Events

Given the resounding success of last year's edition, the University of Insubria, the leader of Spoke 3, has organized the second series of three conferences, titled "Fashion Tuesdays 2025," in collaboration with the Como Silk Museum. The events, which will be held at the Como Silk Museum, Via Castelnuovo 9, will focus on three women active in the fashion world who bring messages of female emancipation. The first meeting will be held on September 30, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM and will be dedicated to Luisa Spagnoli, "The Genius of an Entrepreneur."   Luisa Spagnoli began her entrepreneurial career in 1907 when, together with Francesco Buitoni and Leone Ascoli, she opened a small confectionery company in Perugia called Perugina. She joined the board of directors in 1922 and immediately proved to be a visionary woman, attentive to the well-being of her employees. Over the years, she distinguished herself by implementing social projects aimed at improving the living conditions of workers, such as the construction of a nursery in the Fontivegge factory.   Her adventure in the fashion world began at the end of World War I, when she decided to dedicate herself to raising poultry and Angora rabbits. Spagnoli proved extremely sensitive and attentive to the animals' welfare; she chose not to inflict any kind of torture on the rabbits, which were not killed or sheared, but rather combed to obtain the angora wool needed for yarn. From this insight, the Angora Spagnoli company was founded in Santa Lucia (PG), which would go on to create stunning creations including shawls, boleros, and fashionable garments. A company that stands the test of time and has become a leading name in the fashion industry thanks to the innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit that Luisa Spagnoli demonstrated at a time when women struggled daily for emancipation.   Subscribe here   The second event will be held on Tuesday, October 14th from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM and will be dedicated to Cora Slocomb di Brazzà: "an American in Friuli."   Cora Slocomb was born in New Orleans in 1862. From a wealthy family, she acquired the title of countess in 1887 through her marriage to Detalmo Savorgnan di Brazzà. After her marriage to the count, she arrived in Friuli, where she found a land wracked by poverty and misery. She decided to make her talent available to the local population, especially women. She aimed to provide women with tools for emancipation and independence through work, thanks to the innovative projects of the Cooperative Lace Schools. She taught the art of bobbin lacemaking to Friulian peasant women, providing them with refined models of what she called "design applied to industry"—our industrial design.   In addition to the lace schools, Cora Slocomb di Brazzà undertook other projects: the creation of toys using Nuremberg porcelain; the marketing of Brazzà violets, cultivated by her brother-in-law Filippo, which reached the markets of Alexandria, St. Petersburg, and New York; and the promotion of the Delser biscuit factory. The establishment of the Agricultural Emulation Fairs was particularly important. Recognition of Cora Slocomb's entrepreneurial skills was formalized with her appointment as President of the Italian Women's Industries.   Subscribe here   The third event will be held on Tuesday, November 18th from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM and will be dedicated to Emmy Schoch.   Hermine Emilie Schoch-Leimbach, known as Emmy Schoch, was born in Lichtenau, Germany, in 1881. She was a German fashion designer and entrepreneur. She designed artistic reform dresses and promoted them through lectures and exhibitions. She was actively involved in the Association for the Improvement of Women's Dress.   In 1903, she abandoned her piano studies after an illness and began an apprenticeship as a craftswoman in Pauline Winker's studio in Berlin.   From an early age, she stood out for her innovative ideas, which helped change the German fashion landscape. While still an apprentice, she designed dresses and exhibited them in Berlin. In 1906, Schoch rented space in Karlsruhe and opened a workshop for new women's costumes and artistic embroidery. The magazine "Frauenkleid und Frauenkultur" (Women's Clothing and Women's Culture) of the Association for the Improvement of Women's Clothing presented the Schoch company in 1911 using dress patterns. Schoch contributed to the magazine for 25 years. Photos and patterns of her dress designs were printed. For the association, she undertook speaking tours in the Rhineland, the Ruhr area, northern Germany, and Saxony. At these events, she spoke about the health and hygiene benefits of reformed clothing and even demonstrated it. For Emmy Schoch, the aesthetic demands of clothing were as important as the demand for comfort. She saw the qualities of German craftsmanship as a counterweight to French fashion.   Subscribe here

The University of Eastern Piedmont has organized an event entitled: Creativity in Progress! Creative Paths Through Visions, Practices, and Territories on September 27th, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Omegna (VB), at the Fondazione Parco - Forum, Parco Maulini 1.   In a world that invokes creativity but struggles to define it, this conference aims to open a space for dialogue between diverse voices—journalists, curators, scholars, designers—to explore the possible paths of creative competence. It's an opportunity to explore, together, some of the geographies of contemporary creativity. A journey through practices, stories, and visions. Without predefined maps, but with a great deal of curiosity. As Rodari said, "Creativity is intelligence having fun."   From industrial museums to publishing, from itineraries to businesses—including cultural ones—to explore stories, perspectives, and creative paths. The aim is to continue the debate that opened during and alongside a PNRR advanced training course held in Omegna at the PARCO Foundation in 2024; to the resulting volume; to the Creativity Manifesto it contains; and to the desire to always challenge oneself.   The aim of the event, organized by Professor Stefania Cerutti of Upo, is to provide a framework for debate on the topic of creativity in support of territorial and business innovation.   REGISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION: Registration via the link provided by the PARCO Foundation; free in-person participation (at the FORUM facility, OMEGNA VB) CONTACTS: comunicazione@rodariparcofantasia.it      

On the occasion of the European Researchers' Night 2025, the University of Insubria, leader of Spoke 3 Industry, Tourism, and Culture, has organized two meetings entirely dedicated to civil society and the academic community.   On Thursday, September 25, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm, at the University of Insubria - Sant'Abbondio campus – Aula Magna S.1.8, a conference will be held, coordinated by Professor Laura Facchin and Dr. Alessandra Casati of the DISUIT (Department of Human Sciences and Innovation for the Territory) entitled: Women's Artistic Practices on Lake Como.   The meeting, supported by images, archive testimonies, and videos, aims to take stock of the role of women as artists and patrons and to explore how the female figure has entered the world of work, particularly in the textile sector. Beginning with women artists and patrons from the early 19th century to the contemporary era in the city of Como: from the last visit to the city of the internationally renowned painter Angelica Kauffmann, who spent her youth on the lake, to the women textile designers who worked for Como firms in the 20th century, such as the abstract artist Carla Badiali, a textile artist and entrepreneur, who was both an artist and a designer, and Andrée Brossin du Méré, a Swiss designer who, after World War II, launched Como silks onto the international fashion scene. The event will include historical presentations and moments of reflection and discussion with scholars and professionals in the production and creativity sectors.   On Friday, September 26, from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM, a conference will be held at the University of Insubria - Sant'Abbondio campus - Aula Magna S.1.8, coordinated by Professors Roberta Minazzi, Valentina Jacometti, and Deborah Toschi of DIdec (Department of Law and Economics). The conference will be entitled: Augmented Reality and the Valorization of the Larian Territory.   During the first part of the event, there will be a brief presentation of the two Academic POCs created as part of the PNRR Nodes project: ITM (Immersive Textile Museum) and CERR (Cultural Extended Reality Routes).   After the presentation, participants will be able to enjoy an immersive experience rediscovering Como's textile culture through augmented reality. This will be a special opportunity to discover how culture, tourism, and digital innovation can intertwine in engaging and future-oriented experiences.   Finally, the tour will move to the Como Silk Museum, where participants will be able to rediscover Como's great textile heritage with the help of special headsets and augmented reality.   Register for the Augmented Reality and Promotion of the Larian Territory event   N.B.: THE SEPTEMBER 25 EVENT: "WOMEN'S ARTISTIC PRACTICES ON THE LARIO" AND THE SEPTEMBER 26 EVENT: AUGMENTED REALITY AND PROMOTION OF THE LARIAN TERRITORY HAVE BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO BAD WEATHER AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED.   Spoke 2 - Green Technologies and Sustainable Industries will also participate in the Uninsubria Researchers' Night 2025 with the presentation of the academic PoC "T2T: Trash to Treasure," the blockchain that generates value from industrial waste.   The presentation will be held on Friday, September 26th in Busto Arsizio (VA), in Piazza Santa Maria, during the event entitled "Science in the Square." The event, which will run from 4:30 PM to 9:30 PM, will feature interactive scientific experiences designed to spark curiosity and wonder in both adults and children, showcasing the surprising wonders that science can offer.   Contacts: Marzia Gariboldi marzia.gariboldi@uninsubria.it; Emanuela Marras emanuela.marras@uninsubria.it   OTHER SPOKE 3 EVENTS   On the occasion of the European Researchers' Night, the University of Valle d'Aosta has organized an event entitled: Flavor of the Future. It will be held on Friday, September 26, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM at the University of Valle d'Aosta - University Campus, Via Monte Vodice, Aosta.   During the event, Spoke 3 - Tourism and Culture Industry will present a talk entitled: "Tourism and Culture between Sustainability and Digitalization," from 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM.   The talk "Tourism and Culture between Sustainability and Digitalization," organized by the Spoke 3 – Tourism and Culture Industry (NODES-PNRR) research group, addresses the role of digital innovation in promoting the sustainable development of tourism and culture. The presentation will introduce the new online platform for thematic itineraries, conceived as a tool to enhance territorial identity, connect heritage and narratives, and foster inclusive forms of cultural tourism. The integration of sustainability and digital technologies supports the rediscovery of fragile territories and offers new opportunities to communities.

On September 19, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the ComoNext Innovation Hub will host the event "Textile Research: Universities and Businesses for Innovation" in Lomazzo (CO), at Via Cavour 2.   The meeting, promoted as part of the NODES project by researchers from the University of Insubria, will be held in collaboration between Spoke 2 - Green Technologies and Sustainable Industries and Spoke 3 - Tourism and Culture Industry. The event brings together academia and businesses to strengthen strategic collaborations and stimulate new opportunities in the textile sector.   During the morning, researchers from the University of Insubria and businesses will discuss innovative research, ongoing collaborations, and funding opportunities, and will present innovative projects already underway in the textile sector. The initiative will conclude with a networking opportunity to foster further synergies between universities and businesses and explore potential future collaborations.   The event aims to be a concrete opportunity for technology transfer and sustainable innovation, enhancing the integration between academic research and manufacturing. The primary objective of the meeting will be to strengthen the innovation ecosystem in manufacturing supply chains, specifically the textile sector, with a focus on sustainability and the green transition, and enhancing the heritage of excellence for the Nodes region. Subscribe here

On September 18 and 19, 2025, the workshop "Green Investments and Environmental Risks: Banks, Firms, and Public Policies" will take place at Villa Toeplitz, Via Giovanni Battista Vico 46, Varese. The workshop is promoted as part of the PRIN and NODES projects by researchers from the Department of Economics at the University of Insubria.   The event brings together academia, businesses, and international institutions to strengthen strategic collaborations and stimulate new opportunities in productive sectors.   Initiating a transition to environmental sustainability is a complex challenge, requiring significant investments and profound changes in production processes and management models for both businesses and banks. This workshop aims to empirically analyze the link between the intensity of green investments in the economy and environmental risks at the local level, examining the efforts made by banks, businesses, and public policies to support the transition to a green economy.   The workshop will explore how sustainability choices can represent strategic value for businesses, particularly in the textile and tourism sectors. It will also explore the role of ESG assessments and new ways to activate credit and financing solutions, both traditional (such as banking support) and innovative, to support sustainable innovation.   The event is open to everyone—citizens, businesses, public administrations, and researchers—and registration is not required.  

On Wednesday, September 10, from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM and Thursday, September 11, from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, a workshop entitled "Tourism Degrowth and Sustainable Transportation: Challenges and Perspectives" will be held at the University of Insubria, Sant'Abbondio campus, Como, room S.2.7.   This interdisciplinary workshop explores tourism degrowth as a transformative approach for developing more responsible, equitable, and sustainable tourism models. Highlighting the need to counter the effects of tourism overcrowding and environmental degradation, the workshop focuses on how transportation systems interact with degrowth strategies. Furthermore, beyond reducing transportation emissions, tourism degrowth also contributes to sustainability claims from a socio-cultural perspective. It promotes authentic, community-based experiences, rather than mass tourism, and encourages tourists to explore nearby destinations and use bicycles or walking for slower travel. This aims to foster deeper connections between travelers and locals, preserving cultural heritage and identity, and reducing pressure on communities and residents.   Workshop Objectives   1. Promoting slower, localized, and low-impact travel 2. Rethinking traditional transportation infrastructure and policies 3. Promoting community-based tourism and preserving cultural identity 4. Encouraging cooperation between policymakers, industry, and local communities   Key Topics   1. Sustainable transportation in urban and suburban tourism 2. Effects of degrowth on accessibility and public transportation 3. Sociological perspectives on tourism and mobility 4. Destination management and new business models 5. Transport-based services in the hospitality sector 6. Behavioral and experimental approaches 7. Regenerative tourism and planning 8. Community-based tourism strategies 9. Transportation solutions for mass tourism areas 10. Market impacts on the transportation sector 11. Methods for measuring tourism degrowth   The event is open to researchers, doctoral students, and civil society.   To learn more about the topics of the two-day workshop, please see the attached program.  

he exhibition Cultivating the Future: Agriculture, Energy, Community originates from the work of Research Module 1 of the flagship project FORMIDABILÆ, within Spoke 6. Curated by Carlo Berizzi and Nadia Bertolino (Architecture and Urban Design Research Lab, University of Pavia), the exhibition presents drawings and models that explore the role of the contemporary farmstead as a laboratory of innovation, sustainability and energy, bridging tradition and the future of the Po Valley rural landscape. The project, the result of the joint work of the research teams in Architectural Design and Electrical Engineering, proposes a reflection on the reactivation of Cascina Vialone, a traditional Lombard farmstead reinterpreted as an experimental model of the farm of the future—capable of combining environmental sustainability, energy autonomy, and community relations. The preview will take place at the former rice mill of Tenuta Vialone, during the 2025 Rice Festival, and will be accompanied by a roundtable discussion and a guided tour with the curators. Programme At 3:00 pm, before the guided tour, the roundtable “The Sustainability of the Farm” will open with institutional greetings by Ivana Maria Cartanì, Mayor of Sant’Alessio con Vialone. This will be followed by contributions from Stefano Lamberti (Tenuta Vialone) and Daniele Campari (Pro Loco Sant’Alessio con Vialone), who will illustrate the transformation of the former rice mill into a space returned to the community thanks to the PNRR. Carlo Berizzi and Nadia Bertolino will discuss architectural strategies and design scenarios for rethinking the farmstead as a community hub, while Norma Anglani (Laboratory of Electrical Energy, University of Pavia) will present an experimental approach to the use of clean energy in rural contexts. The roundtable will conclude with Marta Sempio, President of Confagricoltura Pavia, who will introduce the Spighe Verdi programme, promoted by Confagricoltura and FEE Italia, which recognises rural municipalities committed to sustainable land management policies. On this occasion, the Municipality of Sant’Alessio con Vialone will receive the Spighe Verdi 2025 Award, a recognition of the good practices implemented in the territory. At 4:30 pm, the guided tour of the exhibition will follow, led by the curators. Next dates After the preview in Sant’Alessio con Vialone, the exhibition will be open from 23 to 27 September 2025 at the Palazzo del Broletto in Pavia. The event is part of the Sharper Night Pavia programme and will be accompanied by a week of initiatives promoted by the research team, including meetings and public discussions on sustainability, agro-industry, and new energies.  

The acceleration program for agrifood tech starts Applications for 0to1 Acceleration Sprint, the new acceleration program promoted by NODES Spoke 7, are open until July 13, 2025. The initiative is aimed at startups and innovative projects in the agrifood tech sector and aims to strengthen their market positioning, promoting access to investments and the creation of strategic relationships. Launch event The program will be inaugurated on July 15, 2025, from 9:30 to 12:30, with an in-person event at the Cavallerizza Reale (UNITO), Via Verdi 9, Turin. Registration is mandatory through the form.   Program objectives and recipients “0to1 Acceleration Sprint” aims to: Support innovative projects in the validation and development of the business model; Promote matchmaking with investors and strategic partners; Promote access to new opportunities for growth and investment; Support the development of solutions in the Green Food, Smart Food and Healthy Food sectors. The program is aimed at: Proof of Concept, Startups and Spin-offs, even those not yet established; Projects that propose innovative solutions for the agri-food industry, in particular in the sectors: Sustainable production (Green Food), Intelligent systems and transformation 4.0/5.0 (Smart Food) and Safe and healthy foods (Healthy Food). Interested startups can apply by completing the online registration form no later than 13 July 2025 (11:59 p.m.).   How it works The program will be held from July 15 to November 30, 2025 in hybrid mode, with 12 online workshops on vertical topics; Personalized Mentorship and business model support; In-person events for the launch, matchmaking with investors (October) and the final Demo Day (November) at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo.   Timeline and deadlines     •    Call opening: 30 June 2025     •    Closing of applications: 13 July 2025, 11.59pm     •    Launch event: 15 July 2025 – Cavallerizza Reale, Turin     •    Matchmaking with investors: October 2025     •    Concluding Demo Day: November 2025 – Pollenzo (CN) For more information: nodes@unisg.it | 0to1@beecofarm.it The program is made with the support of ISIRES, *beeco and ToSeed & Partners, key players in the agrifood tech innovation ecosystem.   APPLY HERE  

On July 18, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the round table "Climate Change and the Future of the Como Area. Adaptation Options and Good Practices" will be held at the Cloister of Sant'Abbondio at the University of Insubria in Como. This interdisciplinary discussion will focus on the effects of climate change on the Como area and adaptation strategies.   Organized by the University of Insubria, the event will bring together academic and practical contributions on crucial topics: hydrogeological risk management, environmental impacts on lake ecosystems, the vulnerability of tourist destinations, and the resilience of mountain areas.   The meeting is coordinated by Stefano Fanetti (University of Insubria) and will feature professors, researchers, and experts from universities, research institutes, associations, and businesses.   Specifically, the panel will address the effects of global warming on the Lake Como basin and its aquatic biodiversity, the combined impact of climate change and overtourism on tourist destinations, and adaptation strategies for Alpine areas characterized by winter tourism.   The roundtable is aimed at scholars, local administrators, tourism operators, and citizens interested in understanding and addressing climate impacts at the local scale.   Admission is free.