Trento Economics Festival 2024: focus on local economies, innovation and sustainable development
“The most important challenge for the Italian economy, and for the entire country, is that of competitiveness. The reason is simple: employment levels are increasing, a positive sign, but there is a problem as productivity is not growing at the same pace. The main objective must therefore be growth to support and improve the country’s competitiveness”. underlined the president of the Scientific Committee of the Trento Economics Festival Fabio Tamburini a few days before the start of the 19th edition.
On May 23rd, the first day of the Festival of Economics, the Territorial Economics section opens at 10:00 with the panel organized by the Negrelli Foundation entitled “In search of balance between economy, energy and environment” which will be held at the Foundation Caritro – Conference Room. Here experts including Massimo Beccarello (Milan-Bicocca University) and Luigi Crema (Hydrogen Europe Research) will discuss the challenges and opportunities for finding a balance between economic development and environmental sustainability. Afterwards, at 12:00, in the Calepini Hall of the Chamber of Commerce, the Edmund Mach Foundation will propose the event “Potential ‘in shell'” with protagonists such as Giuseppe Calcagni (Sustainability, Scientific & Governmental Affairs Committee of the INC) , Erica A. Di Pierro (Edmund Mach Foundation), Giacomo Gatti (Laimburg Testing Center), Luisa Palmieri (Edmund Mach Foundation). Moderated by Radiocor journalist Silvia Marzialetti, they will explore the hidden potential of various economic sectors. In the afternoon, at 2.00 pm, again at the Caritro Foundation – Conference Room, with an event proposed by HIT – Trentino Innovation Hub, we will discuss “Digital infrastructures at the service of citizens and businesses” with experts in the digital sector such as Maurizio Fatarella (General Director PagoPA SpA), Andrea De Maria (State Printing Institute), Andrea Simoni (Bruno Kessler Foundation), the councilor for economic development (Autonomous Province of Trento), Felipe Gonzalez Zapata (OECD Digital Government and Data Unit) moderated by Gianni Trovati, Il Sole 24 Ore journalist. The day will end at 4.30pm with a panel dedicated to the memory of Pietro Nervi, focused on “Sustainability, management of collective assets and climate change”, which will see the participation of Silvia Arlanch (president of the Dolomiti Energia Group), Paola Gatto (University of Padua), Geremia Gios (University of Trento), Marta Villa (University of Trento) moderated by Il Sole 24 Ore journalist Celestina Dominelli.
The second day of the Festival for the Territorial Economies strand will begin at 9.30 with a debate on “Challenges and Opportunities for social impact startups” at the Caritro Foundation – Conference Room organized by the Demarchi Foundation. Following this, from 10:00 to 13:00, the “Innovation Days – Growing for winning competitiveness” event will take place at the Itas Forum, the second stage of the 2024 edition of the Il Sole 24 Ore roadshow in collaboration with Giovani Confindustria entrepreneurs. Among the focuses of the event are support for internationalization in favor of SMEs, the regional market watch, the opportunities offered to companies by Artificial Intelligence, the leverage of Private Capital and financing for innovation, access to PNRR funds , the sustainability and circularity of production processes as a growth factor, the presentation of the most innovative startups and lots of Networking Business. Speakers will include Ferruccio Resta, President of the Bruno Kessler Foundation, Barbara Fedrizzi, President of Trentino Export and President of Piccola Industria Confindustria Trento, Fausto Manzana, President of Confindustria Trento and President of Confindustria Trentino-Alto Adige and Francesco Orefice, President of Young Entrepreneurs of Confindustria Trento. The afternoon will be dedicated to artificial intelligence and craftsmanship, with the panel “Sculpting the future: the impact of artificial intelligence on artisan identity” from 2.00pm to 2.45pm in the Sala Calepini. Organized by the Young Artisan Entrepreneurs Group and Confartigianato Trentino, it will see interventions by Diego Feltrin (Dimension Srl), Paolo Manfredi (Confartigianato Imprese) moderated by the journalist Luca Melchionna. In the meantime, the Caritro Foundation, from 4.00 pm to 4.45 pm, proposes a dedicated event “Transformative value of social innovation” with experts such as Giuseppe Ambrosio (VITA Società Editoriale Spa), Stefano Gallo (Unicredit), Paolo Venturi (AICCON) and Luciano De Propris (Elis). Also in the afternoon, at the Chamber of Commerce headquarters – Sala Calepini, from 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm, Trentino School Management offers the panel “Always Educative. The impact of Artificial Intelligence on training” moderated by Il Sole 24 Ore journalist Laura La Posta with Delio Picciani and Susanna Sancassani. In parallel, at Palazzo Sardagna, from 4.30pm to 5.30pm, a round table in memory of Carlo Borzaga organized by Euricse will discuss “The company that transforms society”. The day will end with two panels at the Caritro Foundation – Conference Room: “2035: Cui Prodest? An (R)involution announced for the internal combustion engine” from 6.00pm to 6.45pm organized by Federauto Trentino-Car dealers. From 6.00pm to 6.45pm at the Chamber of Commerce Headquarters – Sala Calepini, the event “The Free Professions in the Perfect Storm” organized by Confprofessioni will have as speakers Barbara Lorenzi (Confprofessioni), Alberto Oliveti (ADEPP), Gaetano Stella (Confprofessioni) . In the evening, from 7.15pm to 8.30pm, in the Representative Hall of the Palazzo della Regione, the OECD will present “Lavoro Merce Rara”, a debate on the sustainability of the labor market.
The penultimate day of the Festival will be dedicated to crucial themes such as innovation in SMEs, the youth job market and housing sustainability. At 10.30 at the Chamber of Commerce Headquarters – Sala Calepini we will discuss “The power of SMEs in driving innovation towards a more responsible future” with an event organized by Young Entrepreneurs. At 12.15pm, again in the Sala Calepini, “Committed to change” will be held, a debate on economic policies and sustainability proposed by Altroconsumo. In the afternoon, at 2.00 pm at the Caritro Foundation – Conference Hall, the panel “Young people and the labor market” organized by Jetn and the Provincial Youth Council will see the participation of Roberto Busato and Sandro Trento, while at 4.00 pm at the Caritro Foundation – Hall Conferences will talk about “Telling the sciences” with personalities such as Alessia Dimitri and Guido Tonelli. The day will end with a FIMAA debate on “Housing emergency, green houses, inflation” from 6.00pm to 6.45pm at the Caritro Foundation – Conference Room, with Andrea Basso and other experts in the real estate sector.
Finally, the last day will begin with two parallel events at 10:00: “The future is already here. Female entrepreneurship compared with the challenges of our times” at the Sala Calepini organized by FIPE, and “Elderly, young people, children: the territories that win in the quality of life” at the Caritro Foundation – Conference Room with the analysis of the quality of life in our territories for young and old, curated by the editorial staff of Il Sole 24 Ore. Both panels will see the participation of experts and representatives from the academic and institutional world. In the middle of the day, from 12.15pm to 1.15pm, at the Caritro Foundation – Conference Room, there will be a discussion on “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Information” organized by the Journalists’ Union of Trentino Alto Adige, a highly topical topic which will see the participation of Federico Boffa and Alessandra Costante. Finally, the Territorial Economies section will end with a debate on “Tax reform, financial incomes and complementary pensions” from 2.00pm to 2.45pm at the Caritro Foundation – Conference Room, with Maurizio Leo and other experts from the economic and financial sector in the event organized by Pensplan.
