On 29 April, at the Brindisi-Taranto Chamber of Commerce, Brindisi headquarters, a conference was held entitled “Innovation and Sustainability for Business Strategy and Territorial Development – Meeting/debate and overview of the Calls for Applications subsidized finance for Apulian businesses”.
The round table was born within the agreement stipulated between the CREV Research Center of Unisalento and the BrTa Chamber of Commerce, as part of a mutual collaboration for sustainable territorial development.
The event attracted a large audience of small and medium-sized businesses, academic experts and public officials. The main topics covered concerned the synergies between innovation and sustainable practices, essential for the future of the regional economic fabric. Among the speakers, leading figures shared insights on how SMEs can access European funding and adopt eco-sustainable business models. We also discussed the importance of self-entrepreneurship and how collaborations between universities, industry and local government can accelerate the transition towards a green economy. These dialogues have laid the foundations for new strategic partnerships, fundamental for the sustainable development of Puglia.
During the event, we took stock of the issues related to self-entrepreneurship in Puglia, between sustainability and innovation. The opportunities linked to subsidized financing tenders were analysed, a driving force for development for the entrepreneurial fabric, as a guarantee of investment opportunities for local businesses and support for entrepreneurs in the realization of their innovative and sustainable projects.
A specific focus was dedicated to benefit companies, highlighting how they operate in a responsible, sustainable and transparent way, bringing significant benefits to people, communities and territories.
The event was moderated by Marco Sponziello, President of the Next Eu Association, ESG Advisor, Innov. Certified Manager ISO 11814 and Professor at the University of Salento.
Speaking for institutional greetings were Fabio Pollice, Rector of the University of Salento; Vincenzo Cesareo, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Brindisi/Taranto; Eugenio Ferrari National President of ASSORETIPMI; Claudia Sunna Head of CREV Development Economics, Sustainability and Vis Unit and Professor at the University of Salento.
Among the company testimonials, those of Ilaria Magagna, Co-founder TARA Facilitazione Soc. coop. Benefit company, facilitator of organizational processes; Federica Colonna, Communication Manager TARA Facilitation Soc. coop. Benefit Society, co-designer of communication processes; Andrea Sponziello CEO Tildesk Srl Innovative Start Up.
Among the speakers, Salvatore Rizzello Director of the ISUFI Unisalento Higher Education School and Professor at the University of Salento; Domenico Pecere Ambassador of the European Climate Pact, PlasticFree Representative, Europlanner Expert in Facilitated Finance, Domenico Pecere, European Ambassador for the Climate who highlighted how it is essential to invest in training and professional retraining to allow people to adapt to the new needs of the labor market, for the green economy and innovation; Matteo Pompilio Lawyer and Expert in New Technologies Law; Maria Putignano Macario Audit & Management Advisory®, ASSORETIPMI; Andrea Ricciardiello General Manager Time Vision, Innovation Manager, Vice President of the Advanced Tertiary Industry of the Industrial Union of Naples.
These are the words of Prof. Sponziello, «During this interesting event, thanks to the valuable technical interventions of our speakers, we managed to find important keys to understanding the fundamental topic linked to innovation and entrepreneurial sustainability, two factors that travel together. Both through ESG – Environmental, Social and Governance, and through those development models that the Puglia region has created, the Benefit Companies”.
The teacher continued «The most important of these models concerns the law that established the register of Apulian benefit companies, a law that was born here on these tables and promoted by the Next EU Association which I represent, by Unisalento and by all the Apulian Universities, from Confindustria Puglia and Confindustria Bari-Bat, who together contributed to creating this legislation, capable of making businesses sustainable and innovative, here in Puglia and it is hoped that other regions will follow this virtuous example”.
Sponziello concluded «Benefit companies are the tool of the future for entrepreneurial development, as they represent that model that includes sustainability, business strategy, governance models and ESG. This allows us to create an entrepreneurial structure capable of guaranteeing added value in the medium to long term.”
Fabio Pollice, Rector of the University of Salento, underlined «The importance of a united Chamber of Commerce like that of Brindisi/Taranto». Per Pollice «It is not a given that two cities of this importance decide to establish a single Chamber of Commerce. Pollice concluded «If there is an axis of development that has immense potential, it is the development axis that links Brindisi to Taranto. We will work on this in the coming years, in order to be able to reap the fruits of what we have sown.”
Vincenzo Cesareo, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Brindisi/Taranto underlined «It was not an easy path, but we made it. We are at the beginning of this united Chamber of Commerce, which we are trying to look at as a great opportunity. The themes of innovation and sustainability have always been at the center of the work of the Chamber of Commerce, previously of Taranto and now united with Brindisi”.
He explained «As a united Chamber of Commerce, we immediately thought about a redesignation, about an analysis of the storytelling of the two territories, because we have the responsibility to work consciously for the development of both provinces».
Eugenio Ferrari, President of ASSORETIPMI, declared that «Since its inception in 2012, ASSORETIPMI has supported Italian micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and promoted Innovation and Sustainability, adopting principles of circular and collaborative economy».
He continued «ASSORETIPMI proposes network contracts as tools to increase the competitiveness and resilience of businesses, offering concrete solutions to daily challenges. This commitment reflects a vision oriented towards industrial and employment development in Italy.”
Salvatore Rizzello Director of the ISUFI Unisalento School of Higher Education explained that «The ISUFI School of Higher Education, Higher University Institute of Interdisciplinary Training, is a center of higher education, which can be accessed only by competition and in which students of all Unisalento degree courses”.
He underlined how «The objective of the ISUFI is to trigger a driving force for development that is permanent and the hope is to be able to bring about a turning point, capable of bringing innovation and development». Rizzello then went on to announce that «we are evaluating a specific advanced training course on Benefit Companies and Innovation to be offered to all entrepreneurs and professionals who want to increase their knowledge on these issues».
The conference “Innovation and Sustainability: Conference for SMEs in Puglia” proved to be not only a meeting place to discuss crucial issues such as sustainability and innovation, but also an important showcase for the launch of the book “The Societies Benefits and ESG factors for the valorization of cultural heritage in Italy”. Curated by prof. Marco Sponziello, the work includes contributions from professors of the University of Salento and illustrious professionals, managers and journalists. This book delves into vital issues for the evolution of businesses in the current Italian socio-economic and cultural context.
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