Month: July 2026

The Invisible Weight of Digital Technology: the Challenge of Making It Sober, Clean and Fair

Posted on | by Bosnjakovic Jelena

A new step in the Impact Stories pathway, developed in collaboration with VITA.it, dedicated to exploring the experiences and trajectories of social impact.

What does digital sustainability mean? And how aware are we of it?

These are some of the questions that Sloweb, a partner of Torino Social Impact, is addressing to the organisations in the network through a dedicated listening tool. The pathway was created to explore the theme of digital sustainability and understand how technologies have an impact not only on the environmental level, but also on the social and governance dimensions.

Starting from the responses collected and from a first analysis of the websites of the organisations involved, Sloweb proposes a shift in perspective: looking beyond the everyday use of digital tools to question the culture that guides their management. The aim is to open a shared conversation, recognise existing practices and identify new areas for improvement, supporting the ecosystem towards a more sober, clean and fair digital environment.

Read the interview by Daria Capitani with Pietro Jarre on VITA.

A New Reference Point for Work Inclusion in Turin: Orienta Acquires Abile Job

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The future of work depends on the ability to value every talent. With this vision, Abile Job, a Turin-based organisation specialised in the employment inclusion of protected categories, joins Orienta Group, one of Italy’s leading employment agencies and the first in the sector to have become a Benefit Corporation.

The operation stems from the meeting of two organisations that share the same values: people-centredness, inclusion, equal opportunities and attention to the needs of companies. The aim is to further strengthen services dedicated to the professional inclusion of people with disabilities and to support companies in building increasingly inclusive workplaces.

For Turin and Piedmont, this marks the beginning of a new phase of development, in which the experience gained by Abile Job in work inclusion will be supported by the solidity, network and expertise of a group that has been operating in the human resources sector for over thirty years.

A Significant Impact for Turin-Based Companies

For companies, Abile Job joining Orienta Group means being able to rely on an even more structured partner, specialised in targeted placement and recruitment processes for protected categories.

Companies will be able to access consolidated expertise in the search and selection of qualified profiles, regulatory consultancy and the design of effective and sustainable inclusion pathways. This support goes beyond the mere fulfilment of the obligations set out by Italian Law 68/99, helping organisations turn inclusion into a driver of growth, innovation and competitiveness.

Companies will also be able to access training, consultancy and awareness-raising pathways on Diversity & Inclusion, designed to support managers and teams in building more welcoming, accessible and inclusive workplaces. This approach fosters the spread of a corporate culture based on respect for differences, the enhancement of skills and people’s wellbeing.

New Opportunities for Candidates and Protected Categories

The operation also represents good news for candidates and workers in the local area. Thanks to the synergy between Abile Job and Orienta, people belonging to protected categories will benefit from greater professional opportunities, a wider network of companies and dedicated services for guidance, training and job placement support.

Over the years, Abile Job has developed an innovative model focused on listening to people’s needs and enhancing their skills, helping to connect talent and companies. More than 500 people have taken part in the pathways developed by the company, with hundreds of job placements carried out directly or through partner companies.

A Shared Commitment to Inclusive Work

Abile Job joining Orienta Group represents much more than an acquisition. It brings together experience, expertise and values with a shared goal: creating a labour market that is more accessible, inclusive and capable of recognising people’s value.

For companies in Turin and Piedmont, this means being able to count on an increasingly qualified partner in the management of inclusion policies. For candidates, it means accessing new professional opportunities and pathways built around their skills and aspirations.

A new phase of growth that looks to the future of work by placing what truly matters at the centre: talent.

Registration Open for the Biennial of Proximity Turin, 1–3 October 2026

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The Biennial of Proximity 2026 will take place in Turin from 1 to 3 October 2026 and will focus on the theme “Practices of Deep Democracy.”

Consorzio Sociale Abele Lavoro is taking part in the Biennial as a national promoter and as a member of the Turin Local Committee, contributing to the creation of a space for dialogue dedicated to proximity, democracies and policies.

The 2026 Programme is now online. It has been developed through the work of the Turin Local Committee, the Community of Practices, the national promoters and the organisations involved in the process. The programme explores proximity, democracies and policies through panels, macro-panels, talks, workshops, urban itineraries, artistic moments and convivial gatherings.

View the 2026 Programme

Registration is also open through Prossimatch, the Biennial’s digital tool designed to register for the event, navigate the programme, make oneself visible, discover other participating people and organisations, and facilitate meetings and connections during the days in Turin.

Register

We look forward to seeing many of you there, meeting in person and practising proximity together.

Bench-Mark | Ep. 111 – AIDA

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How do you build effective training in a sector historically perceived as male-dominated? And what impact can greater awareness have, including from an economic perspective?

In this episode of Bench-Mark, Caterina Ansaldi, professional coach and member of AIDA – Italian Association of Women in Automotive, explains why training on gender equality means working with people, organizations and the cultural models that shape the sector.

Founded in Turin in 2024, AIDA promotes a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable automotive sector through mentoring, training, guidance and collaboration with companies.

Interview by Francesco Antonioli.

Filmed and edited by Riccardo Quaglio.


Watch all past episodes of Bench-Mark here.

Sloweb APS at Terra Madre Salone del Gusto

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Sloweb, a pioneer in digital ethics, is a Social Promotion Association founded in Turin in 2017 that promotes the responsible use of digital tools. It has launched a close collaboration with Slow Food, bringing the two movements together around a shared commitment: promoting a use of digital technology that is “good, clean and fair”, starting from the agri-food sector.

The first public event of this collaboration will be Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, taking place in Turin from September 24 to 27, 2026, where Sloweb will play a leading role with five days of events dedicated to sustainable digital practices. The event will take place at Cinema Centrale, Via Carlo Alberto 27, Turin, and is titled Slow Down Your Digital Pace. Rediscover the Pleasure of Browsing. It expresses the idea of taking back control of one’s choices, including in the digital sphere: at home, at school, in companies and within communities.

The full programme is available here and free tickets can be booked via the Eventbrite platform here.

The Sloweb initiative, organised in collaboration with CSI Piemonte, Frontiere, Piano D, Smart Flow, with the support of Banco Azzoaglio, Doinnovation, Studio Planeta, Seeweb, and the contribution of the Turin Chamber of Commerce, includes a film programme, performances and Slowlessons.

Among the many activities, September 25 will feature a training session for companies, during which a new ecosystem project will also be presented. The project was created with the aim of guiding the approximately 450 organisations belonging to Torino Social Impact towards full awareness of sustainable digital management. As one of its first steps, a shared overview was developed to understand how the TSI ecosystem is addressing the environmental, social and governance challenges connected to the use of digital technologies.

On September 26 and 27, the Digital Ethics Forum will take place, featuring international experts and scholars, together with the Responsible Digital Consumption Observatory, with the participation of companies from North-West Italy. Finally, on September 28, the focus will be on Digital Pacts, agreements between families that help communities manage digital devices and services responsibly.

Sloweb Recipes for a Healthier Digital Life will also be launched: ten practical tips for a more conscious use of digital technology, distributed in HTML format and on postcards for the public. Among the first synergetic initiatives between Slow Food and Sloweb is the adaptation of the Terra Madre website to make it low-energy and highly service-efficient.

“Sloweb and Slow Food were born in the same Piedmontese territory and intend to work together also in the digital field towards freedom of choice and a lifestyle that is more good, clean and fair, by promoting sober, clean and fair practices in the management of digital data, services and products,” explains Pietro Jarre, founder of Sloweb.

“Slow Food has shown, thanks to the intuition of the unforgettable Carlin Petrini, that it is possible to build a global movement starting from the concreteness of everyday practices,” adds Maurizio Bulgarini, current president of Sloweb. “We are doing the same with digital technology. This collaboration gives us the network and legitimacy to act on a large scale. And we are ready.”

RiTessiAMO Launches: A Circular Textile Project Funded by the City of Turin

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On July 9, the final ranking was published, announcing the 16 projects selected for the City of Turin call “Culture and Entrepreneurship Rooted in the Circular Economy and Urban Fabric”, within the framework of the PN Metro Plus and Medium-Sized Cities South 2021–2027. Among the winning projects is RiTessiAMO, focused on the textile sector.

The partnership behind the project is composed of three local organisations with long-standing experience in the circular economy applied to the textile-fashion sector: the innovative startup with a social vocation Atelier Riforma as lead partner; the non-profit organisation ODV Società di San Vincenzo De Paoli, with its solidarity emporium ABITO; and DBT Fibre, through its recycling division Closeoop.

RiTessiAMO is a circular economy project that aims to give used textile products a new life and reduce waste in the fashion sector. It has two main objectives:

  1. to activate the entire city ecosystem — companies, artisans, organisations and citizens — around the sustainable management of textile products;
  2. to transform a Turin-based non-profit organisation active in the solidarity collection of clothing into a minimum-waste operating model.

The project will start with the creation, at ABITO, of an organised system to select textile products that cannot be donated but are suitable for recycling. With the support of Atelier Riforma and its technologies, materials will be sorted by fibre and colour and stripped of the elements that hinder recycling. The selected material will then be sent to DBT Fibre, in Biella, where it will be recycled into new fibres to be reintroduced into the market.

At the same time, ABITO and Atelier Riforma will activate a free service for the recovery and circular management of discarded textile products from local companies and organisations. The materials collected will be partly directed to a network of local artisans for reuse and upcycling activities, and partly enhanced through dedicated digital tools.

The project will also strengthen ABITO’s tailoring workshop, expanding garment repair and transformation activities and organising free courses and workshops open to the public.

Another key component will be awareness-raising on responsible consumption in fashion, through meetings in schools, events, workshops and information campaigns. Free training and consultancy activities will also be offered to companies, professionals and students in the fashion sector, with the aim of spreading eco-design practices and more sustainable textile management.

“This is a truly pioneering project: there appear to be no similar experiences in which a non-profit organisation dedicated to the solidarity collection of clothes has access to advanced technologies — such as a NIR spectroscopy reader for fibre identification and an Artificial Intelligence technology for the digitalisation and automatic sale of garments on a marketplace — combined with a staff of trained volunteers able to prepare textiles unsuitable for reuse for fibre-to-fibre recycling. Such equipment has so far been the prerogative of large industrial operators” — Elisa Valenti, coordinator of ABITO.

Today, used clothes collected through donations or street collection are mainly valorised through reuse. However, an increasing share is not suitable for reuse due to the poor quality of garments, largely linked to the spread of fast fashion. These materials therefore end up in low-value recovery processes, such as the production of rags and padding, or are disposed of or incinerated.

“Fibre-to-fibre recycling, which makes it possible to regenerate new fibres from textile waste, is still not widespread, especially for post-consumer textiles, because it requires materials to be carefully sorted by composition and colour and the removal of elements such as buttons and zips. For this reason, today less than 1% of textiles are actually recycled into new fibres” — Federico De Martini, CEO of DBT Fibre.

Moreover, textile sorting and preparation activities are complex and manual, and are therefore often carried out abroad, resulting in a supply chain that is inefficient from both an economic and environmental point of view. This is why the European Union is promoting the development of more local and circular systems for collection, sorting and recycling, capable of reducing waste, costs and environmental impacts.

“By enhancing local skills, the circular model of RiTessiAMO will be almost zero-kilometre — collection, sorting, disassembly, recycling and spinning will take place within 80 km. In a highly globalised and opaque supply chain such as that of post-consumer textiles, this is an extremely ambitious goal, creating for Turin and Piedmont an international best practice case” — Elena Ferrero, CEO of Atelier Riforma.

The project will have a total budget of just under €125,000 and will run over 10 months, from September 2026 to June 2027.

The activities planned within RiTessiAMO were announced on July 2 during a talk at Torino Fashion Week 2026, the annual international event dedicated to the fashion sector held in the Piedmontese capital.

DO Impact: the Final Conference

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On the afternoon of July 7, the Final Conference of the European project DO Impact took place in Brussels, followed on July 8 by the Eighth Transnational Workshop. The two events brought together European institutions, social economy organisations, researchers and innovators to reflect on the role of data, artificial intelligence and digital innovation in strengthening the European social economy and building a more collaborative, inclusive and resilient ecosystem.

At the conclusion of a two-year journey, the DO Impact project brought together European institutions, social economy organisations, researchers, digital innovators and policymakers to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation, placing a key question at the centre: how can data, artificial intelligence and digital technologies be oriented towards the common good?

The Final Conference, hosted at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), opened with remarks from Gianluca Pastorelli, Executive President of Diesis Network, and Philip von Brockdorff, Vice-President of the EESC Workers’ Group. This was followed by a keynote speech by Giuseppe Guerini, President of Cooperatives Europe, who highlighted how digital transformation is not an inevitable process, but a trajectory that can be guided so that it generates value for society.

During the afternoon, the panel Digital and Data-Driven Transformation as a Driver of Social Impact in Europe explored the role of interoperable digital infrastructures, data governance and European cooperation in the development of digital ecosystems capable of supporting the social economy.

The discussion, moderated by Gianluca Pastorelli, involved representatives of the European Commission, Social Economy Europe and ECAS – European Citizen Action Service, highlighting the need to strengthen collaboration among organisations and align digitalisation strategies with European priorities.

A second discussion focused on the relationship between democracy, participation and artificial intelligence through the panel Small Voices, Big Systems: Keeping Democracy Human in the Age of AI. The debate addressed the role of citizens and civil society in the design and governance of digital technologies, underlining that Europe’s digital future depends not only on technological innovation, but also on the ability to build open, inclusive infrastructures oriented towards people’s needs.

The day concluded with a roundtable dedicated to building a European data ecosystem for the social economy. The discussion highlighted how digital sovereignty, interoperability, shared governance and coordinated investments are key elements to enable data to generate public value and social impact.

On July 8, during the Eighth Transnational Workshop — Forward Planning with Data: Opportunities and Synergies — the focus shifted to the concrete experiences of European organisations undertaking digital transformation pathways. Through contributions from different countries, participants shared tools, challenges and results, showing how data can become a strategic resource to improve organisational governance, support more informed decision-making and increase social impact.

The day also included a workshop dedicated to the Digital and Data Action Plan (DDAP), one of the main outcomes of the project. Participants worked in groups to define operational roadmaps on data governance, shared infrastructures, collaboration among organisations and digital transformation. The DDAP will serve as a practical tool to support social economy organisations in developing their digital capacities in the coming years.

A specific space was also dedicated to dialogue among several European projects active in the field of digitalisation of the social economy. The exchange highlighted how the value of European projects lies not only in the tools or outputs produced, but above all in the collaboration networks, knowledge exchange and communities of practice that continue to generate impact beyond the conclusion of individual initiatives.

The two-day event concluded with a final reflection workshop, during which partners reviewed the learning journey developed over the past two years, assessing its methodologies, results and future perspectives.

The Final Conference on July 7 and the Eighth Transnational Workshop on July 8 represented the conclusion of a two-year European pathway, but also the beginning of a new phase of collaboration. The message emerging from the two days was clear: the digital transformation of the social economy is an ongoing process that requires skills, collaboration and shared experimentation.

More than the adoption of new technologies, what will make the difference is the ability to build open ecosystems, recognise data as a common good and strengthen connections among organisations, territories and institutions.

Among the events developed by DO Impact in recent months, the fifth European Deep Dive took place on June 25 and focused on digital participation and open governance.

The event explored the contribution of open-source platforms such as Consul Democracy and presented the Italian capacity-building pathway promoted by Fondazione Piemonte Innova, Torino Social Impact and TIRESIA, providing an opportunity to highlight the role of data, participation and digital skills as levers to strengthen the social impact of organisations.

With the conclusion of DO Impact, the project comes to an end, but the relationships, knowledge and tools built over the past two years continue. The experiences shared through the Deep Dives, transnational workshops and local workshops will continue to support the development of a European social economy that is increasingly digital, resilient and impact-oriented.

7.23.26 – Turning Ideas into Projects: the Opportunities of InnoSocialMetro

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As part of the European project SKALE2CT, on Thursday, July 23, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, the online Stakeholder Meeting “Turning Ideas into Projects: the Opportunities of InnoSocialMetro” will take place. The meeting is organised by the Department for Economic, Territorial and Social Development of the Metropolitan City of Turin.

In June 2026, the Metropolitan City of Turin approved the new InnoSocialMetro measure sheet, laying the groundwork for the formulation of the new edition of the call: an important opportunity to support entrepreneurial initiatives and projects in the field of the social economy across the metropolitan area.

The meeting will present the main updates of the forthcoming InnoSocialMetro call and will allow participants to engage directly with the representatives of the measure, in order to explore its contents and the next steps planned.

The Stakeholder Meeting will also be an opportunity for dialogue and networking among organisations, institutions, companies and other local actors, with the aim of fostering new collaborations and strengthening local networks.

Participation in the event is open to all interested parties, subject to registration at the following link.

Agenda

OP4Impact: the Second Impact Capacity-Building Meeting

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On July 2, the OP4IMPACT Community of Practice gathered at Cottino Social Impact Campus. The Community brings together the Order of Chartered Accountants and Accounting Experts of Turin, the Turin Bar Association, the Notarial Council of Turin and Pinerolo, and the Order of Labour Consultants of Turin.

The Community of Practice met for its second impact capacity-building session: an opportunity to listen to and understand the visions and needs of the social economy, interpreting them through the role of professionals with complementary and distinctive skills that can provide significant added value to the growth of this paradigm. The aim of the pathway is to respond to the needs of the social economy and continue building, through an interprofessional approach, strategies and actions capable of generating concrete impact.

The meeting focused on the analysis of a case study through the testimony of Cooperativa Animazione Valdocco, a Torino Social Impact partner. For the occasion, Elisa Profico and Matteo Gagino presented the 2026–2029 Strategic Plan: a plan developed through a participatory process involving members and stakeholders, starting from identified needs and translating them into objectives, measurable results and concrete actions to guide several strategic priorities over the next four years.

Elisa Profico underlined: “As a cooperative, we realised that all the richness that nourishes us internally must also become accessible externally in a more usable way. Speaking about impact is one of the few ways we have to help those looking at us from the outside understand the value we produce.”

Among the key themes that emerged:

  • Market positioning: strengthening presence in the public market and in co-design processes, while ensuring economic sustainability, service quality and the capacity to innovate responses to emerging needs.
  • Generating social value: increasing social impact across the territory by promoting projects, networks and initiatives that contribute to inclusive, cohesive communities oriented towards collective wellbeing.
  • Distributed governance: simplifying and distributing decision-making processes, increasing the autonomy of the service units, valuing middle management and involving members more deeply in strategic choices.
  • Regenerating associated work: strengthening work and the capacity to attract and develop young people and their skills.
  • Digital innovation and AI: developing tools, skills and processes that improve efficiency, data management and service quality.

Caterina Soldi then reconnected the themes observed by the professionals to the principles of impact and to the importance of grounding them in a strategic vision equipped with methodologies, tools and approaches capable of generating both tangible and intangible social impact. She also highlighted the role of impact measurement as a tool for learning, strategic orientation and decision-making support, offering an overview of the Theory of Change as a useful method for understanding the connection between needs, actions, expected results and generated transformations.

In the following workshop activity, the four professional Orders were invited to identify possible trajectories of support for social economy organisations, starting from their respective technical skills and from the themes observed in the case study. The discussion generated insights and reflections that can help strengthen professionals’ ability to understand the needs of social economy organisations and accompany them with appropriate tools and expertise.

Torino Social Impact Joins the Executive Committee of Diesis Network

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Torino Social Impact becomes a full member and joins the Executive Committee of Diesis Network, a European network bringing together over 80 partners active in 30 countries and committed to strengthening the social economy, social innovation and impact-oriented development models.

The appointment took place during the General Assembly of Diesis, held on July 8, 2026 in Brussels with the participation of the network’s member organisations.

The appointment of Raffaella Scalisi, Strategic Advisor of Torino Social Impact, to the Executive Committee marks a new step in the consolidation of Torino Social Impact’s European dimension and strengthens the role of Turin’s ecosystem within one of the leading international networks dedicated to the social economy.

Diesis Network brings together organisations, networks, competence centres and social economy actors from several European and international countries, with the aim of promoting more inclusive, democratic and sustainable economic models. With over 80 partners in 30 countries, the network represents a space for dialogue and strategic cooperation on the development of territorial ecosystems, social innovation, impact measurement, digital transition and participation.

For Torino Social Impact, joining the Executive Committee confirms the value of the work carried out in recent years to position Turin as a European laboratory for the social economy and impact economy, through the involvement of social enterprises, cooperatives, companies, foundations, universities, public institutions, investors and third sector organisations.

Participation in the Executive Committee will allow Torino Social Impact to contribute even more directly to the network’s strategies, in line with the priorities defined by the Diesis Network Action Plan 2025–2030: strengthening the network’s growth and impact, promoting collaboration among members, enhancing the expertise of territorial ecosystems and supporting an internal governance model that is increasingly transparent, open and participation-oriented.

In particular, Torino Social Impact will work on developing and strengthening the areas of for-profit/non-profit partnerships and impact finance.

This new role is part of an already established European collaboration pathway, with Torino Social Impact engaged in international projects, networks and initiatives dedicated to strengthening the social economy, digital transformation, capacity building and the development of shared tools for impact measurement and management.

Joining the Executive Committee of Diesis Network therefore represents an opportunity to bring the experience of Turin’s ecosystem into a broader European context and, at the same time, to strengthen connections, projects and alliances that can support the development of the social economy at local, national and international level.

CERV Programme: the Workshop by the European Projects Hub for the Social Economy

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Rights, equality, active citizenship and democratic values are at the heart of the European CERV – Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme, one of the tools of the European Union to support more open, fair and inclusive societies.

The European Projects Hub for the Social Economy dedicated a workshop to this programme on Thursday, July 2, hosted by Vol.TO – Volontariato Torino ETS, with the aim of exploring opportunities, tools and good practices for European project design on these topics.

The meeting, opened by remarks from Vol.TO Director Maida Caria, saw the participation of 16 partner organisations of Torino Social Impact.

After the presentation of the activities of the European Projects Hub, its support pathway and the opportunities dedicated to partner organisations, Alessia Ibba of Torino Social Impact introduced the technical session led by Maria Chiara Pizzorno of Weco Impresa Sociale.

The workshop offered an in-depth overview of the CERV programme, illustrating its objectives, fundable actions and eligible activities, with particular attention to its main purpose: promoting and protecting the rights and values of the European Union, contributing to the development of open, democratic, fair and inclusive societies.

In line with the peer-to-peer approach of the Hub, ample space was dedicated to sharing project experiences developed within the local ecosystem.

Davide Prette of Vol.TO presented EnviRights, a project developed under the CERV-CHAR-LITI-CIVIC call thanks to the support of the European Projects Hub. Approved in March 2025, launched in June 2025 and active until May 2027, the project is dedicated to the promotion and protection of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, with a specific focus on environmental activism.

The goal of EnviRights is to strengthen the awareness, resilience and response capacity of people active in environmental movements, while also promoting more constructive dialogue among activists, public authorities, media and policymakers, including by countering denigrating or criminalising narratives around peaceful climate activism.

This was followed by the contribution of Valeria Vacchiano from the City of Turin, who presented B.RIGHT SPACES – Better rights in better civic space, a recently concluded project in which the City of Turin was a partner. The initiative worked to strengthen the collective capacity of local public authorities and territorial organisations to support, promote and protect local civic spaces, recognised as essential safeguards for democratic values and people’s rights.

Among the project’s results, particular attention was given to the development of a shared definition of civic space, the evolution of the concept of public-community partnership and the use of participation as a tool for the co-production of public policies. The added value of the European partnership also emerged clearly, generating relationships so meaningful that they became, in turn, a true trans-European civic space.

The second part of the workshop focused on the calls currently open and forthcoming:

  • CERV-2026-DAPHNE, for actions to combat gender-based violence and violence against other vulnerable groups;
  • CERV-2026-REMEMBRANCE, dedicated to European remembrance;
  • CERV-2026-CHAR-LITI-CHARTER, for the promotion of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;
  • CERV-2026-CHAR-LITI-CIVIC, for the promotion and strengthening of civic spaces.

In addition to the specific features of each call, Maria Chiara Pizzorno shared a number of cross-cutting recommendations useful for project design: understanding the relevant strategic and regulatory framework, maintaining coherence with the selected topic, promoting intergenerational exchange, involving target groups not only as beneficiaries but also as witnesses, and consciously integrating an intersectional approach and gender mainstreaming.

The final part of the morning was dedicated to a European project design workshop, during which the participating organisations, supported by the staff of the European Projects Hub, worked on building an effective abstract and translating their ideas into initial project proposals.

During this session, Fondazione CRT presented ProjectFinder, a new tool developed through EUknow.it: an interactive map to discover European projects and the organisations implementing them, facilitating the creation of European partnerships.

Organisations interested in continuing the pathway can now activate the support of the Hub, starting a project design support process in view of the next European deadlines.

The European Projects Hub for the Social Economy is co-designed with Weco Impresa Sociale and supported by Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo and the Turin Chamber of Commerce.

AI and Communication: Ethics, Inclusion and People at the Centre

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Artificial intelligence is changing communication. But is it improving the quality of how we communicate, or is it simply making content production faster?

Starting from these questions, the joint meeting of the Gender Equality and Communication Communities of Practice took place on June 30 at CasArcobaleno, a local hub and integrated service centre of public interest for the LGBTQIA+ community and the wider public.

The meeting was dedicated to the theme “AI and Communication: Ethics, Inclusion and People at the Centre”: an opportunity to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming languages, practices and communication processes, exploring both the opportunities and critical issues linked to its use in professional and organisational contexts, from a people-first perspective.

As introduced by Monica Cerutti, who leads the Community of Practice, this change does not only concern the speed or automation of content production, but the way we build meaning, trust, relationships and representations. AI can generate texts, images and complex outputs, but it is people who build relationships. This is why the concept of human in the loop is not about rejecting technology, but about the responsibility of those who design, choose, interpret and communicate.

Artificial intelligence does not possess values, experience or a deep understanding of contexts: it learns from data, and data can reflect stereotypes, imbalances, absences and discrimination. From this perspective, every word, image and communication choice continues to matter. AI tends to reproduce what is statistically more frequent; people, instead, can choose what is culturally more appropriate, building more inclusive and conscious representations.

The meeting was co-designed with Collettivo Freeco, , a collaborative freelancing organisation that promotes self-determination, plurality, sustainability and ethical working practices for freelance professionals. Allegra Caputo explored concrete examples and operational insights for a more conscious use of AI, also examining how these tools can support processes, services and projects capable of generating impact within the social fabric.

The discussion touched on several key aspects: the quality of inputs, according to the principle of garbage in, garbage out; attention to sensitive data and anonymisation processes; the risk of cognitive overload linked to the simultaneous use of too many tools; and the need to avoid using AI only to confirm one’s own ideas, instead using it to bring out critical issues, alternatives and blind spots.

Among the examples presented was Afroféminas GPT, an experiment developed by Antoniette Torres Soler starting from texts rooted in Black and decolonial thought: a case that shows how the design of AI systems can also be guided by precise cultural, political and ethical choices.

A moment of discussion among participants followed, offering space to share reflections, experiences and points of view inspired by the themes that emerged during the meeting.

The second part of the meeting was dedicated to the testimony of SynDiag, an Italian fem-tech company that develops AI-based medical devices. Created to strengthen the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer, the company places its technology at the service of innovation in women’s health.

The session featured Sabrina Scarpati, Sales & Business Development Manager, who presented the case of OvAi Focus, a CE-marked cloud-based medical software device that supports reporting through the processing of ultrasound videos and images. The device is based on three pillars:

  • Digitalisation;
  • Artificial intelligence;
  • Telemedicine.

The goal is to improve access to gynaecological ultrasound examinations, the quality of diagnosis and the timeliness of response in complex cases.

One application already underway concerns the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, where the model contributes to improving the quality and completeness of reports, optimising outpatient management and making the patient pathway more efficient.

The meeting concluded with the presentation of Mind the Health Gap, a digital lab promoted by SynDiag and Idem – Mind The Gap, dedicated to women’s health as a driver of gender equality in the workplace.

The meeting confirmed that artificial intelligence cannot be addressed only as a technical issue. It is a cultural, organisational, ethical and democratic issue. The challenge is not simply to use AI better, but to understand how it can strengthen people’s ability to understand, participate and build communities.

Bench-Mark | Ep. 110 – RPLT

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In this episode of Bench-Mark, we meet Emiliano Giovine and Giuseppe Taffari, lawyers at RPLT, a legal and tax firm created through the merger of RP Legal & Tax and LT Legalitax.

With over 200 professionals, more than 25 practice areas, 6 offices in Italy and 5 international desks, RPLT supports companies, funds, organisations and public administrations in Italy and abroad, offering full-service legal and tax advisory.

In the conversation, professional expertise emerges as an integral part of developing ecosystems capable of generating value, supporting innovation and accompanying organisations and territories through economic and social transformations.

Interview by Francesco Antonioli.

Filmed and edited by Riccardo Quaglio.


Watch all past episodes of Bench-Mark here.

Sustainable Transition and Social Value: New Support for Piedmontese Companies

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Regione Piemonte, through Finpiemonte, confirms its commitment to supporting the evolution of the local production system towards more sustainable and safer models. As part of the ERDF Regional Programme 2021–2027, the application window dedicated to Line b) “Production Efficiency” officially reopened on July 7: a strategic tool for companies aiming to combine economic competitiveness with positive impact on the territory.

Investing in Sustainability and Safety

The measure aims to support structured investment programmes designed to transform production processes from the perspective of circular economy and environmental protection.

For the Torino Social Impact ecosystem, this call represents a concrete opportunity to promote innovation that is not only technological, but also social, by funding interventions aimed at:

  • Reducing environmental impact, through production diversification and the adoption of models for waste reduction and efficient resource use;
  • Increasing workplace safety, by rewarding projects that raise worker protection standards above the mandatory legal requirements;
  • Supporting decarbonisation, with a specific “green” component dedicated to climate and environmental protection.

The Support Measures: A Mix of Subsidised Finance and Grants

The measure is structured to cover up to 100% of eligible costs, for investments ranging from €50,000 to €3,000,000, through a combined financial instrument:

  • Subsidised loan: composed of 70% regional zero-interest funds and 30% bank funds;
  • Non-repayable grant: reserved for SMEs, with percentages varying according to company size and project type.

One element of particular interest for impact-oriented companies is the reward system. Increased non-repayable grants are available for companies holding a Legality Rating, gender equality certification or ESG Rating, thus recognising the ethical and social commitment of Piedmontese organisations.

Requirements and How to Apply

The measure is addressed to SMEs and Mid-caps with an operational headquarters in Piedmont.

It is important to underline that all projects must comply with the DNSH principle, “Do No Significant Harm” to the environment, and demonstrate a clear incentive effect, meaning that applications must be submitted before the start of the works.

Applications may be submitted from 9:00 AM on July 7, 2026 exclusively through the online procedure available on the Bandi Piemonte portal. The application window will remain open until October 29, 2028, unless funds are exhausted earlier.

More information

The Memorial Artwork “5.7 km of Screams in the Silence” Arrives in Turin

Posted on | by Bosnjakovic Jelena

From July 4 to 10, Spazio Pat will host a monumental 5.7-kilometre textile ribbon commemorating over 20,000 Palestinian children killed in Gaza.

After stops in Fusignano, Parma, Rosignano Monferrato and Milan, the project “5.7 km of Screams in the Silence” — a collective artwork created to transform grief into memory and memory into civic testimony — arrives in Turin from July 4 to 10, 2026, at Spazio Pat (Via Germanasca 27).

The initiative, conceived and curated by Cristina Pedrocco and Elena Gradara, was created to commemorate the over 20,000 Palestinian children killed in the Gaza Strip. Through a textile artwork of strong visual and emotional impact, the project aims to restore dignity and visibility to lives broken by war.

Launched in September 2025 through the call “Textile Artists for Gaza”, the initiative involved associations, collectives and individual participants in a creative process that transformed needle and thread into tools of memory, care and solidarity.

The work consists of a 5.7 kilometre fabric ribbon, created thanks to the contribution of more than 400 groups of people from across Italy. On thousands of textile panels, artists, artisans and citizens embroidered, wrote or painted the names of the young victims, which were then sewn together into a single memorial.

“5.7 km of Screams in the Silence” is a collective experience that invites reflection on the values of life, identity and memory.

The Turin exhibition is curated by Marina Gualandris, with the support of several local organisations active on the cause, including Atelier Riforma.

During the opening, on Saturday, July 4 at 7:00 PM, moments of public participation will take place, including readings by Naim Abu Saif, author of “The Last Breath of Gaza” (2025); stands by independent local artists and organisations such as Laboratorio POI, Atelier Riforma and Laboratorio Zanna Dura; a contribution by the BDS Torino collective; and refreshments made possible thanks to the recovery of surplus food by Kontiki.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to Gazzella Onlus, an association that provides assistance, care and rehabilitation for Palestinian children injured by weapons of war. The installation can be visited by reservation through the Instagram page of @spaziopat or by email at spaziopatpat@gmail.com.

The project is part of a broader international movement of civic solidarity and human rights promotion. The goal of the promoters is to continue bringing the memorial to Italian squares and cultural spaces, so that these names may continue to be remembered.

The final intention is to entrust the work to a museum, foundation or permanent institution that can ensure its preservation and commemorative function over time.

Futura Law Firm Publishes Its Fifth Benefit Report

Posted on | by Bosnjakovic Jelena

For the fifth time since its establishment in February 2021, Futura Law Firm STaRL Benefit Corporation has published its new Benefit Report, attached to the financial statements and available on the firm’s website.

For this edition, Futura Law Firm chose to integrate the use of the B Impact Assessment, both in its previous and updated versions, with the Voluntary Standards recommended by the European Commission, strengthening its impact measurement and reporting work.

The document reports on the objectives, actions and results connected to the company’s public-benefit purposes, offering a tool for transparency and further insight into the path undertaken by the firm.

Futura Law Firm also contributes to the organisation of the Benefit Corporation Community of Practice, promoted by Torino Social Impact: a peer learning and networking pathway dedicated to Benefit Corporations and to organisations interested in this model, now in its third edition.

Read the Benefit Report