FRANCESCA BRIA

Francesca Bria stands as a leading figure in Italy's innovation landscape, serving as the President of the Italian National Innovation Fund (Fondo Nazionale Innovazione), which is strategically managed by CDP Venture Capital SGR. In this influential role, she is instrumental in guiding the fund's mission to stimulate and support the growth of innovative startups and scale-ups across Italy, thereby driving economic development and technological advancement.

CDP Venture Capital, an asset management company part of the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Group, is dedicated to making Italy a hub for innovation. Under Francesca Bria's leadership, the Italian National Innovation Fund focuses on a broad spectrum of investment areas. These include deep tech, artificial intelligence, data-driven solutions, sustainable technologies, and digital transformation across various industries. The fund aims to bridge the gap between research and market, fostering ventures that offer significant societal and economic impact, aligning with national strategic priorities.

Francesca Bria's distinguished career background provides a unique perspective to her investment strategies. Prior to her current role, she gained international recognition as a prominent expert in digital policy, innovation, and technology. She served as the Chief Technology and Digital Innovation Officer for the City of Barcelona, where she spearheaded initiatives on smart cities, data governance, and digital sovereignty. Her work in Barcelona positioned her as a global advocate for open source technologies, ethical data use, and citizen-centric digital services. She has also advised the United Nations and the European Commission on digital policy, contributing to shaping the future of technology governance at an international level.

Her extensive experience in both public policy and technological innovation makes her uniquely qualified to identify and nurture companies that are not only commercially viable but also contribute to a more equitable and sustainable digital future. While specific individual investments are typically attributed to the fund rather than an individual president, under her guidance, the Italian National Innovation Fund actively invests in companies poised to disrupt traditional markets and create new ones. These investments span sectors from advanced manufacturing and biotech to fintech and cybersecurity, all with a common thread of leveraging cutting-edge technology to solve complex challenges. Francesca Bria's vision ensures that the fund's portfolio reflects a commitment to fostering an ecosystem where Italian innovation can thrive on a global stage.