News

ENVIH2DAY was held on April 5, an event that proved to be a great opportunity for discussion among European and local NODES Ecosystem actors involved in the hydrogen supply chain. In addition to Environment Park and Politecnico di Torino, a number of researchers participated in the 16th IEA Task 30 Electrolysis Workshop, which aims to identify the prospects and opportunities of the hydrogen supply chain at the international level. During the meeting, there were project pitches and networking moments, as well as visits to Environment Park laboratories, which allowed for the knowledge and meeting of local and European realities. Spoke 1 and its Partners, within the NODES Ecosystem, are working on the development of the hydrogen supply chain in the Northwest, in relation to the European market, taking advantage of its ever-growing network and the cutting-edge research and innovation projects carried out within it.

The Gianni Rodari Fantasy Park of Omegna and the University of Eastern Piedmont join forces for "What a feat creativity is!", a high-level training course as part of the training activities of Spoke 3 - culture and tourism industry". This is a cycle of five meetings, totally free, lasting four hours each, dedicated to cultural and creative projects for the development of businesses, talents and territories. The course is aimed at students, entrepreneurs, cultural and tourism operators and professionals. Below is the complete program.   May 3: 2.00pm-4.00pm: Stefania Cerutti, associate professor of the University of Eastern Piedmont, and Pino Boero of CDA Fondazione P.AR.C.O., "Introduction to the course, contextualization and the importance of creativity in businesses". 4.00pm-5.00pm: Matteo Severgnini, essayist, “The pot of fear” 5.00pm-6.00pm: Massimiliano Ferrè, We Do Fablab manager   May 10: 2.00pm-6.00pm: Federica Vittori, strategic planning manager, and Elena Patacchini, communication manager of cheFare – agency for cultural transformation, “Cultural planning for the transformation of communities”   May 17: 2.00pm-4.00pm: Germano Lanzoni, actor and founder of HBE Humor Business Experience, “Humor Business Leadership” 4.00pm-6.00pm: Marco Basile, co-founder of ErgoSum, “Happy mistakes for success and creativity”.   May 31: 2.00pm-6.00pm: Mauro Berruto, coach, inspirational speaker, journalist and storyteller, and Chiara Alessi, curator and essayist, “Olympics or Olympic Games?”   June 7: 2.00pm-4.00pm: Sara Rubinelli, full professor at the University of Lucerne, “Emotional intelligence” 4.00pm-6.00pm: Claudio Gianettoni, service strategy and marketing consultant, vice-president of Aticrea and member of the Swiss national committee of the artistic professions association, “Creativity at the service of sustainability and quality of life; Conceptual aspects, experiences, good practices. A new approach to structuring the cooperative network".   All meetings are free; To participate, however, you must register at this link. The meetings are held at the Omegna Forum or online on the GoTo platform. Finally, an open badge will be issued by the UPO University which certifies the skills acquired by participating in at least 4 of the 5 modules.

The fourth edition of the Biennale Tecnologia at the Politecnico di Torino  From 18 to 21 April, the Politecnico di Torino organized and hosted the fourth edition of Biennale Tecnologia, a cultural event dedicated to explore the relationship between technology and society. The chosen theme for this exhibition was ''Achievable Utopias'': an invitation to conceive the future with creativity and freedom, trasforming the idea into concrete project action. The event has been a great success with the participation of more than 50.000 visitors over the four days of activities.     The contribution of TINCARE Young researchers from  TINCARE affiliated with the Politecnico di Torino also partecipated in the event. They took the opportunity to share some of the results of their research activities conducted within Research Module 4, NEWBREATH, which aims to develop a ventilation device to support patients at home, and Research Module 3, MOVEWISE, whose ultimate goal is to develop a system to monitor in everyday life those mobility parameters more related to the risk of falling  The researchers presented interactive activities that involved visitors at the ''Politecnico Aperto'' event, promoting the importance of personalized medicine and sustainable medical technologies that have a significant impact on citizens.  The flagship TINCARE is now in full swing, and its commitment to disseminate the topics and results of the research is becoming increasingly active.  

On March 22, at the ''Perrone'' Campus in Novara, the University of Piemonte Orientale hosted the scientific dissemination event ''UniStem Day2024'' , coordinated by Professor Diego Cotella.  UniStem Day is an annual international event that, since 2009, offers to high school students the opportunity to explore scientific research on stem cell. During this day, students participate in interventions, discussions, film screening, lab visits and other activities that encourage interaction with researchers. This event offers a meaningful educational and emotional experience. 

Spoke 6 opens registrations and presents the training course "Agri-tech Training: Precision Viticulture," provided by the University of Pavia and the Riccagioia Foundation.   Targeted at personnel working in primary agribusiness and related sectors, with a focus on SMEs, the course offers the opportunity to explore the potential of modern technologies applied to viticulture. Using tools such as sensors, drones, and data analysis, participants will learn how to monitor and manage vineyards more efficiently.   The program, spread over four days (July 13, 14, 15, and 23, 2024), includes both online and in-person sessions, offering a flexible and accessible learning opportunity.   Among the instructors are industry experts such as Federica Beccati and Matteo Petito from IBF Servizi, along with Cesare Cangero from Bayer Crop Science. These specialists will guide participants through key topics such as remote sensing, the use of geographic information systems (GIS), and vine bio-protection practices.   At the end of the course, participants will receive a recognized certificate in the form of an Open badge, attesting to the skills acquired during the training. For companies interested in improving their viticultural practices through technological innovation, the Agri-tech Training course offers a professional development opportunity not to be missed.   INFORMATION

The Spoke 1 appointments for Bienniale Tecnologia ended with great participation. Project Partners and researchers brought us into contact with one of the great challenges of this era, Space, no longer as the domain of superpowers, but as a reality close to those with ideas to take to the top. During the two meetings The Space Near Us and Startup to Space, participants learned about the impact of the New Space economy on everyone's daily life, with its very high technological content today and its potential for expansion tomorrow, personified by the young people who will be its creators and whom the I3P Incubator allowed them to meet and get to know. The NODES ecosystem and its Spoke 1 remain the ideal link to exploit the great opportunities brought by the new paradigms of the sector, within a network of entities and people, for new integrated solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow.

On Thursday 18 April 2024, twenty-five students from the Department of Economics of the Economics and Management of Innovation and Sustainability (CLEMIS) course of the University of Insubria went to the headquarters of ComoNext Innovation Hub, partner of Spoke 3, to participate in two challenges that will see them engaged for about two months. Prof. Alfredo Biffi of the Department of Economics of Insubria explains that: "it is a very interesting project that allows children to be confronted with the completeness of the problems that companies and institutions encounter on a daily basis in their business journey , or in any case development. During the day, the first meeting was held directly at ComoNext with some of the tutors who follow the students; furthermore, tasks were assigned to the students who will work on two thematic lines starting from a survey activity ". Specifically, the challenges in which students will participate are: CHALLENGE 1 - SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING CNext worked on its first social report in 2022 together with one of its partners, Andersen. The approach followed is the traditional one which responds to the indicators required by law, in particular related to the environment, governance and social dimension. These indicators, however, do not reflect the nature of CNext which has an action, through its territorial hubs, linked to the regeneration of the territory. In effect, it involves building innovation centers in abandoned or disused industrial spaces. All this leads to the creation of an armature around the poles which would be interesting to measure. In the case of ComoNext, for example, the area around the park has become populated with commercial activities, the apartments have increased their economic value. But which ad hoc indicators should we build? And where to find authoritative sources? Students are asked to make proposals for customized indicators for CNext's sustainability reporting. CHALLENGE 2 - SKILLS CNext has a peculiar model, it aims to create a network of innovation hubs on Italian territory that work according to a common technology transfer model and respond to common governance. The professional figures necessary to support innovation projects are various and, thanks to the history of the first innovation hub, namely ComoNext, it has experimented with some of them (opportunity managers, innovation managers, innovation and project financing experts). They are often "hybrid" figures that require technical skills spanning multiple disciplines, and above all soft skills. It is important to know how to work in a system of subjects, including the more traditional ones (such as business associations), and to make innovation ecosystems communicate at all levels of the economic system. To make this more evident, a challenge was launched which, through the analysis of skills, provides a picture of the professionalism that CNext will need to hire between now and the next five years to have new points of view and see if and how much they distance themselves from current estimates. From this challenge CNext expects a hypothesis of ideal profiles with indicators for the evaluation of soft skills. In addition to visiting the ComoNExT science and technology park, the kids had the opportunity to visit the Next Marketing LAB; project resulting from funding from the Lombardy Region which combines the skills of 11 companies located within the park. This laboratory is a place where companies, institutions, trainers, and students can see first-hand the technologies related to digital marketing and where they can understand how these have impacts on processes and organizations. It is a laboratory, physical and digital, where innovation and technology meet at the service of the company, a place of discovery, sharing and comparison. In light of all this, they had the opportunity to participate in a Q&A with their tutors - Elisabetta Giromini and Giulia Bizzotto.

Probiota Global 2024, the leading event in the microbiome industry, took place in the world's design capital and addressed key topics such as the gut-lung axis, new frontiers for the use of probiotics, marketing insisghts, customization, skin health improvement, next-generation innovation, and regulatory developments.    Participation in scientific conferences such as Probiota Global 2024 (Milan) always allows to involve researchers to present and discuss the results obtained, establishing a strong connection between universities, scientific communication and companies experienced in the field. In this context, the collaboration between Research Module 2 (RM2) of the flagship project TINCARE and the company Probionova SA (Lugano) was among the topics presented and discussed during this important scientific conference. The aim was to disseminate the significant results obtained by RM2 in the experimental characterization of a new probiotic formulation, produced by Probionova, aimed at supporting neuronal functions and not only. The purpose was precisely to build a new reality in the landscape of human microbioma research and development, aiming to improve health through the development of new applications related to the world of probiotics. At the same time, these probiotics were also evaluated as application in new therapeutic areas, allowing to amplify the role of RM2, still extending the studies in collaboration with the industrial reality.     The common thread on which the research was based is the real connection between health and disease states with the gut microflora. For this reason, the study wanted to evaluate how to promote and maintain health by preserving intestinal well-being (intestinal homeostasis), through the use of probiotics.   Probionova, convinced that they can actively contribute to the development of new strategies for the well-being of the individual, supported the study by providing high-performance probiotic strains, which have been studied by RM2 in the context of healthy aging.  The survey led to the publication of an interesting article in an indexed journal, focusing on the beneficial role of probiotic supplementation with strains such as B. bifidum novaBBF7, B. longum novaBLG2 and L. paracasei TJB8, on the maintenance of cognitive function. In addition, a subsequent publication is underway, aimed at outlining the use of probiotics, to mitigate molecular factors related to depression and anxiety, which are closely related to the processes of brain aging and neurodegeneration.     

Lunedì 8 aprile, presso le OGR a Torino, si è tenuto BOOST YOUR COMPETENCE, l'evento di presentazione dei percorsi di formazione messi in campo da NODES, Nord Ovest Digitale E Sostenibile.   Sul portale web è possibile consultare tutto il catalogo dei corsi proposti, orientati al perfezionamento e acquisizione di competenze distintive e specifiche, nonchè allo sviluppo delle soft skills necessarie per gestire le sfide della doppia transizione, digitale ed ecologica.   Più di 2700 ore di didattica tra corsi brevi tematici, laboratori, attività di approfondimento, workshop, visite studio, moduli formativi e master professionalizzanti, resi accessibili e a prezzi contenuti grazie alla dote di NODES attraverso i fondi MUR-PNRR e NextGenerationEU.    Ad oggi sono già 40 i percorsi realizzati e per il biennio 2024/25 ne sono previsti 70 nuovi e altri sono in corso di programmazione.   Durante la mattinata si sono così alternati ai microfoni i principali attori protagonisti di questa nuova sfida, moderati da Francesco Rigatelli, giornalista de La Stampa.  

Spoke 1's 2024 begins with the assembly of Project Partners, an excellent opportunity to update priorities by looking at the needs of the ecosystem's industrial actors, relative to Aerospace and Sustainable mobility. During the meeting, the progress and state of the art of the project, the results of past business funding initiatives and upcoming and current opportunities were reported, but most importantly, the future goals of Spoke 1 were reviewed and defined, particularly in regard of internationalization and business development. The Spoke Partners defined a new schedule of activities useful for strengthening the fabric of the Ecosystem, with the link between research and innovation always at the center, for the resilience of existing supply chains, and support for the development of business potential. In the next the upcoming NODES General Assembly, all Spokes will have an opportunity to exchange views to identify critical issues and solutions to be put in place to continue to contribute to the growth of an ever increasingly Digital and Sustainable Northwest. The event was hosted by I3P on January 23, 2024

The meeting "AUGMENTED VISION FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE. Shapes, Ideas, Things, Stories" was held last Friday 5 April, as part of the GEONIGHT-NIGHT OF GEOGRAPHY 2024 event promoted by Eugeo (Association of Geographical Societies in Europe) and by the International Geographical Union: https://www.geonight.net/?s=verbania. The University of Eastern Piedmont, partner of Spoke 3, opened the doors of Villa San Remigio, home of the Upontourism study centre, to welcome 35 students of the Landscape Tourism Sustainability course (three-year degree in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development, DISSTE Department ) and the Tourism Geography Laboratory (master's degree in Languages ​​Cultures Tourism, DISUM Department) to lead them to (re)discover the landscape and heritage of the Villa. Speaker Dr. Leonardo Parachini, local history expert; Also present was Dr. Fernando Salvetti of the LOGOS net company, partner of the Challenge of the PNRR NODES Spoke 3 project coordinated by Prof. Stefania Cerutti (DISSTE) with the collaboration of Dr. Stefania Benetti (DISSTE). The dense narrative as well as the visit to the spaces of the Villa was greatly appreciated, thanks also to the use of documentary materials (textual and iconographic) of great interest. A geography that intertwines the history of a family with that of a territory, telling of meetings and acquaintances, of arts and architecture, of material and immaterial transformations that have certainly left fascinating signs and traces. It will be up to students to use their creativity to create projects to enhance the resources of the Villa, and its wonderful gardens which are currently not accessible, through the use of multimedia and digital methods and tools. The return of the works will take place on May 21st, we are waiting with curiosity to see what will flourish!  

From the collaboration between Spoke 3 - Tourism and Culture Industry and Spoke 4 - Digital and Sustainable Mountain, a new advanced training course entitled: The general principles of budgeting for hotel facilities and tourism businesses was born. The course aims to provide tools and knowledge to companies and professionals operating in the tourism field. The course, with a managerial slant, is aimed at those who need to know the logic and structure of the financial statements with particular reference to the typical items of hospitality businesses. In the first part of the course, the general principles concerning the preparation of the company balance sheet, the layouts and contents of the balance sheet and the income statement will be analysed, with a focus on the aspects most relevant to smaller companies. In the second part, a practical exercise will be used where typical management operations will be resumed and their effect on the budget will be analysed. Furthermore, during the course it will be explained how to use the reclassified balance sheet as a tool for making decisions also in a logic of digitalization and sustainability.  The course will be held in person from 05/09/2024 to 05/16/2024. For information and registration write to: elisa.gulizzi@unito.it     Per saperne di più clicca qui

Dalla collaborazione tra Spoke 3 - Industria del Turismo e della Cultura e Spoke 4 - Montagna Digitale e Sostenibile, nasce un nuovo corso di alta formazione dal titolo: I principi generali del bilancio per le strutture alberghiere e le imprese turistiche. Il corso si propone di fornire strumenti e conoscenze ad aziende e professionisti che operano nel campo del turismo.   Il corso, con un taglio manageriale, è rivolto a coloro che hanno la necessità di conoscere le logiche e la struttura del bilancio d’esercizio con particolare riferimento alle voci tipiche delle imprese ricettive. Nella prima parte del corso si analizzeranno i principi generali concernenti la redazione del bilancio aziendale, gli schemi e il contenuto dello stato patrimoniale e del conto economico, con una focalizzazione sugli aspetti maggiormente attinenti alle imprese di minori dimensioni.   Nella seconda parte, si farà ricorso ad un'esercitazione pratica dove verranno riprese le operazioni di gestione tipiche e si analizzerà il loro effetto sul bilancio. Inoltre, durante il corso verrà spiegato come utilizzare il bilancio riclassificato come strumento per prendere decisioni anche in una logica di digitalizzazione e sostenibilità.    Il corso si terrà in presenza dal 09/05/2024 al 16/05/2024. Per informazioni e iscrizioni scrivere a: elisa.gulizzi@unito.it   Per saperne di più clicca qui

Spoke 3 - Tourism and Culture Industry participates in the inauguration of the House of Made in Italy. The inauguration of the territorial headquarters of Mimit: Ministry of Business and Made in Italy will be held on Thursday 11 April 2024 at 11.30 am at the CIM4.0 headquarters, Strada della Manta, 22 (Additive Manufacturing Pilote Line) in Turin.   Spoke 3, which among its missions includes the promotion and valorisation of Made in Italy, will be represented by the scientific manager of the Nodes project Prof. Barbara Pozzo of the University of Insubria who in these days presents a volume of of which she is curator entitled: Made in Italy - the identity of a historic brand published by Giappichelli Editore and available for free online.   During the day there will be a speech by the Minister of Business and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso followed by a round table animated by representatives of the territorial business associations together with the world of academia and training.