The Hive is the business center managed by Stella33 in the heart of MIND, the Milano Innovation District, in the north-western area of the city, on the border with Rho. It offers 2,500 square meters of flexible offices, coworking spaces, meeting rooms, and active house management, designed for companies that want to work within one of Europe’s leading innovation districts.
In summary
- MIND is an innovation district in Milan where research, life sciences and business work side by side.
- Stella33’s The Hive allows companies to establish a presence in the district without a traditional lease agreement.
- Flexible offices, meeting rooms and a community make it possible to get up and running quickly.
- The model follows the Workspace as a Service approach described on Limitless Workspace.
What is MIND and why companies choose it
Choosing where to open an office in Milan means choosing much more than just a certain amount of space. It means choosing the environment where the company works every day, meets partners and attracts talent. MIND, the Milano Innovation District, is now one of Europe’s most interesting hubs for companies operating in innovation, life sciences and applied research. With The Hive, the business center managed by Stella33, companies can establish a presence there right away, without the commitment of a traditional lease agreement.
MIND was established on the former Expo 2015 site and is being developed by Lendlease as a long-term innovation district. Research, healthcare, education, businesses and startups coexist here, alongside major organizations such as Human Technopole and AstraZeneca. This is precisely what sets MIND apart from a traditional business park: companies become part of a dynamic ecosystem, where proximity to other players creates a tangible advantage.
For a company, this means having potential partners, talent, collaboration opportunities and visibility close at hand, in a place that has become a key hub for innovation in Italy.
The Hive: the easiest way to establish a presence at MIND
The Hive is a 2,500-square-meter business center in the heart of MIND. It serves as a gateway to the district, allowing companies to establish a presence within MIND quickly, with the flexibility to choose the solution that best suits their stage of growth.
The variety of companies already working here demonstrates its versatility: from international pharmaceutical company Glenmark to Nikon, from Italian companies such as Bracco, Umana and LavoroPiù to more specialized players. Some use The Hive as a representative office, others as a flexible operational base, while others use it as a weekly meeting point for remote teams that need a physical place to come together. The space is designed to adapt to different needs, time horizons and organizational models.
What you’ll find at The Hive
Flexible offices and shared spaces. Solutions range from private offices to advanced coworking spaces, configurable according to team size and scalable over time, with fast setup times.
A reception that is much more than a reception. Stella33 has reimagined the welcome experience: the traditional front desk gives way to a shared table, while staff act as community and hospitality managers. The entrance area thus becomes a place for informal work, meetings and interaction between companies, rather than simply a space to pass through.
Meeting and event spaces. Spaces for meetings, workshops, conferences and networking, where the MIND setting turns an event into an opportunity to connect with the innovation ecosystem.
Services and technology. High-speed connectivity, smart access systems and digital tools for managing spaces and bookings, all within an integrated service model that allows companies to focus on their work.
Community support. Through events, content and initiatives, Stella33 creates connections between tenants and the wider MIND ecosystem, because the value of a place is also measured by the relationships it enables. This is the same Workspace as a Service principle that Stella33 explores on Limitless Workspace, the editorial platform dedicated to the future of work in the knowledge economy, and in the supplement produced with MIT Sloan Management Review Italia.
Flexibility as a strategic choice
For companies operating in a hybrid model, MIND offers a particularly efficient solution: spaces that can be used on a non-continuous basis, with the ability to scale quickly as needs change. The space is sized around the moments that truly matter: collaboration, meetings and teamwork.
This approach reflects a well-established trend. International research, including recent work by Harvard Business Review on urban innovation districts, confirms that companies gain more from dense, well-connected, service-rich environments, where the quality of the context reduces everyday friction and creates more opportunities for interaction. The Hive applies exactly this logic at the scale of MIND. We have already explored this topic when discussing flexible offices at MIND; this article shifts the perspective to companies deciding where to establish their presence, opening Stella33’s first content cluster dedicated to the district.
The quality of an office also depends on its surrounding environment. MIND offers a high concentration of services, strong transport links, and a network of innovation-focused organizations, making opportunities for connection easier to create. For companies operating with a hybrid work model, The Hive provides a scalable solution tailored to the moments that matter most: collaboration, meetings, and teamwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open an office at MIND without a long-term lease?
Yes. The Hive was designed precisely for this purpose: it allows companies to establish a presence within MIND through flexible solutions, without the commitment and lead times of a traditional lease agreement.
Is The Hive suitable for small businesses as well as larger organizations?
Both. The tenant mix ranges from multinational companies to niche businesses, and the spaces can be configured according to team size and stage of growth.
What types of companies are based at MIND?
MIND hosts organizations in innovation, life sciences and research, alongside universities and research centers. At The Hive, international companies, Italian businesses and specialized players work side by side.
Yes. The spaces include meeting rooms and areas for workshops, conferences and networking, enhanced by the district’s unique setting.
International companies, Italian businesses and specialized players—from pharmaceutical company Glenmark and Nikon to Bracco, Umana and LavoroPiù.
Would you like to see the spaces?
Book a visit to The Hive and discover the spaces available at MIND.
Looking for another location in Milan? Discover Stella Santa Giulia in the Spark Business District.