Homo Faber Economy: regenerating the entrepreneurial fabric through training and skills
Homo Faber Economy began as a project for the city of Venice , aimed at regenerating its social and entrepreneurial fabric. An 18-month program promoted by Ca' Foscari University in partnership with Fondazione di Venezia and Upskill 4.0, designed with national and international partners to develop managerial and technological skills for the management of innovative projects aimed at launching new business ventures.
The project aims to provide concrete responses to the challenges of globalization by offering a structured growth path for Venetian artisan businesses. The initiative is divided into three phases:
- Promotion (March-August 2024): webinars and focus groups to create local synergies and consolidate a community of entrepreneurs
- Development and training (September 2024-December 2025) innovative and interactive training courses to teach digital and entrepreneurial skills
- Business start-up (October 2025-February 2026): consulting and coaching activities for the structuring of new business ideas.
The project benefits from the collaboration of prominent national and international partners, including the Cologni Foundation for the Métiers d'Art, Artex, Les Ateliers de Paris, and Cockpit Studios in London, to promote constructive dialogue and openness to new markets.
Venice and craftsmanship
How to promote Venice's artisan heritage is a question that arose fifteen years ago, as evidenced by books such asFuturo Artigiano (Future Artisan),which, in less uncertain times, outlined the many ways in which this heritage, which deserves to be promoted on an international scale, could be carried forward into the future. In the meantime, everything has changed. Today, we are living in a complex scenario, and in this context of discontinuity, even Made in Italy needs to be rethought.
Over the last twenty years, high-end craftsmanship linked to the luxury industry has remained unblemished; in Venice, it is now featured in prestigious exhibitions such asHomo Faber andthe Venice Biennale, conveying the idea of a tailor-made city. High craftsmanship is a strategic lever for the economic and cultural revival of unique territories such as Venice. The Homo Faber Economy project emphasizes the need for companies to rethink their business models, integrating 4.0 technologies and new managerial skills to meet the challenges of global competitiveness. Promoting Made in Italy today means not only preserving a heritage of inestimable value, but also reinterpreting it in a contemporary key, making it a distinctive element and a driver of sustainable development capable of attracting quality tourism and generating new employment opportunities.
By applying the methodologies and skills acquired during the Homo Faber Economy program, artisan businesses can reap tangible benefits, such as greater visibility on international markets, optimization of production processes, and the development of new products and services in line with the needs of modern consumers. The integration of innovation and tradition translates into increased competitiveness and sustainable growth in the long term.
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Notes
Homo Faber Economy is a project for the city of Venice promoted by Ca' Foscari University in partnership with Fondazione di Venezia and Upskill 4.0. The initiative, which has received I.C.O.N.A. funding from the Veneto Region, aims to promote the growth and international projection of Venetian high craftsmanship, providing concrete answers for innovation and the development of managerial and technological skills consistent with the needs of the territory. The goal is to chart a new trajectory for Made in Italy, starting from Venice's rich artisan heritage.
Project “Homo Faber Economy”
Code 2120-0001-727-2023
CUP H77G23000350002
PR Veneto ESF + 2021-2027
DGR. 727/2023 VENICE I.C.O.N.A.
