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  On Monday 16 September, at the University of Insubria, leader of Spoke 3, a workshop entitled: "The European Regulation no. 2023/2411 relating to the protection of geographical indications for artisanal and industrial products" was held. On 27 October 2023, "Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 October 2023 on the protection of geographical indications for artisanal and industrial products and amending the regulations" was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. (EU) 2017/1001 and (EU) 2019/1753” (“Regulation”) which introduces for the first time, for artisanal and industrial products with certain characteristics, a uniform protection system in all Member States. The introduction of ad hoc forms of protection for artisanal/industrial excellence has been under consideration by the Commission for many years, so much so that the first public consultations took place as early as 2013. The purpose of the GIs is to guarantee greater legal certainty in protection of excellent artisanal and industrial products, with benefits for consumers and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (“MSMEs”).  During the afternoon, the workshop participants learned about the new discipline which aims to encourage quality production, strengthening competitiveness between companies, offering consumers more effective means to verify the authenticity of products, with a virtuous impact on 'employment. Among the purposes of the legislation there is also that of enhancing the cultural heritage, productive and commercial traditions, increasing tourism and generating new jobs. The public, made up of representatives of industrial associations, local authorities and businesses, was informed about the potential of the Regulation and during a round table was able to ask questions and observations to a group of professionals specialized in the topic.  

On the afternoon of Thursday 11 July 2024 in Varese, in the splendid location of Villa Toeplitz, a meeting entitled: Nodes Challenges: students and companies for technological innovation was held. The event was organized by the University of Insubria, leader of Spoke 3 with the aim of presenting the results of 3 challenges in which some Uninsubria students were involved to citizens, businesses and researchers.  In the last two months, twenty-four students from the Department of Economics of the course on Economics and Management of Innovation and Sustainability (CLEMIS) and the course on Economics, Law and Corporate Finance (CLEDIFI) and fifteen students from the department of Law, Economics and Cultures of the Hospitality for Sustainable Toruism Development course had the opportunity to work side by side with important corporate entities such as ComoNext Innovation Hub, and Logos Centro Studi srl. The three challenges: "Sustainability reporting", "Skills" and "Museum innovation based on extended reality and generative artificial intelligence", had the aim of putting young people face to face with the completeness of the problems that companies and institutions encounter on a daily basis in their business and development journey and to therefore develop targeted projects that take into account technological innovation to be used as a tool for the valorisation and promotion of the territory and sustainability. During the event, professors, students and representatives of the companies involved discussed the challenges and objectives and results achieved; Furthermore, the Nodes flagship projects were presented as well as various opportunities for businesses deriving from the project.

On Wednesday 26 June 2024, at the Como - S. Abbondio headquarters of the University of Insubria, the results of the initiative were presented: Innovation Camp for PhD students; a course dedicated to PhD students who, during the sessions, were able to discuss important topics such as entrepreneurship and innovation, the development of hard and soft skills as well as technological transfer and the economic exploitation of research results.   The initiative, which falls within the scope of the NODES project and the initiatives of the Teaching and Learning Center, is organized by Prof. Mauro Fasano (Rector's Delegate for Innovation and Technology Transfer), Prof. Alessia Pisoni and the Prof. Andrea Vezzulli, in collaboration with the Strategic Planning Office. During the course, interventions were also made by Prof. Ilaria Capelli, Dr. Andrea Bellucci and Dr. Chiara Ronchetti.   In recent months, the course participants have worked in teams in order to create, thanks to the knowledge acquired in the theoretical introductory lessons regarding the Lean Startup approach, a proposal for an innovative business idea which was presented in front of a jury of external experts which decreed the Best Innovative Project of 2024.   The members of the jury include: Dr. Elena Zaffaroni, head of the Incubation Area of ​​ComoNext Innovation Hub, Dr. Immacolata Tina, head of the Innovation and Digitalization operational unit of the Como - Lecco Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Luisa Minoli, head of the Research Area and Innovation of Confindustria Varese, Eng. Gabriele Del Pero, Innovation and Research Area of ​​Confindustria Como and Dr. Edoardo Braccio, Project Manager of Spoke 2 - Department of Management of the University of Turin.   The 2 teams of PhD students presented 2 projects: Cornexus and OphthaLink; two innovative Apps to be used in the health field.   After careful analysis, OphthaLink was found to be the Best Innovative Project of 2024.

A new model for the valorisation of the landscape-cultural heritage of the territory On Tuesday 18 June 2024, in Livorno Ferraris, at the MAVO - Archaeological Museum of Eastern Vercelli, the activities of the PARADIGMA project (Multimodal Digital Active Rural Landscapes in Livorno FerrAris) financed by the cascade calls of the NODES Ecosystem within the Spoke 3 - Tourism industry and culture, through the MUR - PNRR funds of the European Union - NextGeneration EU.  The project is coordinated by Ithaca Srl with the support of the Inter-university Department of Territorial Sciences, Projects and Policies (DIST) of the Polytechnic of Turin and involves the Municipality of Livorno Ferraris as an area of ​​study and experimentation.  The objective is to create an interactive and digital platform, based on cartographic supports and integrated with information and data specific to the territory to offer an accessible and complete narrative of the municipality and its surroundings.   Thanks to the platform, it will be possible to explore the main points of cultural, rural and historical interest through the description of the cycling itineraries that branch off from Livorno Ferraris. Together with the web platform, citizens and tourists will also have an app available for more immediate and smart use. The PARADIGMA project aims to propose a new model of enjoyment of the landscape-cultural heritage, both from the point of view of valorization and of the active participation of the population in the processes of protection of the environmental heritage. One of the most interesting and innovative planning phases of the project is in fact that of "knowledge building" which sees the involvement and direct participation of the administration, the stakeholders of the territory and the citizens, a precious source of information and narration of its territory, from a cultural and historical point of view.   The Mayor of Livorno Ferraris, Franco Sandra, shows satisfaction: “We are very happy that our territory has been chosen as a pilot for the experimentation of the PARADIGMA project. The platform that we are going to create adds and integrates into the path that we have already started with the Borghi delle Vie d'Acqua Association of which our Municipality is part and validates our passion and our commitment in making known the numerous excellences that the Vercelli area expresses". For Marco Valle, Director of Ithaca Srl: "With this project, we continue to increase our skills in the analysis and management of geospatial data to offer solutions and products also for the cultural and historical valorization of territorial heritage" explains Marco Valle, Director by Ithaca Srl "PARADIGMA is also particularly strategic because we will have the opportunity to develop an adaptable and flexible model in other contexts, giving other Municipalities and Villages the opportunity to promote their excellence".  A model therefore replicable on those territories not included in the dynamics of mass tourism but which can offer cultural, historical and food and wine resources of excellence and interest and which, thanks to new increasingly flexible and adaptable digital tools, can position themselves and promote themselves towards a wider audience.        

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.

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.

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

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.              

On Monday 18 March 2024, the Department of Law and Political, Economic and Social Sciences of the University of Eastern Piedmont, partner of Spoke 3 - Tourism and Culture Industry, hosted the round table "Italy China Tourism: prospects for incoming recovery" in Alessandria and exit. A meeting between institutions and operators", jointly organized by the Master in Economy, innovation, communication and hospitality for the tourism enterprise directed by Professor Marco Novarese, the Italian-Chinese New Generation Association (ANGI), the City of Alessandria , the University Institute of European Studies (IUSE) and sponsored by the CRA Foundation, the SolidAL Foundation and the Province of Alessandria. The meeting was conceived with the aim of supporting and encouraging tourist exchanges between Italy and China, in the year in which, albeit for a few months, it is possible to arrive in China from Italy without requiring a visa. The round table was moderated by Cheng Ming of ANGI and saw the participation of the directors of the Alessandria UPO departments Giorgio Barberis (DIGSPES) and Guido Lingua (DISIT), the Mayor of Alessandria Giorgio Abonante, the Chinese Consul General Liu Kan, the Regional Councilor for Tourism Vittoria Poggio, the president of the Slala Foundation Cesare Rossini and the president of IUSE Piercarlo Rossi. It was Professor Novarese himself, on the sidelines of the meeting, who explained its meaning and purpose: «For several years I have been talking with Cheng Ming of the Angi association, which works to seek integration and mutual knowledge; I believe it is right as a teacher to contribute to these objectives and it is a way to learn and understand. As director of the Master's degree on tourism, I believe it is natural to delve deeper into this topic. From an educational point of view, learning to host people with unusual needs is a training ground for understanding the very concept of hospitality." «There is a curiosity for some characteristics of this province and for Italy in general; we also discussed training and there are many other possible spaces for dialogue, on an economic and social level. Let's keep in mind that Chinese tourism has changed post-Covid: according to research by Enit, Chinese tourists travel in smaller groups, have an interest in nature, views, authenticity and getting in touch with Italians. You need to know how to build and adapt products, with the right skills and with attention to quality. The province and Piedmont in general offer many possibilities with respect to what has been said; compared to areas with an older and stronger tourist vocation there is much more authenticity. The round table aims to be first of all a moment to meet and get to know each other in person, an essential moment to imagine activities and collaborations."

The University of Insubria, leader of Spoke 3 - Tourism and Culture Industry, participated in the Lake Como Creativity Week, the week dedicated to creativity which was held in Como from 11 to 17 March 2024.   The initiative, by the Municipality of Como, was created to enhance the uniqueness of the Como creative district and aims to promote the brand identity of Como Unesco Creative City. The key word that inspired the Lake Como Creativity Week was "connections".   On the occasion of the event, the Nodes projects were presented at the University of Insubria, home of Sant'Abbondio: «Cultural extended reality routes» and «Immersive textile museum».   The projects, carried out in collaboration with the Silk Museum, are dedicated to enhancing the culture and industrial heritage of a territory through the development of an innovation path based on digital creativity and augmented reality to support the narration of the territory and the visitor experience.   The central idea is the design of alternative tourist itineraries that ideally redesign the territory, describe it in an immersive way and translate it into experience through the support of augmented reality.

Spoke 3 - Tourism and Culture Industry presents the specialization course in Fashion Law "The legal problems of the fashion supply chain".   The course organized by the University of Milan and the University of Insubria, leader of Spoke 3, aims to offer in-depth skills in the fashion sector to legal operators active within fashion companies (corporate lawyers), those who work closely with these companies (lawyers and consultants), as well as training those who aspire to take on these roles.   60 hours of online lessons held by teachers from the University of Milan, the University of Insubria, lawyers from leading law firms in the sector, general counsel of fashion houses, notaries, operators and top experts in the fields treated.   The function of the course can be summarized in the satisfaction of the needs of specialized professional training in a sector which constitutes one of the areas of greatest use of highly qualified human resources. The employment opportunities are numerous and concern all the various aspects of the fashion supply chain.   The specialization course will be held on a weekly basis (every Monday) from 18/03/2024 to 01/07/2024 from 2.30 pm to 6.30 pm and during the lessons various topics will be addressed including: contracts in the world of fashion, the Made in Italy, law, new technologies and fashion. The complete program is attached. Registrations are open until March 11, 2024   For further information and registration, see link    

The first Spoke 3 Flagship Projects Meeting was held on Thursday 1 February 2024 at the Department of Management of the University of Turin.   Researchers from the University of Insubria, University of Turin, University of Eastern Piedmont, University of Valle d'Aosta, Città Studi Biella and ComoNext Innovation Hub participated in the event. The objective of the meeting was to start a fruitful collaboration between researchers from the universities involved in the NODES project in reference to the research topics of the CIRIL - Cultural-Industry Regeneration Lab and TOEP - Tourism Open-ended Experimentation Platform flagship projects.   In the first phase of the meeting, Prof. Piercarlo Rossi of the University of Turin and Prof. Stefania Cerruti of the University of Eastern Piedmont presented the flagship projects, recalling their objectives and highlighting the current state of progress activities.   Specifically, Prof. Rossi, regarding the CIRIL flagships project, explained that we are currently proceeding with the reconnaissance of the technologies, the monitoring of the initiatives on the national territory (mixed reality device building kit), the acquisition of the instrumentation, and the activation of cultural cluster asset and digital textile hub activities.   Regarding the TOEP project, Prof. Cerutti clarified that the design of the middleware, the delivery architecture and the API standards are being defined. Furthermore, we are proceeding with the recognition of integrated solutions (public databases and federatable services), data sources and acquisition methods, the activation of the thematic cluster and the implementation of innovation initiatives in territorial branding.   Both flagship projects are proceeding in collaboration with partners from the South for the creation of startups.   Once the presentation was concluded, the main lines of research and their areas of relevance were then illustrated; these include: Fashion design, Management and sustainability, Intersection between Cultural Heritage and Natural Conservation (Museums, Archaeological and Historical Places, Landscape), Multimedia Narratives and Digital Creativity, Digital Tourism and Destination Management and Lifestyle tourism and marketing.  

On Friday 19 January 2024, the Spoke 3 - Tourism and Culture Industry held its first Spoke 3 Assembly in Lomazzo (CO) at the ComoNext Innovation Hub.   The researchers and all the staff of the institutions involved in the spoke3 activities were present or connected remotely at the event: University of Insubria, University of Eastern Piedmont, University of Turin, University of Sannio- Benevento, University of Salento COmoNExt and Cittàstudi Biella. During the morning, the progress of the project activities of each project WP was illustrated and any critical issues and actions to be taken in the coming months were discussed.   In the afternoon, the work of Spoke 3 focused on transversal issues relating to the development of entrepreneurship and internationalization with the aim of identifying objectives and activities to be carried out within the project.   In relation to internationalisation, various initiatives have been identified which involve the involvement of foreign institutional partners to promote the activities of the Spoke and the ecosystem outside national borders.   With respect to the theme of entrepreneurship, the possible critical issues linked to the thematic nature of the spoke3 were explored and some actions aimed at overcoming these critical issues were hypothesized.   Lastly, the functional work process was defined to bring together the ideas of all the Spoke partners, identifying contact persons for both themes in all the project partners who will work to build a shared proposal of viable actions.  

On 7 December 2023, Prof. Patrizia Gazzola, professor at the University of Insubria, leader of Spoke 3 - Tourism and Culture Industry, went to Scotland to participate in an event entitled: A Circular Scotland In Europe.   The conference, which is part of a cycle of 4 events coordinated by the University of Aberdee, was held at the P&J Live Aberdeen conference centre, bringing together various personalities from both the academic world and the world of institutions.   During the meeting, the NODES project and the activity carried out by Spoke 3 - Tourism and Culture Industry as an Italian best practice in research on sustainable and in particular circular tourism were presented. We talked about sustainability, both in terms of innovation in the production system of the tourism system, but also in the digitalisation of small and medium-sized businesses so that they can reduce costs and waste.   Prof. Gazzola, who spoke in the panel: "Unpacking circular economy capabilities: a comparison with advances in the countries of the European Union", illustrated the Italian experience of circular economy in general and linked to tourism in particular. He also specified that its application can contribute to increasing the competitiveness and sustainability of ecosystem companies through the implementation of innovation and digitalisation processes specific to the territory.   Finally, we talked about how to enhance cultural heritage with the creation of company museums. The various moments of discussion were useful and fruitful for exchanging different experiences, new circular economy ideas and new applications as well as new network relationships to share with the other Nodes participants.