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Bench-Mark | Ep. 86 – Cooperativa Sociale Barbara B

Since 2007, the Social Cooperative Barbara B has been promoting the employment integration of disadvantaged individuals, creating reintegration pathways through work in public green spaces and cemetery services.

Together with Alessandro Di Mauro, Vice President and Co-Founder of the cooperative, we explore how the values of mutuality, sustainability, and social inclusion have always been the cornerstones of a project born as a living testament to a concrete commitment toward those facing situations of vulnerability.

Interview by Francesco Antonioli.

Watch previous episodes here.

FIORILE | Gardens & Flowers on Display 2025 – Special Edition: The Rose Prize

New Edition of Fiorile – Gardens & Flowers on Display, returning in all its spring splendor along with the Princess Maria Letizia of Savoy Rose Prize, organized by the Kòres Association. The event is dedicated to the worlds of nature and culture, of greenery and pink in all their forms. A major new feature this year is the presentation of the Golden Rose Princess Maria Letizia Award, created to honor the charitable spirit of the noblewoman of the House of Savoy, former ambassador of the Italian Red Cross, by recognizing a modern woman distinguished by her social and female-focused commitment.

On May 10th and 11th, the Rose Garden of the Moncalieri Castle will be animated by a curated exhibition featuring specialized nurseries—highlighting excellence in rose cultivation—along with food and agricultural producers, artisans, and designers. The festival offers a rich program with expert talks and activities related to gardening, horticulture, biodiversity, and sustainability, plus cultural events, workshops, music, and readings.

This will be a creative weekend for all ages with a central focus: celebrating and discovering the local area using a format that merges environmental and cultural policies, aligned with the goals of the Moncalieri Green City project.

Beneath the enchanting arcades of the Rose Garden, spaces will be dedicated to the Rose Prize awards, with themed events and deep dives, an exhibition of sustainable crafts, and the Corner of Knowledge and Flavors, offering immersive experiences, tastings, and food awareness events.

The Fiorile – Gardens & Flowers on Display event, now in its 11th edition, proudly revives a historic Moncalieri market tradition. Once again, it helps shape the cultural identity of the Po Protected Areas, the Turin Hills, and the 85 participating municipalities, designated a UNESCO MAB Reserve in 2016, with a focus on both natural and cultural heritage.

Among the floral arrangements curated by garden master Maurizio Feletig, local producers and nurseries selected for their seasonal excellence will celebrate the month of May—starting with the rose as a symbol of seasonal change. The programming will also embrace art, history, tradition, nature, literature, and biodiversity, all rooted in local memory and identity.

Exhibitor Highlights:

  • Nurseries: Feletig (roses and berries), Vivaio Buffa (peonies), KOI KOI Green Design (kokedama), Melo Selvatico (plants and colorful edible blooms).
  • Agricultural Producers: Le Tome di Villa (Maestri del Gusto), Le Rose di Mariya Ilieva (gourmet products from damask roses), Dufour à la Rose (Slow Food Presidium and cocktail), Le Lumache del Sol (cosmetics and supplements from pure snails), Italian Snail Farmers Confederation (CIE).
  • Artisans: recyCLAIRE (wood and air plants), Ferro e Giardino (garden decor), Gaita Lab (sustainable handmade decor and lifestyle items), Chiara Rosino (glass crafts from Nodo collective in Pinerolo), Elisa Sasso (ceramist from Nodo).

As part of the continuous rediscovery of the Moncalieri region, local specialties and blooming rose gardens will be highlighted. The immersive walks and the “Cammina Moncalieri” project continue, this time leading from the Rose Garden to Val Cenasco Landhouse, a beautiful family-run estate offering herbal teas and live music by Caravan Trio.

In partnership with the Salone del Libro Off, literary moments inspired by delicate, petal-like words will be featured: a tribute to Rosa Mogliasso, remembrance of Sicilian storyteller Rosa Balistreri, a poetic concert “Voices of the Roses,” and a portrait of noir writer Giorgio Scerbanenco. In collaboration with the bookstore L’Arco Nuovo di Moncalieri.

The Art Space will host ongoing hands-on workshops by Cinzia Scanavacca and Nadia Danzero, including the “Mom, I Made You a Rose Bouquet” course for Mother’s Day. Under the arcades, continuous workshops will be held by Cuore di Maglia (creating pink caps for premature baby girls) and Donne ai ferri corti (Urban Knitting specialists). The Barcollo ma non mollo non-profit will stage a fashion show among the rose paths to raise awareness on cancer-related issues.

Complementing the program is a biodiversity corner curated by Metropolitan Pollinators and Beesù, offering insights into the world of bees and their essential ecosystems. For Mother’s Day, themed workshops will focus on creating the most beautiful floral gifts.

Gala Evening – Saturday, May 10th at 7 PM, Cavallerizza Hall of the Royal Castle:

Following the official greetings:

  • Princess Maria Letizia Rose Prize awarded to the best rose hybridizer
  • Lifetime Achievement Award to rose expert Anna Pejron
  • Golden Rose Award to a performing artist distinguished by social commitment and advocacy for women
    Artist Hilario Isola will personally present a specially commissioned artwork for the award.
    Aperitif by Pasticceria Rivetti of Moncalieri, with Swing Belle Epoque by Dr. Swing and Biciclette, plus special “Rosé” hair styling by HC Studio.

Program

Saturday, May 10

  • 10:00 AM: Rose Garden gates open
  • 10:30 AM: Immersive walk to Val Cenasco Landhouse (music by Caravan Trio; in collaboration with ASD Andrate Nordic Walking)
  • 11:00 AM: Tribute to Rosa Mogliasso (with Antonella Giani and Corallina De Maria)
  • 12:00 PM: Practical course: “Mom, I Made You a Rose Bouquet!”
  • 1:00 PM: Tasting break
  • 3:30 PM: Terrarium workshop by Erica Selvatica
  • 4:00 PM: Story of Rosa Balistreri (with Arianna Abis and Sicilian musician Nino Carriglio)
  • 5:00 PM: Roundtable “Rosa Rosae” with experts including Marco Devecchi, Lucia Impelluso, Cristiana Ruspa, Stefania Bisacco, and Maurizio Feletig
  • 6:00 PM: Rose Garden gates close
  • 7:00 PM: Gala evening at the Royal Castle’s Cavallerizza

Sunday, May 11

  • 10:00 AM: Rose Garden gates open
  • 11:00 AM: Barcollo ma non mollo fashion show
  • 12:00 PM: Practical course: “Mom, I Made You a Rose Bouquet!”
  • 1:00 PM: Tasting break
  • 3:30 PM: Terrarium workshop by Erica Selvatica
  • 3:30 PM: “Giorgio Scerbanenco in Pink” with Cecilia Scerbanenco and Enrico Pandiani
  • 4:30 PM: Poetic concert “Voices of the Rose” (by Elisabetta Motta with Davide Ferrari, Vincenzo Zitello on harp, Fulvio Renzi on violin)
  • 5:30 PM: Final concert “The Four Seasons” in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II

Ongoing Workshops:

  • Rose bouquet composition – Cinzia Scanavacca & Nadia Danzero
  • Pink caps for premature babies – Cuore di Maglia
  • Small floral accessories – Donne ai ferri corti
  • Rose Lips – Beesù
  • Rose Jewelry – Metropolitan Pollinators
  • Terrarium – Erica Selvatica

The business plan competition Start Cup Piemonte Valle d’Aosta 2025 opens for applications

Start Cup Piemonte Valle d’Aosta 2025, the Business Plan Competition that promotes the birth of innovative start-ups in the Piedmont and Aosta Valley territories, officially kicks off. Now in its 21st edition and promoted by the incubators I3P, Innovative Companies Incubator of Politecnico di Torino, and 2i3T, Business Incubator of the University of Turin, the competition is held as part of the Italian National Innovation Award (PNI), Italy’s most important event for knowledge-intensive start-ups.

Funded by the Piedmont Region with the resources of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and organized within the framework of the PNI promoted by PNICube, the Start Cup Piemonte Valle d’Aosta is structured in two stages.

The stages of the competition

The Stage I is the Ideas Competition, which rewards the best business ideas in free support services provided by business incubators aimed at the drafting of the Business Plan, as well as guidance and consulting services on Smart Mobility issues in Turin, provided as part of the City of Turin’s ToMove project. It will also be possible to benefit from the free guidance and accompaniment services provided by experts from Invitalia, Official Partner of the Italian National Innovation Award, for the submission of applications for subsidies on incentives dedicated to business creation.

There is time to participate in Stage I until June 3, 2025, by filling out the application on the official competition website www.startcup-piemonte-vda.it. Teams that submit the best business ideas and pass the selection phase will be contacted directly by the Incubators to initiate consulting services.

Stage II, the actual Business Plan Competition, will kick off on June 4 and end on July 28, 2025, giving access to the final selection and prizes provided in cash and services. To participate, a Business Plan describing an entrepreneurial project must be submitted, also in this case through the website www.startcup-piemonte-vda.it.

One can participate in only one or both stages, free of charge, by submitting a business idea or business project that, regardless of the stage of development, is the work of an individual or a group of individuals, and aimed at creating an innovative start-up.

Who can participate

All aspiring entrepreneurs over the age of 18 from universities and research centers (undergraduate, graduate, PhD or PhD research students, research fellows or fellows, structured professors) and owners of newly started businesses as specified on the Competition Rules are eligible, individually or in groups.

During the online application process, proposers will have to identify a reference incubator, choosing it from the business incubators of the Promoting Entities (I3P – Innovative Companies Incubator of Politecnico di Torino, 2i3T – Business Incubator of the University of Turin, or Pépinières d’Entreprises of Aosta or Pont-Saint-Martin in case of application for the Valle d’Aosta Prize).

To be eligible for the competition, business ideas and projects have to refer to the competition categories:

  • Life Sciences, for innovative products and/or services to improve people’s health;
  • ICT, i.e., innovative products and/or services in the area of information technology and new media for cybersecurity and cloud computing – e.g., e-commerce, social media, mobile, gaming – and innovative hardware and software technologies – e.g., microelectronics and photonics devices, advanced materials for ICT, new computational architectures, technologies in AI/LLM, imaging;
  • Cleantech & Energy (innovative products and/or services geared toward improving environmental sustainability, environmental protection, energy management);
  • Industrial (innovative products and/or services for industrial production that do not fall into the previous categories, innovative from a technology or market perspective);
  • Tourism and Cultural and Creative Industry (innovative products and/or services aimed at the tourism and cultural and creative industry sector).

The prizes for the best projects

By November, the best start-up projects participating in the Business Plan Competition (Stage II) will be chosen and awarded prizes and special mentions, with the support of a Jury composed of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and business angels. Thanks to the endowment made available by the promoting entities and supporters of the 2025 edition, the total prize pool amounts to over €65,000 and will be disbursed in cash and services offered by various partners.

The three overall winners will receive cash prizes. The first place winner will receive a prize of €7,500, the second of €5,000 and the third of €2,500. The top six projects will also be awarded a prize of €1,000 each for entry into the 2025 edition of PNI, the Italian National Innovation Prize, the “champions cup” among the winning business projects of the regional Start Cups, which this year will be held in Ferrara at Ferrara Expo on Thursday, December 4 and Friday, December 5, 2025. The event will be jointly organized by PNICube and the University of Ferrara, as part of ECOSISTER – Territorial Ecosystem of Innovation of Emilia-Romagna, funded by PNRR.

Thanks to the many sponsors and partners interested in contributing concretely to the development of innovation, Start Cup Piemonte Valle d’Aosta also includes a series of special prizes:

  • Fondazione CRC, attentive to interventions aimed at competitiveness and sustainable development, will award the Fondazione CRC Prize of €10,000 to the best business project that establishes enterprise in the Province of Cuneo;
  • the Autonomous Region of Valle d’Aosta, aimed at entrepreneurial development in the Aosta Valley territory, will award the Valle d’Aosta Prize of €7,500 to the best business project that sets up the company in the Pépinière d’Entreprises of Aosta or Pont-Saint-Martin;
  • Distretto Aerospaziale Piemonte (Piedmont Aerospace Cluster), an association whose goal is to strengthen the aerospace sector-working with all players in the industry and also through the creation of projects to spread innovation-will award the Sustainability In Aerospace Prize worth €7,500 to the best project that considers the theme of sustainability in aeronautics and space;
  • Fondazione Laura & Franco Beltramo ETS, an entity interested in contributing concretely to the emergence and development of new innovative entrepreneurship, will offer two Social Innovation Awards totaling €7,500 for two best entrepreneurial projects in the fields of medicine, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, agriculture and food needs that promote social progress and the development of better living conditions;
  • LINKS Foundation, a research center interested in fostering technological and economic growth, increasing ecosystem competitiveness and enhancing intellectual property, will give away the City of the Future and Sustainability Award, worth a total of €7,500 in the form of spendable credit in technical services provided by LINKS staff, to up to two of the best projects proposing innovative products and/or services based on sustainability-related technologies;
  • Jacobacci & Partners, a leading company in Italy and one of the main European companies in the field of intellectual property protection, will award two prizes with a total value of €7,000 to the two best entrepreneurial projects with intellectual property characteristics, paid in the form of credit that can be spent on consultancy services in the field of trademark, model and patent protection;
  • UniCredit, interested in supporting innovative start-ups in the phases of their business life with specific actions, sponsors the the UniCredit Start Lab Prize, which consists of a mentorship session to evaluate the suitability of a project to be admitted to targeted contents of the Start Lab program;
  • the ToMove project of the City of Turin sponsors three “Future Mobility” awards in services, intended for as many entrepreneurial projects on the theme of smart and sustainable urban mobility.

Five special mentions will also be awarded:

  • “Women Entrepreneurship”, for the best female-led business Project with a majority female team (over 50%).
  • Social Innovation”, for the best project proposing innovative solutions in one of the fields provided by article 2, paragraph 1 of the Italian Legislative Decree 155/2006 on social enterprise.
  • Open Innovation / Spin Off Industriali”, for the best project concerning innovative products and/or services deriving from a joint research activity between a company and a Piedmont University.
  • Climate Change”, for the best business project regarding climate change, capable of integrating innovation, technology, protection, and enhancement of natural resources in order to create economic growth and environmental protection.
  • Sustainable Technologies”, for the project which stands out the most by its originality, intended as either related to the trademarks’ field or the technology, awarded by Jacobacci & Partners.

Open Day I3P 2025

Do you have an innovative idea in the drawer and are wondering where to start to bring it to life?
Join the Open Day of I3P, the Innovative Enterprises Incubator of the Polytechnic University of Turin, which will be held on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 13, 2025: you will have the opportunity to meet I3P’s startup tutors for free and discover how to evolve your idea into a business project!

The event will be a chance to learn more closely about how the world of innovative entrepreneurship works and to get in direct contact with I3P, an internationally recognized incubator that has been supporting the creation and growth of high-tech, high-growth-potential startups for over 25 years.
The initiative aims to provide useful information and guidance for those looking for a starting point for an entrepreneurial journey: you will hear the firsthand experience of an innovative startup, ORiS, a member of the I3P community and the ESA BIC Turin program, and receive practical advice from the incubator’s Business Analysts, along with a presentation of the best opportunities to bring your idea to life.

The Open Day 2025 will also be a great opportunity to learn more about the 21st edition of the Start Cup Piemonte Valle d’Aosta, the regional competition awarding prizes for the best new startup proposals.
Additionally, the competition offers access to free orientation and consulting services through the ToMove project by the City of Turin, and information about how to benefit from the incentives provided by Invitalia, the national agency for investment attraction and business development.

At the end of the event, once the on-stage presentations conclude, free one-to-one meetings with I3P’s tutors will open up for in-person participants, where you can get practical advice on the first steps toward a successful entrepreneurial journey.
For those attending the Open Day via online streaming, it will be possible to schedule an individual meeting with an I3P tutor at a later date, in the days following the event.

Register today and start your journey as the entrepreneur of tomorrow!

How to Participate

The event will take place at 3:00 PM, in person at the Agorà Room of the I3P incubator — located within the Politecnico di Torino Campus, accessible from two pedestrian entrances: Corso Castelfidardo 34 and Via Borsellino 53/N — and online via streaming.

To participate in either mode, you must register for free on Eventbrite.
Please register by 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 13, and if you selected online participation, you will receive the connection link via email before the start of the event.

If you cannot attend the Open Day but would still like to meet with I3P tutors to discuss your business idea at a later date, simply contact the incubator, and a dedicated appointment can be arranged.

Program

  • 3:00 PM | Participant Reception
  • 3:10 PM | Welcome Remarks – Giuseppe Scellato, President of I3P
  • 3:15 PM | Presentation of the incubator and its activities within the startup ecosystem – Enrico Ghia, Chief Operating Officer of I3P
  • 3:30 PM | Starting Points for Launching Your Innovative Idea: Start Cup Piemonte Valle d’Aosta 2025 and Services Offered by Competition Partners – Martina Fiorin, Senior Consultant & Acceleration Programs Project Manager at I3P
  • 3:50 PM | Testimony from a Startup Incubated at I3P and Part of the ESA BIC Turin Program – Anna Mauro, Co-Founder & CTO of ORiS
  • 4:00 PM | Event Conclusion and Start of One-to-One Meetings with I3P Tutors to Present and Evaluate Business Ideas

For more information about the event, you can write to eventi@i3p.it.
To stay updated on I3P’s news, follow its social media channels on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube, or subscribe to its free weekly email newsletter.

ecosistema boreale

Shall we build a boreal ecosystem? Call for creative entrepreneurship with social impact

Kaninchen-Haus APS, as part of the project Viadellafucina: A Boreal Laboratory, supported by the Laboratory of Contemporary Creativity and promoted by the Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity of the Ministry of Culture, is launching a call to select entrepreneurial activities with artistic and social impact to be hosted in the spaces of Borealis, the new cultural and social center in the Aurora neighborhood of Turin.

Project Partners:

  • District 7 of the City of Turin
  • Il Punto SCS
  • Santagata Foundation for the Economics of Culture
  • IAAD – Institute of Applied Arts and Design

The call is open to:

  • Creative and cultural enterprises, social enterprises, and companies developing a social impact dimension
  • Associations and Third Sector Entities interested in starting or developing a business activity that combines creativity, social impact, and sustainability
  • Artists and collectives developing a sustainability-focused dimension

What we offer:

  • Multifunctional spaces within Borealis, a center for artistic and cultural cohabitation of over 700 square meters
  • Visibility within a dynamic and stimulating context, strongly connected to the local territory and communities
  • Opportunities for collaboration with Kaninchen-Haus, artists-in-residence at Viadellafucina16 Museum-Condominium, and other project partners
  • Access to the Laboratori Boreali (Boreal Labs)
  • Participation in a vibrant cultural ecosystem that promotes art as a tool for social and urban transformation

Areas of interest:

We are particularly interested in projects focusing on:

  • Artistic and technological innovation: initiatives that experiment with new forms of artistic expression using digital technologies and new media
  • Urban and social regeneration: initiatives that contribute to revitalizing the Aurora neighborhood, promoting social inclusion and community cohesion
  • Circular economy and environmental sustainability: activities that promote reuse, recycling, waste reduction, and eco-friendly practices
  • Multiculturalism and intercultural dialogue: projects that enhance the cultural diversity of the Aurora neighborhood, encouraging exchange and cross-cultural engagement

What we are looking for:

Proposals that:

  • Align with the mission of Kaninchen-Haus: art as an activator of shared processes for collective transformation
  • Offer original and high-quality products or services with a strong artistic and/or creative component
  • Generate a positive impact on the Aurora neighborhood in terms of social inclusion, cultural development, sustainable economy, and/or urban regeneration
  • Are economically sustainable and capable of generating value for the community

Examples include: food and wine activities, craftsmanship, eco-sustainable fashion, vintage markets, urban greenery and plants, audio/video production studios, publishing-magazines-information, associations active in social, cultural, and artistic fields, activities promoting digital and ecological innovation, etc.

Conditions:

  • Selected entities will be required to pay a rental fee for using the Borealis spaces
  • Proposed activities must be compatible with the artistic and cultural vocation of the center
  • Active participation in Borealis’ life will be required, through co-programming of events and initiatives

How to apply:

In the first phase, simply fill out our online form to express your interest and be contacted to arrange an in-person meeting.

Evaluation:

Applications will be evaluated by a panel composed of Kaninchen-Haus members and experts from the artistic and social sectors. Evaluation criteria will consider:

  • Quality and originality of the project
  • Social and cultural impact in relation to the global art context and the local context
  • Economic sustainability
  • Alignment with the mission of Kaninchen-Haus
  • Potential for development and growth

See photos of the spaces

FILL OUT THE FORM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROJECT

The project VIADELLAFUCINA: A BOREAL LABORATORY is supported by the Laboratory of Contemporary Creativity, promoted by the Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity of the Ministry of Culture.

assemblea boreale

Join the Boreal Assembly

Kaninchen-Haus presents an open call for everyone to take part in the Boreal Assembly.

The Boreal Assembly is a “committee” open to anyone who believes that art is not an exclusive language, but one that is accessible and inclusive — and that it has the power to help regenerate their own living environment. In our case, that environment is the Aurora neighborhood of Turin.

The assembly is open to local residents as well as third-sector organizations, associations, museums, social enterprises, cooperatives, venues, shops, and even cohabitation spaces such as apartment buildings.

The Boreal Assembly has extraordinary powers and roles:

  • To contribute to the creation of Borealis, the new cultural center in the Aurora neighborhood, by collaborating on the design of the space and the creation of the content it will host
  • To select artists to commission artworks for the neighborhood (including both public and private—but publicly accessible—spaces), actively participating in the design and production of these works, highlighting the community’s dreams and needs

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE BOREAL ASSEMBLY

The project AURORA BOREALIS is the winner of the public call “Torino, che cultura!”, funded by the PN METRO PLUS and Southern Mid-sized Cities 2021–2027 – TO7.5.1.1.B – SUPPORT FOR THE URBAN ECONOMY IN THE CULTURE SECTOR

The project VIADELLAFUCINA: A BOREAL LABORATORY is supported by the Laboratory of Contemporary Creativity, promoted by the Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity of the Ministry of Culture.

CUAP 2 edizione

Second edition of CUAP Social Impact Finance: pre-registration open

Pre-enrollments are now officially open for the second edition of the CUAP in Social Impact Finance!

After the success of the first edition, which involved over 20 Third Sector organizations as participants, we are excited to offer once again a unique training program designed for those who wish to deepen their knowledge in sustainable finance and impact investing.

When: The fully online classes will begin on May 12th, so don’t miss the chance to reserve your spot!

Why participate: Discover how finance can be a powerful tool to generate positive and sustainable change in society.

Pre-enroll now to make sure you don’t miss this opportunity – registration will close at the end of the month!

For more information and to register: socialimpact.management@unito.it

The CUAP in Social Finance, coordinated by Prof. Paolo Biancone, is delivered by the Chamber of Commerce of Turin as part of the Strategic Plan of Torino Social Impact, and is organized by the School of Management and Economics of the University of Turin in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Turin (members of the Committee for Social Entrepreneurship), the Association of Chartered Accountants and Accounting Experts of Turin, the Piccatti Milanese Foundation, Cottino Social Impact Campus, Tiresia, the training bodies of the Cooperative Centrals (Consorzio Il Nodo for Confcooperative Piemonte Nord and Inforcoop Ecipa Piemonte for Legacoop Piemonte), and the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation.

Communicating and Sharing the Choice to Become a Benefit Corporation

On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at Synesthesia’s headquarters in Corso Dante, Turin, a new session of the Fit4Benefit Community of Practice took place, titled: “Being Benefit: communicate, engage, share.”
The meeting brought together 9 local organizations for an afternoon focused on value-driven communication, strategic listening, and the exchange of practical tools to strengthen the identity and impact of Benefit Corporations.

Together with Amapola and Synesthesia – two Benefit Corporations with years of experience in sustainability and communication – we explored how to authentically communicate one’s commitment, use listening as a transformative lever, and foster a continuous and meaningful dialogue with internal and external stakeholders.

Sustainability under attack? A strategic and conscious response

In the opening talk, Micol Burighel (Amapola) outlined the current landscape, increasingly marked by international hostility toward sustainability, diversity, and inclusion. From the U.S. corporate backlash to political pressure on the European Union, the core values of responsible business are being called into question.

And yet, the data tells a different story: Italian Benefit Corporations are growing faster than traditional businesses (+26% revenue growth between 2021 and 2023), investing more in people, embracing more inclusive governance, and attracting and retaining young talent.
Being a Benefit Corporation is not a trend or a fragile choice – it’s a strategic vision that withstands crises and creates long-term value.

Communication and listening as impact tools

In the second session, Valentina Capua and Benedetta Cioni (Synesthesia) shared tools, methods, and case studies for communicating a Benefit path with consistency and impact.
Starting from the impact report – which Synesthesia has transformed from a regulatory requirement into a strategic and narrative tool – they highlighted the importance of accessible storytelling based on measurable data and capable of conveying the human value behind a business.
Synesthesia’s experience offered participants practical insights into building an authentic and multisensory narrative.

A participatory workshop and peer exchange

The second half of the afternoon was dedicated to a collaborative workshop, where all participants took part in an activity to surface the idea of “common benefit” and reflect on proposals and tools to improve stakeholder dialogue.

Between key concepts, inspiring case studies, and collective reflection, the session reaffirmed the power of peer exchange as a driver of shared growth and awareness: the very essence of Torino Social Impact’s Communities of Practice!

eco-community empowerment

Eco-Community Empowerment — Position Paper Presentation by Weco

Following careful observation of communities and territories, along with experience gained in the field and through the study of other initiatives related to social innovation, territorial regeneration, and the relationship with the surrounding environment, the need emerged to define a specific operational framework that could bring together these experiences. This is how the concept of Eco-Community Empowerment (ECE) was born, which can be translated as the facilitation of eco-community processes.

Weco is pleased to present, for the first time, the position paper it has been working on over the past year, with the aim of opening a dialogue on the topic and fostering shared reflection and experimentation around Eco-Community Empowerment.

The event will take place online on Wednesday, May 8th at 5:30 PM. More information and registration available here.

Bench-Mark | Ep. 85 – Clover

So many stories begin with a meeting on a bench.
Sitting on the lovers’ bench at Parco del Valentino, Isabella Antonioni, Co-Founder of Clover, told us the story of how this project was born—together with Sabrina Rapetti and Giulia Gallotti.
A cloverleaf, three different life journeys, and one shared vision: to build meaningful relationships with local organizations, guide them on their path toward sustainability, and generate social impact.

Discover more in the interview by Francesco Antonioli.

Watch previous episodes here.

Architetture Rivelate 2025: Awarded the projects that showcase the everyday beauty of our territories

Turin, April 16, 2025 — The award ceremony for the 2025 edition of Architetture Rivelate, organized by the Architects’ Associations of Turin, Aosta, Asti, Cuneo, and Novara VCO, took place last night in the evocative setting of the Teatro Regio in Turin. Year after year, this event has become one of the most anticipated moments for architects, scholars, citizens, and enthusiasts of urban living — and for the first time, this edition embraced the entire Piedmont region and the Aosta Valley.

A prize that tells the story of the territory

With 68 projects competing from nearly every province in Piedmont and the Aosta Valley (Turin, Cuneo, Novara, Asti, Biella, Aosta), the 2025 edition showcased the energy and vitality of the design world throughout these areas. The jury, chaired by Ida Origgi of the Milan-based studio Ifdesign, selected four winning projects — one for each of the categories — and awarded three special mentions.

The awarded projects were celebrated not only for their aesthetic or functional value but also for their ability to engage in a deep and respectful dialogue with the contexts they inhabit. As is tradition, the winning projects will have steel plaques installed on-site, helping to create a true map of quality architecture, accessible to all and woven into the urban and natural landscape.

The awarded projects: a widespread narrative across cities and villages

🏆 New Construction and Adaptive Reuse Category
We Rural, Poirino (TO)
Project by Archisbang – Silvia Minutolo, Marco Giai Via, Eugenio Chironna
A refined example of architectural reuse in a rural setting: an agricultural structure transformed with respect and design intelligence into a space that welcomes new functions without losing its historical memory.

🏆 Temporary Installations and Interior Spaces Category
Luzzatti, Cuneo
Project by Balance Architettura – Alberto Lessan, Jacopo Bracco, Eudes Margaria
An interior design project that also becomes an urban gesture: the restoration of the former railway workers’ villa becomes an opportunity to rethink spaces and services with great attention to materials, contrasts, and the layering of time.

🏆 Open Spaces, Infrastructure, and Landscape Category
Acqua pietrificata, Pella (NO)
Project by Elena Bertinotti and Paolo Citterio
A small intervention that generates great emotion. Through light, stone, and form, it guides visitors on an intimate and poetic journey through the village of Pella, enhancing the public space with discretion and care.

🏆 First Work Category
eZ, Borgofranco d’Ivrea (TO)
Project by Alessandro Servalli
An open-air kitchen counter that proves how even a small project can embody a grand design vision. Essential, functional, and perfectly integrated into its context.

Special Mentions

🏅 New Construction and Adaptive Reuse Category
Cascina Elena Winery, Rocchetta Belbo (CN) – BRH+
A project that harmonizes tradition and innovation, elegantly blending into the vineyard landscape of the Langhe.

Agricultural-recreational building of the Arsenale dell’Armonia, Pecetto Torinese (TO) – Studio Comoglio Architetti
An underground intervention that merges education, nature, and architecture, playing with volumes and materials for a strong sculptural impact.

🏅 Open Spaces, Infrastructure, and Landscape Category
New market in Piazza Roma, Pinerolo (TO) – SMNO Architetti
An urban redevelopment that restores centrality to the market space, reinterpreting the landscape with shapes evoking the Alpine peaks.

A prize that leaves its mark

The value of the Architetture Rivelate award lies not only in highlighting architectural excellence but also in making architecture accessible, understandable, and shareable. The plaques placed on the awarded projects are not mere acknowledgments but become tools for collective storytelling — starting points for a new awareness and appreciation of everyday beauty.

A book to tell twenty years of perspectives

To cap off the evening, the publication “Architetture Rivelate. The Beauty of the Ordinary” (LetteraVentidue Editions) was presented. The book gathers twenty years of awards and 123 selected projects. This precious volume is enriched by an insightful essay from architectural historian Luca Molinari, who offered the audience a passionate reflection on the role of architecture in the transformation of territories and communities.

With this edition, the award once again confirms itself as an open window onto the widespread quality of contemporary architecture — a quality that is often quiet, yet always capable of transforming, revealing, and inspiring.

Find out more on the website.

A Glimpse into the World of Information: The International Journalism Festival in Perugia

Debates, reports, meetings, and firsthand testimonies were once again the beating heart of the International Journalism Festival, held in Perugia from April 10 to 13. An event that has become increasingly central on the international stage, capable of redefining the boundaries of journalism and offering an up-to-date perspective on the geopolitics of information, especially in light of the profound global changes underway.

The event hosted over 500 speakers, including Nobel Prize winners, Oscar winners, Pulitzer Prize winners, award-winning reporters, pioneers of media innovation, and authoritative voices in the field. Many critical and timely topics were addressed: from international conflicts to the crisis of international law, from the collapse of journalism funding to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, and much more. Special attention was given to the implications of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia — with a particular focus on Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, and Syria — and their impact on international law and human rights.

An open space for exchange between leading voices in journalism

On this occasion, Torino Social Impact also took part, continuing the work carried out through the Torino Impact Journalism initiative, with the mission of raising awareness about the crucial role of information in the era of the impact economy.

Throughout the festival, many panels were attended that, from different perspectives, helped to delve deeper into some of the most urgent issues of our time. Among them:

  • The impact of journalism and ways to measure it
  • Disinformation and fact-checking
  • European digital regulations
  • The current role of journalism
  • Addressing environmental issues on social media
  • The challenges and tools of artificial intelligence for journalism
  • Reporting on war through the firsthand accounts of reporters

In a present marked by wars, geopolitical tensions, and disinformation, the International Journalism Festival in Perugia reaffirms itself as a landmark event for those who believe in the value of free, rigorous, and independent information. Year after year, it gives voice to a community of professionals, activists, and citizens dedicated to building quality journalism every day.

Startup Your Game! From a Passion for Video Games to an Innovative Business

As every gamer of any age knows, playing video games is serious business: completing missions, defeating bosses, and breaking records takes commitment, dedication, and ingenuity. The same goes for startup founders, who take on challenges of all kinds to develop their business ideas, test them in real-world conditions, and level them up to reach greater and greater milestones. It’s not uncommon for both groups to share a similar mindset, focused on achieving results through creativity and innovation.

Can a passion for video games—and a deep understanding of the dynamics of the gaming market, which according to industry studies reached a global value of over $180 billion in 2024—serve as inspiration to found an innovative startup? It certainly seems so, judging by the examples of young companies born and raised at I3P, the incubator of the Politecnico di Torino, which are now key players in the video game development scene, both for mass-market consumers and in B2B contexts.

The free event Startup Your Game!, taking place on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 5:00 PM in person at I3P, will offer an opportunity to meet four innovative companies operating in the video game industry. Each is built on different technologies and goals, but they all share a strong spirit of innovation. Representatives from Tiny Bull Studios, Proxy42, Paperbox Health, and Triality Studio—all supported by the incubator over the years—will share the stories behind their projects and their future perspectives. Attendees will also have the chance to learn more about IIDEA, the trade association of the Italian video game industry, whose mission is to enhance the role of video games in Italy’s economy, society, and culture.

How to Participate

The event will take place on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, starting at 5:00 PM, in person at the Agorà Room of the I3P incubator, located on the Campus of the Politecnico di Torino. It is accessible via the main entrance at Corso Castelfidardo 30/A or the pedestrian entrance at Via Borsellino 53/N.

The event is free to attend, supported by Regione Piemonte through European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) resources, but requires registration on Eventbrite.

Program

  • 5:00 PM | Guest reception in the room
  • 5:10 PM | Welcome remarks by Paola Mogliotti, Director of I3P, and event opening by Ludovico Del Carretto, Business Consultant at I3P
  • 5:15 PM | The video game industry in Italy – Davide Mancini, Developer Relations Manager at IIDEA
  • 5:30 PM | The story of Tiny Bull Studios – Matteo Lana, Co-Founder & CEO
  • 5:40 PM | The Proxy42 venture – Francesco Ferrazzino, Co-Founder & CEO
  • 5:50 PM | The Paperbox Health project – Francesco Trovato, Co-Founder & CEO
  • 6:00 PM | The vision of Triality Studio – Marco Verdese, Co-Founder & CEO
  • 6:10 PM | Roundtable discussion on startup prospects in the gaming sector
  • 6:40 PM | Q&A session with the audience
  • 7:00 PM | Conclusion of the event

Featured Organizations

I3P, the Innovative Companies Incubator of the Politecnico di Torino, was founded in 1999. It supports the creation and development of high-tech, high-growth-potential startups founded by university researchers, students, and external entrepreneurs. I3P offers strategic consulting, coaching, mentoring, fundraising support, and workspace. Its mission is to nurture the entrepreneurial ecosystem and generate economic development and jobs in innovative industries, in collaboration with institutions and private players involved in research, education, tech transfer services, innovation funding, and internationalization.

IIDEA (Italian Interactive Digital Entertainment Association) is the trade body for Italy’s video game industry. Founded in the early 2000s, it aims to represent and unify the sector with a cohesive approach. IIDEA currently includes over 80 members, including console manufacturers, game publishers, developers, and esports organizations such as tournament organizers and professional teams. It is part of a global network of industry associations and a member of Video Games Europe and the European Game Developers Federation. IIDEA’s mission is to foster the industry’s growth in Italy and highlight the video game’s role in the nation’s economy, society, and culture.

Tiny Bull Studios is an independent studio founded in 2011 in Turin, specializing in narrative video games that offer engaging and innovative experiences. The studio has released titles such as Blind, a VR thriller adventure based entirely on sound perception, and Omen Exitio: Plague, a digital gamebook inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s tales. Currently, the team is working on several titles set to launch in 2025, including the highly anticipated sequel Omen Exitio: Hunger and the fantasy action RPG The Lonesome Guild. The studio’s mission is to explore the immersive and storytelling potential of games, always striving to create unique and memorable experiences for a global audience.

Proxy42 is a gaming and tech company specializing in immersive gameplay experiences using AR (augmented reality), XR (extended reality), and AI. Its first title, Father.IO, was the world’s first augmented reality multiplayer mobile shooter, with over 5 million downloads worldwide. Its latest project, World League Live! (WLL), is a multi-sport fan engagement platform with official licenses. It connects fans with teams, athletes, and sponsors through gaming and play-to-earn mechanics. WLL features live streaming, exclusive interactions via AI and AR, and the ability to play with sports stars. Among the project’s ambassadors is football legend Alessandro Del Piero.

Paperbox Health aims to make early identification of Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs) more accessible. With DINO, an innovative, game-based tool, children can be evaluated while playing—within just 15 minutes and at low cost, it is possible to identify the risk of SLDs, helping reduce underdiagnosis rates. Paperbox Health combines technology and play to offer effective and inclusive solutions, supporting families and schools in promoting the well-being and academic success of every child.

Triality Studio is a young company that blends video games with cultural heritage. Using VR (virtual reality), the startup recreates artworks and historical sites enriched with gamification elements to offer engaging and interactive experiences, aiming to combine learning with entertainment.

Amapola keeps growing with new skills and a more structured team

Giulia Abbondanza and Anna Setran join the Reporting and Sustainability Communication teams

After a 2024 marked by new projects, partnerships and an internal reorganisation that led to the creation of new specialist areas, 2025 opens with two new professionals joining Amapola: Giulia Abbondanza, in the Sustainability Communication team, and Anna Setran, in the Reporting team. Both are starting as Junior Accounts at the Turin office of the consultancy firm, which has specialised in sustainability since 2009.

These new additions reflect a clear direction: investing in people and the value of expertise to effectively respond to the growing complexity of today’s environmental, social and economic challenges.

Giulia Abbondanza: communications, environmental expertise and a scientific mindset

Working under the coordination of Partner Alberto Marzetta, Giulia Abbondanza joins the Sustainability Communication team. With degrees in Biological and Environmental Sciences and a specialisation in Green Innovation & Sustainability Management, she brings a multidisciplinary background that blends natural and social sciences, alongside international experience in the Netherlands and Bolivia. At Amapola, she will be involved in stakeholder engagement projects, sustainability communication, event planning and content production.

Anna Setran: reporting as a tool to navigate complexity

Anna Setran strengthens the Reporting team led by Giulia Devani. Her academic path spans Humanities, Environmental Economics and Human Development, enriched by experiences in Spain, Kenya, the UK and at UN agencies in Rome. At Amapola, she will contribute to all stages of the reporting process—from data collection and analysis to writing—supporting projects that promote transparency, stakeholder dialogue and strategic vision for organisations.

Shaping the future through people

“Investing in people means equipping ourselves to understand change through a new lens. With Giulia and Anna, our team gains expertise that blends scientific rigour, systemic thinking and a passion for environmental and social issues,” says Luca Valpreda, Founder and Managing Partner of Amapola. “Growing as an organisation also means creating the conditions to enhance personal and professional journeys, foster cross-pollination between different skill sets and strengthen our collective identity. For us, sustainability means this too.”

viaggio nell'impatto sociale

Sustainable tourism is the next destination

In an era of overtourism, both the market and the public are increasingly mindful of the environmental and social choices made by a place. In Turin, thanks to a collaborative effort coordinated by the Chamber of Commerce, a pilot project has been launched with the Cottino Social Impact Campus and the Istud Business School, showing that even a tourist destination can generate a positive impact.

Read the article by Daria Capitani on Vita.

GrandUP! Tech Academy: Pitch Day 2025

Innovative solutions in the agritech field for aerial spraying via drones, digital platforms to simplify information sharing and communication, and custom-made footwear crafted with sustainable materials and interchangeable components. These are some examples of the tech projects developed by the first-time startup founders of GrandUP! Tech Academy 2024-2025, a training program for aspiring entrepreneurs, which will be showcased to the public during the Pitch Day, scheduled for Thursday, April 17 in Cuneo.

Nine teams of innovators have been selected to participate in the program and, after completing the training, are now ready to present their developed projects. The teams are: Belesì 1.0, Cogitium AI, Droply, Ollipay, Play and Learn Italia, RXNet, Roger, Tua, and Ülink.

During the event, each team will have seven minutes to present the results of their months of work, followed by three minutes to answer in-depth questions from the evaluation panel, which will then select the best project proposals to be offered a pre-incubation path at I3P, the Incubator of the Polytechnic University of Turin, funded by Fondazione CRC.

The Academy initiative is part of the GrandUP! Tech project, promoted by Fondazione CRC in collaboration with I3P, to support the development of an innovation ecosystem and the creation of new businesses in the Cuneo area. The activity was carried out as part of the “Memorandum of Understanding for Innovation and Digitalization of Enterprises in the Province of Cuneo,” signed in 2022 by Fondazione CRC and the Cuneo Chamber of Commerce, with the participation of all the main local trade associations, including Coldiretti, Confagricoltura, Confartigianato, Confcommercio, Confindustria, and Legacoop.

How to Participate

The Pitch Day event will take place on Thursday, April 17, 2025, starting at 5:00 PM, in person at the Rondò dei Talenti in Cuneo, located at Via Luigi Gallo 1.

The event is open to everyone and free to attend, subject to registration on Eventbrite.

Following the project pitches and initial presentations, the organizers will host a networking aperitif to encourage deeper discussions and contact exchanges.

Program

5:00 PM | Check-in and Welcome

5:10 PM | Opening Remarks

  • Introduction by Eleonora Lavalle, Program Manager of GrandUP! Tech
  • Opening greetings from I3P and Fondazione CRC
  • Institutional greetings from the initiative’s partner organizations

5:30 PM | Pitch by Belesì 1.0
5:40 PM | Pitch by Cogitium AI
5:50 PM | Pitch by Droply
6:00 PM | Pitch by Ollipay
6:10 PM | Pitch by Play and Learn Italia
6:20 PM | Pitch by RXNet
6:30 PM | Pitch by Roger
6:40 PM | Pitch by Tua
6:50 PM | Pitch by Ülink
7:00 PM | Closing Remarks and Start of Networking Aperitif

Second Day of RiVestiTO Live

“RiVestiTO Live – speak, act, play circular” is a series of city-wide events from the RiVestiTO project, focused on textiles and the circular economy. Designed to raise awareness and engage the public, each day centers around exploring and promoting a specific circular practice. Six events, one each month, will tackle topics such as clothing and accessory swaps, taking care of your garments to extend their life, the importance of repairs, the habit of buying second-hand, the concept of giving, and the practice of upcycling.

The second day, titled “Beauty That Heals”, will take place on Sunday, April 13, at Green Pea.

An entire afternoon together starting at 4 PM with “Véstiti Slow”, a game conference on fast fashion led by Andrea Vico, science communicator and journalist.

At 5:30 PM, two free workshops will begin: “Ethichette” and “The Happy Wardrobe”.

  • In the first workshop, led by Maria Antonela Bresug from Atelier Riforma, participants will learn how to read and understand clothing labels as sustainability maps.
  • The second workshop, guided by Sassi and Mercato Circolare, will help participants rediscover their wardrobes as spaces that reflect who they are each morning when they open them.

We’ll end the day at 7 PM with a conversation between the RiVestiTO project and Dario Casalini, founder of Slow Fiber and CEO of Oscalito – Maglificio Po, an Italian excellence producing high-quality knitwear since 1936 with a fully vertically integrated supply chain, from thread to finished garment.

Accompanying the event is also “Reverse – perspectives on sustainable fashion”, a photographic project by Chiara Agostinetto.

Googreen Market – April 13

Sunday, April 13, 2025, the Googreen Biodiversity Market celebrates the arrival of spring with its monthly appointment at Giardino Sambuy. As on every second Sunday of the month, the garden comes to life as a place for meeting, good practices, exchange, and seasonal storytelling. A whole day dedicated to local agricultural, nursery, and food & wine excellence, showcasing key elements of our regional heritage.

Territorial excellence – Welcome, spring!

Throughout Sunday, from 10 AM to 7 PM, Giardino Sambuy will host, as always, 40 exhibitors including producers from Il Paniere, Slow Food, and Maestri del Gusto. All gathered in the charming green oasis in front of Porta Nuova, to share the spirit of April through small productions and seasonal harvests. AND THE BALCONY IS BLOOMING! With plants from Vivai Giani, Gardenesque, Feletig, Beeplant, and the expertise of garden master Marco Gramaglia, visitors will receive tips and inspiration to create the most beautiful flowering balcony. On this occasion, the launch of a contest will be announced: the most beautiful balcony in the San Salvario district will be awarded in May, during the San Salvario ha un cuore verde event on May 24–25.

Googreen Walks

On the occasion of this Googreen market, a new immersive walking tour will be introduced, dedicated to exploring the city of Alessandria and its surroundings, in connection with the sustainable producers within our network.

Program:

12:00 PMPizzica dance lesson from southern Salento, organized by Paranza del Geco Association, suitable for beginners and advanced dancers. Followed by a complimentary aperitif.
The lesson is free but reservations are appreciated: paranzadelgeco@gmail.com

3:00 PM – Educational workshop “Little Flowering Balconies Grow” by Impollinatori Metropolitani APS, focusing on biodiversity and ecology.
Info & booking: +39 347 829 1618 – impollinatori@gmail.com

Afternoon (ongoing): “Whispers: Sounds and Stories Face to Face” – Street art along the paths of Giardino Sambuy. A space dedicated to oral storytelling for young and old listeners alike – a micro-journey through words and images, soaring over the lands of poets, storytellers, and rhyme acrobats.
A small paper theater where the art of street storytelling still thrives in the meeting of gazes.
With Arianna Abis, Michela Tancredi, and Pasquale Dominelli. In collaboration with Arthecity.

futuro aggiunto

Added Future 2025: New Funding Opportunities for the Third Sector

Credit | Investments | Skills: A Partnership with the Social Economy.

Added Future 2025 is a financial initiative promoted by Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, Intesa Sanpaolo, Cooperfidi Italia, and Fondazione Social Venture Giordano Dell’Amore. It will provide approximately €7 million in low-interest loans to Third Sector Entities operating in Piedmont, Liguria, and Valle d’Aosta. In these three regions, the Third Sector comprises around 42,300 organizations and employs about 101,000 people, according to ISTAT 2022 data.

Launched in 2024, the first edition of Added Future offered a tangible opportunity to 52 Third Sector Entities, granting them access to low-cost financing for liquidity and strategic investments, with a total disbursement of €6.2 million.

Building on this experience, the new edition introduces enhanced conditions to better meet the sector’s needs.

What’s New in 2025?

Thanks to this renewed initiative, Third Sector Entities can benefit from favorable financing from Intesa Sanpaolo for liquidity and investments. The 2025 edition expands eligibility and provides loans ranging from €50,000 to €300,000, with a minimum duration of 24 months and a maximum of 120 months, including a grace period, at preferential rates. Additionally, the cost of Cooperfidi Italia’s guarantee will be reimbursed under even more competitive conditions than in 2024.

A Stronger Guarantee System

The financing agreement includes:

  1. A Cooperfidi Italia guarantee fund, backed by FEI-EASI resources, covering at least 50% of the loans.
  2. A €500,000 Coverage Fund from Fondazione Social Venture Giordano Dell’Amore, supported by Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, to reimburse the guarantee costs incurred by beneficiaries.

Assuming an average loan request of €100,000 over five years, the initiative aims to support at least 70 organizations, with a total of €7 million in disbursed loans from Intesa Sanpaolo.

These updates make Added Future an even stronger and more advantageous tool for the Third Sector, facilitating access to credit and supporting the development of social impact initiatives.

Banking and the Third Sector: A Growing Partnership

The 13th edition of the Observatory on Finance and the Third Sector by Intesa Sanpaolo and AICCON Research Center reveals that:

  • 86% of Third Sector organizations are satisfied with their relationship with banks.
  • 39% see banks not just as credit providers but also as advisors and network partners.
  • Social enterprises and cooperatives believe banking collaboration is essential for tackling key social challenges, including:
    • Employment for vulnerable groups (34.5%)
    • Expansion of care and assistance services (32%)
    • Combating youth educational poverty (19%)
  • 5% of organizations actively collaborate with banks in this sector, indicating potential for a stronger partnership.

For information on how to access funding, organizations can send an email with their details to direzione.impact@pec.intesasanpaolo.com.

Civic Spaces and Democracy: A Community of Practice for Active Participation at Biennale Democrazia

Civic spaces are the beating heart of participatory democracy—physical and digital environments where citizens and organizations can engage, co-design solutions, and strengthen active participation.

In an era marked by polarization and threats to fundamental rights, protecting these spaces is more urgent than ever. This need has led to the launch of the European project B.Right Spaces, funded by the CERV program of the European Commission, which aims to support and enhance the capacity of local institutions to safeguard civic spaces.

On Wednesday, April 2, the workshop “B.Right Spaces: Civic Spaces as Hubs for Participation and Inclusion” took place at Beeozanam in Turin, organized by Torino Social Impact, the City of Turin, and Labsus, in collaboration with Biennale Democrazia.

A Workshop for Democratic Participation

The event brought together around 20 local organizations and active citizens, marking the beginning of a journey towards the creation of a Community of Practice dedicated to Spaces of Democracy. Following opening remarks by Valeria Vacchiano (City of Turin), Lorena Di Maria (Torino Social Impact), and Emanuela Saporito (Labsus), participants engaged in a collaborative workshop inspired by the World Café method.
Key discussion questions included:

  • What institutional, legal, socio-economic, and cultural factors facilitate participation in civic spaces?
  • What obstacles and threats hinder access to and the effectiveness of these spaces?

From Roundtables to a Shared Strategy

The discussions helped identify strengths, opportunities, and critical challenges to making civic spaces more inclusive and effective. Key themes included:

  • The role of civic spaces as hubs for social innovation and active participation
  • The connection between democracy and freedom of expression
  • The challenges of youth engagement, with a dedicated table for organizations working with and for young people

The April 2nd meeting is just the beginning: in the coming weeks a comparative study on civic practices in Turin will be developed, linking them to the local legal and socio-cultural framework. The goal is to provide concrete tools to strengthen democratic participation and the role of civic spaces in the long run.

Want to join the Community of Practice?
Find out more and stay updated on upcoming initiatives

prima persona plurale

First-Person Plural: The Festival on Independent Living in Italy, promoted by Fondazione Time2

First-Person Plural, the festival promoted by Fondazione Time2 and dedicated to Independent Living, will take place in Turin.

The event will be held from May 5 to May 7, 2025, at Open, Corso Stati Uniti 62/b, Turin. It is designed to celebrate European Independent Living Day (May 5) and to explore this topic in a pivotal year, as Italy begins experimenting with the new Disability Delegation Law.

The achievement of disability rights is the result of a shared history and collective effort. Through a program featuring panels, talks, and activities, the festival will explore the past, present, and future of Independent Living. Three days of awareness, reflection, and discussion aimed at promoting self-determination and full participation of people with disabilities in society and the community.

“Becoming an adult means fully exercising one’s citizenship: moving freely in public spaces, accessing work, choosing where and with whom to live.
First-Person Plural was created to provide a space for discussion on these topics and to affirm the right to Independent Living.”

Antonella Lavazza, Vice President of Fondazione Time2

First-Person Plural means recognizing ourselves in the ordinary experience of people within a democratic space. This is not an exception or a privilege but the concrete realization of what is both possible and necessary: the right of every person to have a voice, to choose, and to fully participate in social life.”

Lavinia D’Errico, philosopher and researcher at the University of Naples ‘Suor Orsola Benincasa’, and member of the festival’s scientific committee, alongside: Samuele Pigoni (Secretary-General of Fondazione Time2); Cecilia Marchisio (Professor of Special Education and Inclusion at the University of Turin); and Giampiero Griffo.

Program and Guests

The festival will feature debates and activities with notable guests, including:

  • Giampiero Griffo, member of the World Council of Disabled People’s International and a key figure in advocating for disability rights.
  • Jozef Gjura, actor (including in the TV series The Leopard), who will present a reading on the struggle for rights.
  • Valentina Perniciaro, author, activist, and founder of Tetrabondi.
  • Elisa Costantino, researcher specializing in Disability Studies and Independent Living.

Many others will also share experiences and practices to promote cultural change.

All First-Person Plural events will be free of charge. Sessions will have live subtitles, LIS (Italian Sign Language) interpretation, and streaming availability.

The detailed program, accessibility measures, and registration will be available from April 5, 2025, on the dedicated event page: [link here].

First-Person Plural

May 5-6-7, 2025
Open, Corso Stati Uniti 62/b, Turin

With the patronage of the City of Turin, the Piedmont Region, the Metropolitan City of Turin, and the University of Turin.

Bench-Mark | Ep. 84 – Museo Nazionale della Montagna

From the heart of Turin to the heights of the mountains, the Museo Nazionale della Montagna is a living cultural space where history, innovation, and sustainability come together.Through exhibitions, archives, and educational programs, this Institute sheds light on the evolution of mountain landscapes and their deep connection with society.

Today, Daniela Berta, Director of the Museo Nazionale della Montagna, takes us on a journey to explore how Alpine culture can inspire change and help address global challenges.

Interview by Francesco Antonioli.

Watch previous episodes here.

Impactwise Conference 2025: Silent Masters – Business, Philanthropy, and the Market

At a time when it is crucial to redefine the meaning and direction of our development model, we explore and discuss new approaches at the intersection of entrepreneurship, the market, and philanthropy. This conference is aimed at entrepreneurs and management, the world of strategic philanthropy, university and postgraduate students, institutions, and networks.

Cottino Social Impact Campus and Fondazione Cottino —following the success of the first international Impactwise conference, which launched the Cottino Social Impact Campus with the participation of economist Mariana Mazzucato and former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Raghuram Rajan—have decided to organize the IMPACTWISE CONFERENCE 2025 to share insights and offer responses to today’s challenges.

The Event

The conference will open with the presentation of the multimedia book The Silent Master, a biography of Engineer Giovanni Cottino.

The book will be introduced by an original short film that, through a series of interviews, offers a compelling portrait of Cottino’s values, history, and actions. A visionary philanthropist and forward-thinking entrepreneur, Cottino was deeply committed to giving back.

The focus will then shift to an interview conducted by Nicola Saldutti, Economics Editor at Corriere della Sera, with Professor Emerita Deirdre McCloskey (University of Illinois, Chicago)—a leading economist known for her sharp, rigorous, and thought-provoking liberal perspective on economics as a human-centered science, serious ethics, and a business model that values people.

The second part of the event will feature a roundtable discussion inspired by McCloskey’s insights. Entrepreneurs, key figures in national and local philanthropy, institutional representatives, and academic researchers will share their perspectives.

When: April 11, 2025
Where: Officine Grandi Riparazioni, Corso Castelfidardo, 22, 10128 Torino TO – BINARIO 3 Hall

The event is free but has limited seating.

To view the full program and register, visit the Eventbrite link!

Creative Europe: strategies and insights for accessing 2025 funding

How can a cultural idea become a winning European project? This was the key question at the workshop dedicated to the CREA-CULT-2025-COOP call, held on March 28, 2025, at Relife in Turin.

Organized as part of the European Projects HUB for Social Economy, the event offered a unique opportunity to explore funding possibilities for the cultural and creative sector, combining practical insights with experience sharing.

From Call to Action: a hands-on workshop for shaping the future

With a budget of €60 million, the CREA-CULT 2025 call funds initiatives that promote innovation, cooperation, and sustainability in the cultural and creative sectors. From social inclusion to digital transition, from artistic experimentation to the circulation of works, the funding opportunities are extensive for those looking to develop projects with a European vision.

During the workshop, Alessia Ibba from Torino Social Impact outlined the call’s key guidelines, offering tips on structuring a strong application and maximizing funding potential. Luisella Carnelli from Fondazione Fitzcarraldo shared success stories from European project design, providing practical insights to help participants develop credible and impactful proposals.

Participants had the chance to exchange ideas with experts and other professionals, refining their project concepts through discussion and collaboration.

What’s Next? A tailored support program for applications

The workshop is just the beginning: in the coming weeks, participants will have access to personalized mentoring sessions through the European Projects HUB for Social Economy. The goal? To turn the ideas developed during the workshop into fundable projects.