“Italy Digital Community. New scenarios for territorial competitiveness” is the name of the meeting that was held at the innovation center of Fondazione CR Firenze organized by the Council of Banking Foundations of Tuscany and Acri, united in supporting, together with the government, the Fund for Digital Republic, dedicated to supporting digital training projects that are free and open to all.
Audio: Carlo Rossi, coordinator of the FOB Toscane consultancy, Giovanni Azzone, President of Acri, Giovanni Fosti, President of the Social Social Enterprise Digital Republic Fund and the Vice President of the CR Toscana Foundation Maria Olivia Scaramuzzi
The event is part of “Italia Comunità Digitale”, a cycle of eight events organized by the Associations and Territorial Councils of Foundations, in collaboration with Acri and Fondo per la Repubblica Digitale Impresa Sociale, designed to stimulate debate on the topic of opportunities and risks connected to the digital transition and the role that banking foundations play in the territories, also through the Digital Republic Fund.
“In the current context – highly digitalised – it is essential to design a new development model based on innovation, digital transition, equity and social sustainability that can be competitive for global challenges. The PNRR resources for Tuscany focus on connectivity, digitalisation, innovation and IT security, as well as guaranteeing broadband connection to families, businesses and institutions in peripheral areas – states Carlo Rossi Coordinator of Consulta FOB Toscane – In these dynamics, training for new digital skills it takes on a crucial role: both to accompany and support the development of Tuscany’s production system, and to create social value, promoting the valorisation of human capital, reducing gender and generational differences, and encouraging inclusiveness processes . All this thanks also to the measures promoted by the Digital Republic Fund.”
For Giovanni Fosti, president of the Fund for the Digital Republic Social Enterprise: “In Italy, 26 million people do not have basic digital skills. This skills shortage is a major obstacle to the country’s development. Not having digital skills does not only mean not knowing how to act with simple online actions, such as writing an email or creating a Spid account, but above all not knowing how to live safely or manage human and economic resources thanks to digital, nor knowing how to “create” through digital. Poor digital skills limit citizens’ active participation in opportunities that are now an integral part of our society. For this reason, thanks to an innovative public-private social partnership, the Fund for the Digital Republic was born, supported with approximately 350 million disbursed by banking foundations to which a tax credit is recognized. The Fund wants to increase digital skills to increase job opportunities. For this reason it selects and supports training projects. To activate projects with a real impact on the employment of young people, women, the unemployed and vulnerable categories, part of the financing is disbursed only when the training courses translate into actual employment contracts or a concrete improvement in working conditions”.
The Fund for the Digital Republic is a partnership between the public and private sectors (Government and banking foundations united in Acri), which moves within the scope of the digitalisation objectives envisaged by the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) and by FNC (Complementary National Fund). The Fund – on an experimental basis for the years 2022-2026 – allocates a total of 350 million euros and is fueled by payments made by banking foundations. Operational since the end of 2022, the Fund – through the social enterprise established by Acri, which is its implementing body – has launched the first 5 calls for tenders, through which 76 free training courses have so far been selected and supported which will provide the skills essential digital tools, to facilitate access to new job opportunities for NEETs, women, unemployed and unemployed workers, workers at risk of unemployment due to automation. This is a significant sample to promptly evaluate the impact of the funded training courses – in terms of skills acquired and jobs created – so that the Foundations can “hand them over” to the Government, as effective practices for imagining future national policies. For further information, Fondorepubblicadigitale.it.
The Council of Banking Foundations of Tuscany is an association that promotes cooperation between banking foundations present in the regional territory, with the aim of increasing economic and social development and enhancing the cultural heritage in the respective geographical areas of reference . The members of the Council are: Cassa di Risparmio di Carrara Foundation, Livorno Foundation, Banca del Monte di Lucca Foundation, Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca Foundation, Cassa di Risparmio di Pistoia e Pescia Foundation, Cassa di Risparmio di Prato Foundation, Cassa di Risparmio di San Miniato, Cassa di Risparmio di Volterra Foundation, CR Florence Foundation, Mps Foundation.
