The Montecatini Group begins operating the INA (Industria Nazionale Aluminia) factory with 100 workers. The architecture, a masterpiece of Italian Rationalism, draws on the Bauhaus architectural style. The fascist regime invests massively in the industrialisation of Bolzano.

A second production line is launched, Bolzano 2, with a transformer house and three halls for melting furnaces (now known as A2). The war requires a constant supply of resources, and the workforce increases to 900 employees.

Due to the war, the production of aluminium in Bolzano is reduced to a minimum. The raw material alumina is in short supply. The railway track is damaged, and only a few freight trains get through.

An economic boom and faith in progress take hold: production peaks at 50,000 tonnes per year.

Montecatini flounders. Not even a merger with Montedison can save the company. Both production lines are closed.

The factory is sold to Alumix AG. It is the last of many changes in ownership. Short-lived. After Alumix goes bankrupt, the province of South Tyrol takes over.

The Bolzano 1 and Bolzano 2 transformer buildings and the water tower are listed as historical monuments.

Art moves into the ex-Alumix industrial relic: the area serves as the venue for the European Biennale for Contemporary Art ‘Manifesta 7’. In the same year, the offices of Chapman Taylor (London) and Claudio Lucchin (Bolzano) win the competition to redevelop the ex-Alumix site.

Construction on NOI Techpark begins. The process is an innovative dialogue with the historical context. Signum is a black monolith where businesses, a university and research institutes interact.

NOI Techpark opens with buildings A1, A2 and A4.

The extension building D1 and the day-care centre (A3) are completed.

Building B5 is completed, featuring laboratories of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. 

Building A6 is inaugurated, hosting Eurac Research’s Institute of Biomedicine and a department of the South Tyrolean Health Authority (SABES).

A milestone: the new site of NOI Techpark in Bruneck / Brunico is opened, with a focus on the mobility of the future and sustainable manufacturing. 

The Faculty of Engineering of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano moves into the new B1 building. At the same time, the two extension buildings D2 and D3 are completed. With this expansion, the NOI community doubles to 2,400 people.

For the first time, the European Summit of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) takes place at NOI Techpark in Bozen / Bolzano. 

The Free University of Bozen-Bolzano opens its new XCT lab at NOI Techpark in Bruneck / Brunico

NOI celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Completion is planned for extension building D4, the laboratory building B6 and the new arts and culture pavilion.