Florence hosts eighth National Festival of Civil Economy

The eighth edition of the National Festival of Civil Economy concluded in Florence, focusing on the theme ‘EUconomia. The economy that does good, the sound of the growing forest’. Held from October 1 to 4, the event brought together over 4,000 participants, including entrepreneurs, academics, and Nobel laureates such as Shirin Ebadi and Philippe Aghion, to discuss equitable and sustainable development.

Key discussions centered on addressing modern economic challenges like inequality, inflation, wage poverty, and the climate crisis through relational intelligence and social participation. The festival highlighted the importance of trust and cooperation in creating shared value beyond traditional market exchanges.

During the event, several awards were presented to recognize excellence in community-driven initiatives. The ‘National Civil Economy Municipalities Award 2026’ was given to Melpignano and Capergnanica. Additionally, the ‘Shared Administration Award’ honored projects such as Roma Capitale’s ‘Dalla soglia all’abitare’ for its work with the homeless, Arpal’s ‘Camper del Lavoro’ in Puglia, and the ‘Radici’ project in the Marche region.