Digital skills are a strategic asset for the development of our country and any technological innovation cannot be said to be truly effective and inclusive if it fails to actively involve citizens. With the purpose of bridging the cultural gap which sees in Italy only 46% of the population with basic digital skills, compared to 54% of the European average, and to bring the country back among the most virtuous European realities, the national project of the Network of Facilitation Points is born, promoted by the Department for digital transformation and financed by the European Union under Measure 1.7.2 of the PNRR.
The intervention, worth 135 million eurosinvolves the creation of 3,000 digital facilitation points on the territory by the 21 Regions and Autonomous Provinces, to increase the basic digital skills of 2 million citizens by 2026. The aim of the initiative is to introduce citizens who are not yet they are fully familiar with these technologies. Precisely to suggest the idea that digital technologies can, with the necessary training, be accessible to all, the physical places where users can find assistance and receive free training are called “Easy Digital Point”.
Among the most active and cutting-edge territorial entities in the implementation of the project is Piedmont, which yesterday inaugurated the regional network of Punti Digitale Facile and made public the results achieved so far: 134 fixed operational points out of 187 established, 165 mobile points stations in active itinerant secondary offices, 1,035 municipalities served (87% of the total) thanks to an investment of over 8 million euros from the European Union, 10,000 people already involved (90% elderly and a share of young people reaching 10 %) thanks to a communication campaign which saw the distribution of leaflets, the posting of posters and the publication of information pages in local newspapers.
Illustrating these services in the Sala Trasparenza of the Grattacielo Piemonte were the undersecretary for technological innovation and digital transition Alessio Buttithe president of the Region Alberto Cirio and the regional councilor for Innovation Matteo Marnati.
“The Network of digital facilitation services in Piedmont perfectly embodies the spirit of inclusion and innovation that the Meloni Government pursues with determination – stated the Undersecretary Butti – It is an initiative that shows how, through targeted investments and effective collaboration between institutions, we can make great strides. The project, supported by the PNRR, is an extraordinary tool to reduce the digital divide, offering all citizens, and the elderly in particular, the skills necessary to navigate the digital world simply and safely. The success achieved in Piedmont, with over 10,0000 people involved in the first six months of operation, is a model for all of Italy and demonstrates our constant commitment to making digital innovation accessible to all.”
“To contribute to the achievement of this strategic objective – they recalled President Cirio and Councilor Marnati – the Piedmont Region has established a widespread network of digital facilitation points, located throughout the territory, responsible for providing free assistance and training for the use of digital services and technologies, which aim to intercept and involve 160,000 people by 2025 ”.
