San Giovanni a Teduccio: from Industrial Outskirts to Innovation Hub

Until the mid-1970s, the Naples district of San Giovanni a Teduccio was closely associated with the Cirio food canning factory, founded in the second half of the 19th century, during one of the area’s peak periods of urban and industrial expansion.

With the gradual decline of industrial activity, the area experienced a long period of decay. After more than thirty years of abandonment, thanks to European cohesion funds, the Campania Region - together with the University of Naples Federico II - launched a major urban regeneration initiative in the former industrial zone. This led to the creation of a cutting-edge Technology Hub capable of attracting major international innovation companies, which have established spaces dedicated to advanced training and research in the fields of digital technology and Industry 4.0.

Today, the hub hosts academies, incubators and laboratories where apps are developed, secure digital networks are built, and highly specialised professionals are trained. This ecosystem fosters the growth of startups, technology transfer, and new business models - positioning the Hub as a key centre for innovation at both European and global levels. Attended by thousands of students, lecturers and researchers from around the world, the "SGAT" campus generates qualified employment and a positive local economic impact, improving living conditions in the neighbourhood.

For university education, the complex currently offers 9 lecture halls with over 1,000 seats, a 430-seat conference space, study areas and IT laboratories.

New buildings are being completed to welcome a further 4,000 students and additional labs. The total surface area of 60,000 square metres includes the redevelopment of the historic former factory building into a “Palace of Innovation and Creativity”, and the construction of the Naples branch of the CNR ITC (Institute for Construction Technologies). This will operate in synergy with CeSMA and Federico II University, creating further opportunities for growth and employment.

The district’s new identity still preserves traces of its industrial past: features like the old chimney have been repurposed with a sustainable approach, keeping the historical memory of the site alive for students.

These transformations combine innovation with memory, playing a decisive role in the social, economic and cultural revival of San Giovanni a Teduccio.