Fondazione Agire

Fondazione Agire, known as AGIRE, is the innovation agency of the Canton of Ticino. The foundation was set up in 2011 by the cantonal Department of Finance and Economy, the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) and the Ticino industry association AITI. It is based in Manno, where it runs the Tecnopolo Ticino, and receives support from the canton and the federal New Regional Policy.

AGIRE helps startups free of charge with coaching, contacts and the search for investors, and gives a first assessment of intellectual property questions. It also advises small and medium-sized enterprises on innovation. In 2025 it took on 68 new startups, bringing the number it actively supported to 169.

Each autumn the foundation runs the Boldbrain Startup Challenge, an accelerator for up to 20 early-stage teams. AGIRE is also the Ticino antenna of the Swiss ICT Investor Club (SICTIC) and brings startups together with investors, for example at SICTIC lunches and in its own Scouting4Investors format.