The pilot project to test new models of digital transformation and guide small local enterprise to experiment with new communication models was presented yesterday. Made On-life in Venice is an initiative developed in collaboration with the City of Venice, Facebook Italia and the Fondazione Mondo Digitale to promote and concretely support the digital transformation of SMEs.
The project addresses the city’s commercial and tourist industry and aims to reinforce collaboration between the private and public spheres, experiment techniques and tools to promote interaction, and contribute to promoting local excellence via digital channels.
Speakers at yesterday’s presentation press conference included: Sebastiano Costalonga, Trade Councillor, City of Venice; Laura Besio, Educational Policy Councillor, City of Venice; Mirta Michilli, Director General, Fondazione Mondo Digitale; Angelo Mazzetti, Institutional Relations Manager, Facebook and Alberto Bozzo, Market Development Manager, Vela Spa and Manager of the Mestre Trade District.
“Our community’s economic-social system is facing a challenge to communicate better, transform and adopt better techniques to increase communicative efficiency and remain competitive even during the crisis,” underlines Councillor Alberto Bozzo.
“The project allows us to provide our competences to help local SMEs,” added Mirta Michilli, Director General of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale. “We have been driving public-partnerships throughout Italy for many years to promote the use of technology in society and especially amongst those categories that are having issues taking advantage of the opportunities provided by digital transformation. During the pandemic, many entrepreneurs and professionals have been forced – practically overnight – to move on-line and dabble with new digital technology to save their activities. I believe that this experience, albeit sad and dramatic, has provided Italy with a great opportunity for collective experimentation. Today, we are more aware that digital transformation is a lever for development and will also serve is that for economic recovery.”
“We are proud of participating in this project that is born out of common interests and objectives,” declared Angelo Mazzetti, Institutional Relations Manager for Facebook Italia. “We want to focus our commitment on the sectors that were most hardly hit by the pandemic, like craftsmanship, tourism and culture, all fundamental sectors for the economy of Venice and Mestre, an area that hosts many cases of excellence. We believe that this project will represent a further message to mark the importance of digital transformation for economic recovery and overcome the current barriers and limits during a period in which consumption and purchase models have radically changed. Consumers are increasingly digital. Over half of the Italian population has begun using new tools such as instant messaging to interact, but also to purchase from SMEs.”
The project is based on:
- Video lessons and on-demand resources that are accessible to all local economic actors to learn more about tools and techniques for digital communication: from the use of social networks to promote products to digital merchandising through fab labs;
- Basic and intermediate level interactive webinars for those already familiar with web tools;
- Selection of three companies for the development of case studies together with young students through courses on soft skills and orientation.
The involvement of three local schools (Liceo Scientifico Statale Ugo Morin in Mestre, the Istituto Istruzione Superiore Vendramin Corner indirizzo "Cini" in Venice and the Liceo Stefanini di Mestre) is viewed with great satisfaction by the Venice Education Policy Councillor Laura Besio: “At school, students should enter as kids and leave as citizens. A project like this one represents an opportunity for growth and increased responsibility. It’s a true field experience in which they will accrue new skills that they will be able to use in the working world. The first part of its added value is its interdisciplinary nature: students will follow a course and then work to promote craftsmen and shopkeepers to drive their digital transformation. Moreover, students will be able to learn about the history of the city in which they live and increase their sense of responsibility.”
“Everyone of us communicates their identity through social media,” concluded Commerce Councillor Costalonga. “Social networks can help Venice to become more attractive for quality tourism, but everybody has to play their part, using digital tools. The Council is offering help though Facebook and the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, but we need to involve everyone: craftsmen, tourist guides, gondoliers, restaurant owners. Everything revolves around digital tools. This is a true revolution, just like the invention of the printing press. I would like to thank everyone who is participating in the project, but also the trade associations and citizens who wish to drive digital transformation in our city. Together we can launch a message to the entire world: the idea that of a thriving city that is full of hope. The project aims to develop a model that can be exported to other cities, and we really need this, right now.”
For further information on the project
