis, providing access to start-up labs and community spaces, which will be housed in repurposed hangars. The public space returned to the community will become a social hub, contributing to preserving and promoting the area’s biodiversity in harmony with the natural environment of the Campoformido Magredi.

“Once revitalized, this place, with its great historical memory, will bring new life to the entire Udine area, offering citizens and visitors a cutting-edge innovation hub in close contact with nature,” said Andreas Kipar. “Udine Innovation Hub will be the heart of the local ecological network, with vast open and flexible spaces that will encourage biodiversity and renewable energy production, thus contributing to sustainable development and energy transition.”

Rendering of Udine Innovation Hub, image by LAND

“We are pleased to be part of this extraordinary urban regeneration journey for a site so rich in history and potential,” said Fabio Scoccimarro, Regional Councilor for Environmental Protection, Energy, and Sustainable Development. “The ‘Udine Innovation Hub’ project represents a virtuous model of integration between nature, energy, and innovation, perfectly embodying our vision of sustainability and enhancement of the territory. Through this masterplan, we are building a future where environment and community meet in a space of creativity and sustainable development. We are proud to contribute to this transformation, bringing new life and opportunities to the entire Udine area.”

A crucial hub for military operations during World War I and the birthplace of the Frecce Tricolori, the former airfield will overcome its current state of neglect and decay, becoming a space serving the community and enhancing people’s well-being through a program of educational, teaching, and recreational activities, with flight as a symbol of rebirth.

The “activation core,” located in the centre of the site, will host the new headquarters of FVG Energia, multifunctional spaces and an aviation museum. Renewable energy solutions, such as photovoltaic roofs and agrivoltaic fields, will also be tested at the Udine Innovation Hub, ensuring the production of 1MWp of energy, necessary for the establishment of a Renewable Energy Community (CER).

The regenerated area, owned by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, will thus attract new investors and promote a virtuous model of public-private collaboration that can be replicated across the entire Friuli region.

Further information on the event scheduled for Friday, October 25, at the Venier Auditorium in Pasian di Prato is available on the website of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.