The social economy in the digital age

The first National Plan for the Social Economy marks the start of a new phase in the recognition and development of an ecosystem comprising cooperatives, social enterprises, associations, foundations and other organisations committed to creating value for people and communities. This approach requires new skills, investment in innovation, sustainable organisational models and greater capacity for collaboration between institutions, businesses and the third sector. In this process, digital transformation is a strategic priority for strengthening the role of the social economy in the country’s development. 
Digital technologies and artificial intelligence can improve the quality and accessibility of services, support the work of staff and volunteers, strengthen the capacity to respond to emerging needs and open up new avenues for participation. To capitalise on these opportunities, however, we must also address the challenges linked to the dissemination of skills, the availability of resources, responsible use of technology and the protection of rights, so that innovation generates tangible benefits for people and communities. 
How can these opportunities be translated into concrete policies and actions? This is the central question of the conference The Social Economy in the Digital Age. Artificial Intelligence, Inclusion and New Rights in the Knowledge Society, organised by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale ETS, in collaboration with the Fondazione Terzjus, on Wednesday 21 October, from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm, at the Sala Baldini in Rome.

A Digital Strategy for the Social Economy
The event brings together representatives from institutions, the third sector and the world of research to explore the contribution of the digital dimension to the implementation of the National Plan and to identify shared priorities.
Following the opening address by Alfonso Molina, co-founder and scientific director of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, Gabriele Sepio, secretary-general of the Terzjus Foundation’s Observatory on Philanthropy and the Third Sector, will outline the current state of the Plan’s implementation. Mirta Michilli, Director-General of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, presented the challenge of an inclusive digital transition as a cross-cutting dimension of social economy policies. 
The discussion then turned to the transformations affecting organisations: staff skills, service innovation, collaboration between the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors, impact assessment, access to resources and new funding instruments. These are issues that require an integrated approach, capable of supporting even the smallest and least well-resourced organisations.

Ten proposals to guide the change
The aim of the conference is to contribute to the drafting of a Charter for the Inclusive Digital Transition of the Social Economy, set out in ten proposals open to discussion with the participating organisations. 
The Charter aims to offer institutions a concrete contribution towards strengthening the digital dimension of the National Plan, recognising that social economy organisations play an active role in the development and direction of technologies towards the common good. The round-table discussion brings together a diverse range of experiences and areas of intervention, from co-operation to international solidarity, from the inclusion of people with disabilities to the protection of rights, and from volunteering to training and employment services. Participants include, amongst others, representatives from ActionAid, Aeci, Aics, the Alliance of Italian Cooperatives, Anfass, Cittadinanzattiva, the Italian Red Cross, CsvNet, Intercultura, Libera, Oxfam, Intersos and the Community of Sant’Egidio. 
The dialogue also extends to the parliamentary sphere with contributions from Silvia Roggiani and Lorenzo Malagola, promoters of the Parliamentary Intergroup for the Social Economy. The concluding summary, presented by Mirta Michilli and Gabriele Sepio, brings together the contributions made and identifies ways to bring the Charter to the attention of the institutions.

From skills to impact: the case of the Red Cross
A contribution to the discussion comes from the findings of research into the digital transformation of the Italian Red Cross, carried out as part of the Digital Bridge project, selected and supported by the Fund for the Digital Republic – Social Enterprise. 
The study, presented by Massimiliano Geoli, national secretary of the Italian Red Cross, offers concrete insights into how investment in skills can support organisational development and strengthen the capacity for social intervention. This experience helps to make changes measurable and to identify models that can be replicated in other organisations. 
The research confirms the central importance of human capital: the quality of digital transformation also depends on the ability to engage people, recognise their skills and support them in adopting new tools. 
The event forms part of Knowledge that Connects, the programme of initiatives marking the 25th anniversary of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale. Following the events in Milan, the discussion continues in Rome, renewing a commitment that runs throughout the organisation’s history: to contribute to the building of a democratic knowledge society, in which innovation is a shared resource and generates new opportunities for all.

The event
The social economy in the digital age
Artificial Intelligence, Inclusion and New Rights in the Knowledge Society
When: Wednesday 21 October 2026, 2.30–5.30 pm (proceedings begin at 3 pm)
Where: Sala Baldini, Piazza di Campitelli 9, Rome
Organisers: Fondazione Mondo Digitale and Fondazione Terzjus
To attend: please email progetti@mondodigitale.org
View the full programme