An essay recently translated into Italian helps us to better understand the path that led us to the present day situation.

Over 75 years of economic, political and social tangles leading to the present day. A story that helps us better understand not only the social and political path undertaken by Europe and the world, but also the context in which industry and enterprise have, more in general, evolved. In other words, a process of globalisation that started behind closed doors but, despite everything, ended up in the open. This work, by Thomas W. Zeiler (who teaches at the University of Colorado Boulder and has been studying great global movements for a long time) includes all this. Porte aperte. L’economia mondiale dal 1945 a oggi (“Opening Doors in the Global Economy” chapter in Global Interdependence, Vol. IV: The World After 1945 (A History of the World)) is a good read for those who wish to truly understand the (not always straightforward) workings of the evolution of the global economy in the last decades.

The essay, which cross-references history, geopolitics and economics in exemplary fashion, pieces together the origins and the transformation of global economic interdependence. A path in which the decisive role undertaken by the United States in promoting an open and connected commercial, investment and transaction system, which was to become the true gateway for contemporary economic globalisation, has been (rightfully) emphasised.

Accordingly, the author explains how, indeed, what we are experiencing today is simply the result of a political approach variously intertwined in the American strategy of the Cold War period, whose aim was to consolidate the economic power of the Western allies against the Eastern Bloc nations. This despite some incongruities, as while the Cold War promoted breaking up the world into blocs, after 1945 the global economic powers were actually frantically pulling in the opposite direction.  Not only – if, on the one hand, all this helped to restore the nations ravaged by World War II, on the other hand it also contributed to the emergence of other countries, so much so that they became fierce rivals of the US.

Zeiler’s work explains all this in plain and clear language, over four distinct chapters that lead the reader from the devastation wreaked by World War II to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sure, each page demands careful reading, but once reached the end readers will assuredly be able to look at current events with a more critical eye.

Porte aperte. L’economia mondiale dal 1945 a oggi (“Opening Doors in the Global Economy” chapter in Global Interdependence, Vol. IV: The World After 1945 (A History of the World))

Thomas W. Zeiler

Einaudi, 2021

“La storia siamo noi. Nessuno si senta escluso” (“We are history, nobody should feel left out”). This quote from one of the Italian singer-songwriter Francesco De Gregori’s most poetical and impassioned songs marked the speech by President Sergio Mattarella for the anniversary of the Italian Republic, on 2 June. And, in times of crisis, reiterating the value of a common commitment, a sense of responsibility that’s necessary to build a better, more balanced and sustainable future as a community, it’s all the more beneficial. All things considered, and despite downfalls, shadows and mistakes, Italy has managed to survive the pandemic rather well. But now we need to contend with the recovery, and Mattarella emphasises the need for confidence, as well as highlighting the positive choices the Italian people – the institutions, the companies – have already made. “The country never stands still”, he asserted, adding, “Italy, our homeland, has what it takes to make it through.”

This is a historical reference to the post-war period when, despite the “material and moral rubble”, Italy resumed life and started planning for the future. 75 years ago, on 2 June, the Italian people casted their votes in a referendum to choose between monarchy or republic and the election of the Constitutional Assembly. The Republic won; the dismal times of a monarchy heavily compromised by fascism, racial laws and the war came to an end, and work towards a fully democratic Constitution, replete with exacting directives on rights, duties and responsibilities, began. The restoration started (“First the factories, then the houses”, agreed the Confindustria president Angelo Costa and the CGIL (Italian General Confederation of Labour) leader Giuseppe Di Vittorio: a record effort in entrepreneurship and labour), and despite weighty political and social conflicts (these were the times of the Cold War), the foundations were laid for what, in the 1950s and 1960s, developed into an economic boom, also boosted by the emergence of Europe as a common market and a community brimming with political values that are still significantly relevant nowadays.

Today, the economic, social and especially political framework is rather different than in the post-war period, yet President Mattarella’s timely reminder to that period underlines how and how much Italy, during an emergency – whether it’d be natural disasters, terrorism, mafia violence or severe recessions – always succeeds in giving its best.

Here’s confidence, then. Indeed, the confidence index of households and companies is rising (as mentioned in last week’s blog), and this year’s economic growth will increase by 4.7%, and by 4.4% in 2022, according to ISTAT (Italian Institute of Statistics) calculations (“Industry and goods, Italy gains confidence and the recovery accelerates” writes La Repubblica, 5 June). And the Draghi government is optimistic, forecasting a 5% increase. Industrial companies have resumed production and export activities for some time now (“Orders, exports and confidence. Lombardy drives the country” proclaims the Il Sole24Ore, 6 June). And the retail and tourism industries are also hearing positive noises that this summer their recovery will begin.

This feeling of confidence is backed by solid reasons, considering the economic climate and the way the healthcare system has responded to the pandemic. After some initial uncertainty, the vaccination campaign continues undeterred, with efficiency and effectiveness (General Figliuolo’s coordination efforts have been incredibly beneficial). The government is showing great commitment in the definition and approval of the PNRR (Piano nazionale di ripresa e resilienza), the Italian recovery and resilience plan, as per EU indications, and is confident that the first instalment of the 200 billion total EU funds for Italy will be issued by the summer. Ongoing reforms (in relation to justice, public administration, employment, education) are, unsurprisingly, running into opposition and obstacles, also due to the various interests and identity conflicts occurring within the government coalition parties (including tired attempts to seek consensus by turning to welfarism and public expenditure). Still, up to now, Prime Minister Draghi has positively succeeded in identifying and forcing compromise.

It is also reassuring to see that Italy’s reputation is on the rise in EU fora, and just at a time when Europe is reassessing its own role, regulations and considerable responsibility on the global stage (with Draghi retaining his position as a major reference point).

There remain, nonetheless, some pockets of uncertainty, where confidence is being only partially – timorously, in some cases – restored. The saving ratio, for instance, is something that should be carefully monitored: In 2020, the household saving rate has risen to 15.8%, almost double than in 2019, and the trend continued during the first months of 2021, too: money that could be spent on goods and small investments but stay idle due to uncertainty in the immediate future, to fears concerning employment, health, the children’s future (families continue to act as a huge social shock absorber for the next generation).

And the same is with several businesses, which are actually active and in good health yet hold on to their liquidity while waiting for the government to provide a more accurate overview on how it will proceed with the digital and green transitions before investing in social and environmental sustainability and in innovation (assets that are fundamental to competitiveness).

The general situation can be summed up like this: the recovery is underway but has not yet gained full momentum and, despite a climate of growing confidence, a large proportion of the Italian population would rather wait for a clearer picture in order to feel safer about their future.

A message of hope and confidence from the Quirinale and Palazzo Chigi, from an authoritative and proactive Prime Minister, is therefore essential, and parties play their role, too, in reassuring public opinion. Internal bickering, both in the centre-right and the centre-left, and tensions within individual political forces are, alas, no longer congruous with the difficult times we are experiencing and with the basic needs of the great majority of the Italian people.

And there’s yet another glimmer of hope on the horizon: Prime Minister Draghi has made it known in more than one occasion that his term might run up to 2023. This is good news, a reassuring indication that there will be enough time for those planned reforms meant to modernise Italy to become deeply embedded, and to start making good use of Recovery Plan funds, by investing in the development and quality of life and of Italy on the global stage, for productivity and competitiveness. Confidence, after all, can be built up.

Journalist Paolo Pilati describes some of the best Italian companies through the stories of their managers

Italian business excellence. This has become a familiar theme in many circles (and with good reason). However, this theme has never been explored sufficiently and we can always discover some previously unknown angle. The same can be said for those in the corporate world who are commonly referred to as top managers, in Italian as well. In other words, these are the senior officials, the ranks of women and men who support (in some cases replace) the entrepreneur. Different people, with different backgrounds, different characteristics and attributes, who all share the priceless ability to take a company by the hand, make it grow, conquer new worlds and generate wealth.

These people are the subject of “I generalissimi. Strategie e segreti dei top manager italiani” (“The Top Generals: Strategies and secrets

of top Italian managers”), written by Paola Pilati (a sharp journalist and expert in business and management).

Pilati begins with a statement of fact: “Made in Italy” can be described through turnover, joint ventures, winning market share. But it can also be seen through the stories of the people who steer companies to achieve their objectives, the managers who sit at the top: the CEOs.

This is followed by ten stories about ten managers from some of the country’s most important industries. The result is a book that is at the same time a history of men and women and a history of business. It also illustrates the current relevance of both. Pilati’s highly readable pages feature giants of stock market capitalisation such as Eni and Enel; undisputed champions in their sectors such as Fincantieri and Snam; the stories of family-run businesses such as Chiesi, the pharmaceutical company, Coim, the chemical company, Brembo, the manufacturer of Formula 1 brakes, and the Calzedonia group, with its strong presence on the world’s High Streets; and female-led companies such as Kiko with its successful fast make-up and Sanlorenzo’s Bluegame super-yachts, one of the most recognisable brands in the luxury sector. These are all companies (and what companies they are!) united by the presence of women and men who have the responsibility of steering the strategic choices that propel them into the future, as well as preserving their history, founding values, wealth of experience and knowledge. Summarising the content of her literary work, the author writes: “There are ten different examples, each is exemplary in their field, but they all have a common trait: they show that although Italian-style capitalism has declined in comparison with the past, it is perfectly integrated in the large value chains, undaunted by international markets and led by managers who are open to the new ‘humanism’ that is sweeping society”. Paola Pilati’s book is a must-read.

I generalissimi. Strategie e segreti dei top manager italiani (The top generals. Strategies and secrets of Italian top managers)

Paola Pilati

LUISS University Press, 2021

A recently published survey links the need to innovate with lessons from the past

Building on history to strengthen the present and look to the future with more confidence. In an economy characterised by speed and digitalisation, this approach promises the most results. Finding the correct use of our historical heritage is indeed a complex process, but it can be followed by different companies. After all, each works around its own production culture, where the past heritage is still useful in the present.

Alberta Bernardi, Chiara Luisa Cantù and Elena Cedrola have addressed these themes , focusing on the fashion textile sector.

“Heritage marketing e valorizzazione del territorio: il percorso verso l’innovazione sostenibile nel settore tessile e moda” (“Heritage marketing and territorial enhancement: the path towards sustainable innovation in the textile and fashion industry”), just recently published in the Corporate Governance and Research & Development studies – Open Access Peer Reviewed Journal, is a research study that starts with an observation: companies have to innovate their processes and products sustainably to distinguish themselves and gain a competitive advantage. This seems to be far from the subject actually analysed in the research. However, it is right on topic, for the aim of the study is “to contribute to the growing body of literature that explores what sustainable innovation really is and the drivers that enable its design and development”. This is where the underlying theme comes in. Bernardi, Cantù and Cedrola write that they “investigate the strategic potential of heritage marketing as a tool for enhancing the company’s history and values, including sustainability and the local area”.

As mentioned above, the research focuses on the textile and fashion sector in virtue of its frequently reported environmental, social and economic unsustainability and lack of openness to innovation in processes, products and business models.

The three researchers do not limit themselves to a theoretical analysis of the literature and the experiences of others, but also examine empirical evidence arising from the presentation of a case study about an internationalised Italian fashion company. The paper’s conclusion suggests that the strategic management of corporate heritage and brand heritage (or the historical and cultural heritage of the company and its values) can help companies implement sustainable innovation. This is made possible by recognising the worth of a company’s history and the values that have marked its development: environmental and social sustainability. The two forms of sustainability incite a company to reduce the environmental impact of production and, at the same time, take proactive actions towards the local area and community. Another point that emerges is the strong need for the textile supply chain to move towards greater, if not total, circularity.

The work by Bernardi, Cantù and Cedrola is useful for gaining a better understanding of the close links between aspects of business reality that may seem distant on the surface, but only on the surface.

Heritage marketing e valorizzazione del territorio: il percorso verso l’innovazione sostenibile nel settore tessile e moda (Heritage marketing and territorial enhancement: the path towards sustainable innovation in the textile and fashion industry)

Alberta Bernardi, Chiara Luisa Cantù, Elena Cedrola

Corporate Governance and Research & Development studies – Open Access Peer Reviewed Journal, 2021

Italy is on the move again and the Covid19 pandemic figures show a steady decrease in the number of hospitalisations and deaths. Although the health and social crisis is far from over, a light wind is blowing and there is talk of reduced health risks and economic recovery. The Italian vaccination campaign is going well, thanks to General Figliuolo’s smart and competent coordination. Public attention is shifting to two key words: confidence and recovery.

First and foremost, confidence is a vital component of any hypothesis for growth in investment and consumption. On Thursday, Istat reported that the consumer confidence index rose to 110.6 in May, the highest level since January 2020 (pre-Covid), while the business confidence index rose for the sixth consecutive month, from 97.9 to 106.7 (we have to go back to 2017 to find a similar value). “The ‘country’s stomach’ is bearing the brunt”, commented Dario Di Vico in the Corriere della Sera (28 May), noting that “civil society, from the basic family unit to the services sector and factories, has held up and proved capable of absorbing a large part of the hardship caused by the pandemic.” In short, society has acted as a shock absorber for the crisis, it has suffered but has not bowed or broken down; it has cautiously changed its behaviour, used its savings and is now in a positive frame of mind to start again.

The good work being done by the Draghi government, including the NRRP projects (the Recovery and Resilience Plan) and the pending or almost ready-to-go reforms (simplification, public administration, justice), are fuel for confidence. The growing credit Draghi enjoys as a leader with a European perspective also plays a positive role. His increased approval rating (66 points, up 8 from April to May), as shown in the latest Ipsos survey (Nando Pagnoncelli in Corriere della Sera, 29 May), clearly confirms this.

These considerations naturally do not overshadow the severity of the health and social crisis that is still ongoing, nor the grief over deaths, the serious personal, economic and social hardships, nor widespread concerns about the future. Yet, there is no “social revolt” on the horizon, despite the activism of the populist leaders, especially on social media. If anything, the Italian inclination for “resilience” is increasingly evident (it’s a pity that this word, overused and abused by political rhetoric, is losing its impact).

The second key word is: recovery. Data and forecasts also speak for themselves in this respect. The Centro Studi Confindustria (The Confederation of Italian Industry Study Centre) estimates a 4% rebound in GDP in the second half of the year and indicates “a narrow but rising path”, with industry playing a strong driving role. Carlo Cottarelli, president of the Observatory on Public Accounts, speaking Sunday on the broadcast “Mezz’ora in più”, predicted that the “GDP could go as high as 5%”, more than what the International Monetary Fund and the government are saying. Renato Brunetta, Minister of Public Administration, claims that “in terms of GDP growth rate, the rebound will be closer to 5% than the 4% forecast. Maybe a bit more than 5%”. In short, “I have the feeling that we are on the verge of a new economic boom”. “The summer of recovery”, was the optimistic headline of la Repubblica (30 May).

Good news has arrived from those regions that have traditionally been the driving force of recovery. “Lombardy is back on its feet and companies are hiring,” announced Alessandro Spada, president of Assolombarda (Il Sole24Ore 28 May and la Repubblica 29 May). He spoke of an 8.7% increase in manufacturing production, dynamism in the association’s key areas (Milan, Monza, Brianza, Lodi and Pavia), growing exports thanks to the recovery in Germany as well as in the USA and China, along with a bright moment for domestic consumption.

So, everything is all right? Of course it’s not. There are still economic areas that are struggling (services, tourism, trade). Infrastructure shortcomings are becoming apparent (“Two out of three building sites are either at a standstill or working sporadically,” complains OTI Nord, the Infrastructure Observatory covering the Confindustria (Confederations of Italian Industry) of Turin, Genoa, Milan, the North East and Emilia, representing 2.2 million businesses, 56% of GDP and 70.4% of national exports). There is also great concern that the sharp increase in raw material prices could put industrial production under pressure.

Yet, all in all, the atmosphere is positive. Milan is a key city in terms of appeal and is central to the flow of people and resources between Europe and the Mediterranean. None of the major international real estate investments agreed before the pandemic have been cancelled or postponed, the real estate market is growing in value and volume, its universities continue to be popular with 200,000 students (many of them from abroad), and traditional successful activities are resuming (the Salone del Mobile is the most obvious example). “Milan has the antibodies to restart,” confirms Spada. As for the tensions over employment and the end of the lay-off freeze, he adds: “I have no indication of the announcement of mass redundancies or full-scale crisis. On the contrary, companies, whose business is growing, are struggling to find suitable job candidates. This is not a temporary problem, but a chronic one in many sectors.”

The effects of the crisis have accelerated the pace of change and some companies have to restructure. There are fears of closures, downsizing and job losses, particularly among small and medium-sized companies.

Nevertheless, the employment picture has to be seen as a whole, not by freezing the current situation and postponing restructuring, but by speeding up the reform of social safety nets, from support for those who lose their jobs temporarily, to retraining and active policies for finding new jobs.

“The mechanical engineering industry is on the hunt for new skills, the recovery is underway,” says Federico Visentin, president-elect of Federmeccanica (The Italian Mechanical Engineering Federation), stating that “robot designers and programmers and other skilled personnel with technical, green and digital experience and expertise cannot be found”. Confindustria’s Youth Guidance experts add: “Industry is lacking 110,000 Stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) professionals” but also people with humanistic knowledge, required to deal with the needs of the digital enterprise and applying artificial intelligence to production, distribution and consumption processes.”

In other words, it is a situation in the midst of change. It is full of conflicting signals, but we are now heading out of the worst season of the crisis and towards a new start. The EU Recovery Plan and the Draghi government’s Italian Plan, with public investment and reforms, will provide a crucial boost.

A recently published research study attempts to correlate CSR activities and how they are assessed by companies’ end consumers

To obtain a fair perception according to our accomplishments, is something that applies to companies, too, especially those that have made corporate social responsibility (CSR) a central part of their activities. To be appropriately recognised, particularly by end consumers or by relevant market stakeholders at any rate, is essential, also because it conveys one’s own business ethics.

Antonella Monda and Antonio Botti investigate all aspects related to this topic in their article “I rischi della Corporate Social Responsibility per le imprese etiche e lo scetticismo del consumatore green” (“The risks of Corporate Social Responsibility for ethical businesses and the scepticism felt by green consumers”).

As described at the beginning of the article, their research centres its approach around the condition of a company involved in social issues and yet not favourably perceived by its consumers. The end goal is to ascertain whether a negative opinion of the company is also accompanied by a negative view of CSR practices.

The authors pursue a twofold aim: on the one hand, to verify the existence of a link between corporate production targets and CSR activities: a way to “substantiate the ethics of the company under discussion.” On the other hand, the identification of a potential connection between how corporate CSR activities are communicated and how these ethical pursuits are perceived by consumers.

Monda and Botti (both hailing from the Department of Business Studies – Management & Innovation Systems/DISAMIS, University of Salerno), first contextualise the theme of CSR, and then proceed to examine the case of the Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), the Italian State Railways, through an in-depth analysis of primary and secondary data. One of the conclusions they reach is that “Corporate social responsibility has very little influence on consumers’ opinion of a company; nonetheless, it’s possible that such conditioning might only relate to certain types of product sectors.” But that’s not all as, with reference to the FS, the two researchers additionally contemplate the feasibility of “conducting empirical investigations not only on service providers but also on company staff, in order to compare how managers, users and employers perceive CSR activities that have been put into practice.”

Monda and Botti’s research summarises the findings arising from an interesting CSR case study, probed in all its complex, diverse facets.

I rischi della Corporate Social Responsibility per le imprese etiche e lo scetticismo del consumatore green (The risks of Corporate Social Responsibility for ethical businesses and the scepticism felt by green consumers)

Antonella Monda, Antonio Botti

Corporate Governance and Research & Development studies – Open Access Peer Reviewed Journal, 2021

Digitalising production and social systems implies new, advanced training approaches: a book tells us how

Transformation – and therefore evolution, the exploration of new fields of knowledge, the creation of new employment opportunities. This is the horizon opened up by the so-called “fourth industrial revolution”. It means the digitalisation of production and of a good chunk of our everyday life. An issue that can’t be avoided and needs to be tackled with a suitable level of knowledge, just like Angelo Pasquarella and Laura Garozzo do, with their recently published Competenze e formazione 4.0 (Skills and training 4.0).

The book addresses the need for a different conception of training, shaped by new requirements dictated by digitalisation. Everything has a starting point, and, indeed, the lightning-fast advancement of increasingly smart and pervasive digital systems leads to the question of how professional roles, skills and corporate training will evolve. The answer supplied by the authors takes into consideration, first of all, the fact that new technologies are able, and increasingly so, to “absorb” routine and repetitive tasks, leaving more complex activities to workers. We are evolving, they assert, towards a different organisational model, centred on a manner of working that is determined by a project-led and goal-oriented approach. Hence, we need new training paths, something that affects both individuals and managers, as well as entrepreneurs. In fact, digital transformation means the transformation of people and their professional roles, above all,

and this is the premise from which the book unravels: starting from an incisive description of the “fourth industrial revolution” and on towards an exploration of professionalism as a concept, and from there the skills required to face this change. The book then moves on to discuss an essential theme, training and education, addressing both methods and content.

A scrutiny of training practices no longer conceived in traditional terms, but rather in need of new approaches that more informal, flexible and bespoke systems will help develop.

Competenze e formazione 4.0 (Skills and training 4.0)

Angelo Pasquarella, Laura Garozzo

Guerini Next, 2021

“The alternative to the city is not the countryside, but the desert. A physical and emotional one.” A reflection by the leading international architect Renzo Piano on the belief, prevalent in these times of pandemic and social and economic crisis, that city living is finished, that the metropolis will be forsaken in favour of towns or agricultural villages (Il Foglio, 13 May). A bit too soon to call it quits, however. While it’s true that megalopolises, rather than metropolises, are betraying an excess of economic and social vulnerability that could limit their further expansion, it’s also true that metropolitan areas, smaller and less unbalanced, remain dynamic, marked by a “condensed economy” that keeps on attracting human, financial, cultural and social resources, as well as providing scenarios where productivity and social inclusion are not necessarily in direct contradiction.

We live, nonetheless, in a time of change, accelerated by the pandemic, by the acknowledgement of our vulnerabilities, both as individuals and social bodies. And the challenge that awaits us is precisely that of learning how to deal with sustainability issues and with the growing demand for better living and working standards. A city that needs to be conceived anew, then, and that should be placed at the heart of a novel network of relationships that, incidentally, are typical of an Italy historically characterised by thousands of municipalities and towns, as well as by a tangle of small, medium and large cities. Cities, however, whose historical centres ought to be revived and suburbs “mended”, as Piano also contemplates. Cities that need to be better understood.

This is also the theme of the 17^th Biennale Architettura, the international architecture exhibition held in Venice, which opened on 21 May: “How will we live together?”. Installations, projects, suppositions on how urban space, as well as living and working interiors, could be redesigned, all against a background of cutting-edge environmental research. Hashim Sarkis, the curator, has allowed room for tentative replies to the many concerns arising from our rugged, controversial times; he has gathered original takes on sustainability research, interbred projects and languages (also lending an ear to suggestions that are more typical of contemporary art than architecture), thus building a much-discussed representation of the many drivers for change that are stirring, amongst worries and hopes, our troubled days.

But paying attention to good authors, as well as architects, it’s worthwhile, too. Taking Milan as an example, here’s what Alessandro Robecchi suggests: “The metropolis is not a monolith. One has to learn to live with its darker sides.” (Corriere della Sera, 22 May). Robecchi is the author of a series of successful noir crime novels, published by Sellerio and set in Milan. Spurning its glittery, frivolously designed (and mostly fake) backdrops, its stunning fashion scene, its blatantly flaunted wealth, he investigates instead its shady nature, its heart of darkness, its shadows that conceal desperate lives. In this manner, Robecchi portrays a more genuine, intense Milan, its thick humanity capable to build hopes and weave urban politics as well as individual and collective choices once more, which, in the name of a better living together for all, can rehabilitate our times. And rebuild more balanced economic assets. And bring together the green of the trees in streets and squares (as per the smart municipal policy programme led by mayor Beppe Sala) and enhanced social and professional relationships.

Metropolis and proximity. Smart working and competitiveness. “Gentle” mobility and social and cultural experimentation. Crisis and recovery.

A recovery, in fact, that relies on the acknowledgement of one condition: that for years, Milan, and Lombardy more in general, has been a European reference point and unique production area where manufacture, finance, services, culture, education and research intersect. Here, companies have come to a dramatic halt and the crisis has been heavily felt – yet there’s no need to panic about its downfall. Unquestionably, there are weaknesses and some sectors – from tourism to events, trade fairs and part of the services – are in trouble, but Lombardy’s manufacturing industry, one of the most vulnerable on the international markets, is nonetheless up and on its feet, reactive and dynamic. It has held on to its position within the large global supply chains, and it’s in the midst of a process of evolution that started before the pandemic hit.

Indeed, processes of digitalisation, sustainability, environmental transition and the knowledge economy date back to 2008, post the financial crisis, and will accompany us throughout the decade. Now, rather, those processes need to be accelerated, with a focus on improving productivity and competitiveness. Starting with the push for the Recovery fund, included in the PNRR, the Draghi government’s “Piano nazionale di ripresa e resilienza” (“National recovery and resilience plan”): funds to be spent well and promptly on environment, digital economy, training and education, research, and through close cooperation between public institutions and private companies.

Milan, the metropolis, is made of industries, banks, universities, major cultural and research centres, and mobility infrastructure on an international scale. It’s a flow network whose boundaries are mobile and dynamic and where skills and expertise, local roots and global relationships, cultures of public responsibility and private entrepreneurship, intersect.

Historically, the city’s strong points included its relationship with the surrounding territories, the ability to blend good governance with dynamic entrepreneurship, competitiveness and social inclusion, innovation and solidarity. And today, its assets are up and running: international property investments, attractive universities, a leading level of innovation made explicit by the huge number of patents, start-ups, finance, culture, it yields. Cornerstones on which is possible to start again, without arrogance, without underestimating fragilities and weaknesses, but taking on an active role within a Lombard region conceived within the context of polycentric economic geography, part of a paradigm shift for sustainable economy. Milan and Lombardy rid of parochialism and insisting on the strength generated by physical and digital interconnections. Productive territories inextricably intertwined in a series of interdependencies within which Milan is a fundamental hub in the network that encompasses Turin and Genoa, the north-east – where small companies are now links in dynamic production chains – and the Emilia region’s automotive, mechanical and food industries. The entire North, basically, a complex territory comprising small and large towns, villages and hamlets, as well as highly industrialised areas.

There are those who, in difficult times, still choose to stir antagonism for or against Milan. It’s a mistake, because Brescia, Bergamo, Turin and Bologna, together with Milan, constitute a unique, great productive body that fits into the wider context of Mediterranean Europe. Places where production and civil flows are heavy; places where, by applying critical thinking and constructive skills, it’s possible to find a concrete answer to the question raised by the Biennale in Venice: here, indeed, we can live better together.

The ADI Design Museum – Compasso d’Oro was formally opened this morning. The Museum is home to the historical collection of objects that, since 1954, have been awarded the Compasso d’Oro prize, which is one of the oldest and most important in the world in the field of industrial design. The occasion called for a story to be told, and it came in the form of photographs, covers and articles from Pirelli magazine, taken from the company’s Historical Archive. The works include Pirelli toys and the monkey Zizì, made of Pirelli foam rubber to a design by Bruno Munari, which won the prestigious award in its first edition. The jury acknowledged its “formal essentiality” and its “characteristic use of the material” – foam rubber around a wire frame – which allowed for “the enjoyment of an infinite number of poses”.

Already in the late 1940s, Pirelli had asked the multi-talented artist, graphic artist, and designer Bruno Munari to study new ways of using foam rubber, an innovative material patented by the company in the 1930s, but which until then had mainly been used as padding for mattresses and armchairs. As Munari himself recalled, his study of the material and its characteristics – above all its softness – “which feels like the sensation you get when you hold a kitten or some little animal in your arms”, inspired him to design a series of animals for children. This led to his foam rubber toys with an adjustable reinforcement wire inside: first and foremost, Meo Romeo the cat, which was patented in 1950. The original work, which is part of the heritage of the Pirelli Foundation, is on display in the exhibition.

“LIUC per la maturità 2021” is a project run by the Università LIUC Carlo Cattaneo di Castellanza to assist sixth form students in the run-up to the state exam for this school year, which has been so complicated for the world of education. Thanks to the participation of its teachers, the University is offering a series of in-depth mini-lectures on various topics: from anxiety management to the gender gap in the labour market, to literature, culture, and business history.

Snippets of Industrial Cinema – A “Beautiful” Factory: Can It Be Done? is the title of the meeting organised by the Università Cattaneo and the Archive of Industrial Cinema and Business Communication in collaboration with the Pirelli Foundation, with the participation of Antonio Calabrò, director of the Pirelli Foundation, and Daniele Pozzi, lecturer at LIUC and director of the Archive of Industrial Cinema and Business Communication. The webinar helps the students reflect on some issues closely related to the history and culture of the company and on the relationship between them and the society they live in. The issues are introduced by a series of short videos from the rich heritage of industrial cinema and communication of Italian companies. This interaction between current affairs and historical documents starts with some provocations and helps the students reflect on the complexities and contradictions of the industrial development of Italy during the economic boom. It also helps them think about the relationships, which have been improving over time, between factories, the environment and people. They see how company profits can be used to improve the quality of life and well-being of the individuals and communities that have dealings with the company, through to today’s digital factories and the “Il Canto della Fabbrica” project, with which Pirelli illustrated the new world of the factory through music. The musical score composed by Maestro Francesco Fiore for the violin of Maestro Salvatore Accardo and his Orchestra da Camera Italiana, took inspiration from the rhythms of the Pirelli factory in Settimo Torinese – one of the centres of excellence on the cutting edge of Italian industry. The music speaks to us of one of the “beautiful factories” in Italy, created as a welcoming, bright, sustainable and safe place.

Attached is the text drafted by LIUC to complete and give context to the project

Click here to watch the video.