The name verrocchio stands in Italian for “vero occhio” – the “true eye”. This true eye shows the core mission of the institute: to increase the innovative ability of people through the harmony of clarity and structure with creativity, inspiration and artistically innovative freedom.

The Institute is named after Andrea del Verrocchio (*1435 – t 1488), one of the most influential artists in the transition period from early to high Renaissance. More than an artist, he was one of the greatest and most inspiring teachers of the Renaissance.

For more than two decades Andrea del Verrocchio ran probably the best art school and workshop of all times and produced talents like Leonardo da Vinci, Filippo Brunelleschi, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino and Lorenzo de Credi. 

At first sight it is astonishing that an artist, who himself achieved his greatest achievements as a sculptor, trained some of the greatest artists of the Renaissance. But one must remember that the greatest artists are rarely the best teachers. The passing on of knowledge and the creation of a creative atmosphere is a completely different talent than the artistic one.

Renaissance Florence was thus a better model for training innovators than Silicon Valley. The principles of the verrocchio Institute reflect the principles of that time and use the combination with the latest innovation methods for a radically different understanding of innovation.