OGR Tech opens in Turin as 12,000 sqm innovation hub

OGR Tech, a 12,000-square-meter innovation hub, has opened in Turin within the former Officine Grandi Riparazioni (OGR) complex. The 35,000 sqm building, originally built in the late 19th century for railway vehicle maintenance, has been fully redeveloped by Fondazione CRT into a center for artistic research and technology. The Tech area completes the transformation that began with the opening of the Cult and Taste zones on September 30, 2017, after 1,000 days of work. Fondazione CRT invested a total of €100 million: €50 million for the Cult and Taste areas (art exhibitions, concerts, live performances, virtual reality, and food & beverage) and €50 million for the Tech area. OGR Tech features 500 smart workstations in a restored industrial architecture with brick vaults and iron pillars, hosting startups and business accelerators focused on AI, blockchain, tourism, smart mobility, and virtual reality within creative industries. Fondazione CRT President Giovanni Quaglia stated that the inauguration marks a milestone 600 days after the opening of the cultural and food areas. OGR General Director and Fondazione CRT Secretary General Massimo Lapucci said the hub aims to help Italy close its tech gap by catalyzing €500 million in investments and accelerating 1,000 new startups over the next 20 years. The OGR complex is now a symbol of Turin's transformation into a laboratory city blending culture and innovation.