Italian regional and cross-border initiatives

Italy continues to implement various regional and international cooperation projects focused on economic, social, and mobility development.

Domestically, initiatives include the Festival dell’Impresa in Bergamo, which addresses business competitiveness amid geopolitical and energy challenges. The upcoming event, themed “Crescere nonostante” (Growing despite), is expected to convene 200 entrepreneurs and 400 speakers to discuss remaining competitive amidst technological shifts. In Rome, the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy held its fifth “Walk the Talk” meeting, focusing on fiscal policies and investment incentives to enhance the country’s attractiveness to foreign capital, noting that US capital stock in Italy is approximately 45 billion dollars.

Efforts to address labor and skills development are expanding. The European Training Foundation (ETF) is scheduled to host the Torino Global Skills Summit from November 23 to 25, 2026, at the OGR in Turin. This international event aims to address how skills can drive economic growth, social inclusion, and European competitiveness during rapid technological transformations. The summit will bring together European institutions, ministers, policymakers, and experts from the European Union and partner regions, including the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, Central Asia, and Africa. Discussions will center on professional training, lifelong learning, and the Union of Skills strategy to mitigate skill shortages.

In Tuscany, a participatory process is underway to develop a “White Paper” for migrant inclusion, focusing on professional training and labor rights. Social welfare programs also continue, including autism awareness training via the “InsideAUT” project in Montevarchi and a forum for oncology caregivers in Rimini. On an international level, Italy and Switzerland maintain strategic projects in the border regions of Varese, Como, and Canton Ticino, such as the SMILE project for sustainable mobility and the Interreg Forum Insubria 2050.