Origins of Futures: Edison brings together in Venice over 50 international experts in culture, science, philosophy, sociology, economics and art to debate the origins of the future and possible futures

Institutional greetings by the President of Fondazione Venezia Capitale Mondiale della Sostenibilità Renato Brunetta, the Mayor of Venice Luigi Brugnaro and the President of Confindustria Veneto Enrico Carraro.

Keynote speech by Prof. Romano Prodi.

The event is available in streaming at the link: https://www.youtube.com/live/kJBK02pNuYA

Venice, October 8, 2024 – This initiative by Edison, in collaboration with Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli, Fondazione Edison and with the patronage of the Municipality of Venice, Fondazione Venezia Capitale Mondiale della Sostenibilità and Confindustria Veneto, is the result of a collaboration with Freddy Paul Grunert, curator of the event.

Origins of Futures takes place on 11 October at the Procuratie Vecchie in Venice and is structured as a day of study and in-depth analysis to explore and understand the complex and relevant challenges for our future, promote a broader and more sustainable vision, and generate a significant impact in terms of raising awareness and producing thought and culture for the benefit of the community.

The reflection is articulated in four areas of importance to society: innovation and sustainable progress, community and connections, knowledge and inclusion, and imaginaries and trust. The contribution of more than 50 personalities from academia, research and outstanding professionals from 15 different countries, as well as representatives of Edison's top management, supports a collective reflection to understand what desires innervate the communities in which we live and what imaginaries we can contribute to develop in order to favour the realisation of an inclusive and definitively sustainable future project.

A first session will be behind closed doors and will see open dialogue and discussion between the thinkers; this will be followed by an open-door session (by invitation only), with the return of the working tables in the presence of the Mayor of Venice Luigi Brugnaro, the President of Fondazione Venezia Capitale della Sostenibilità Renato Brunetta, the President of Confindustria Veneto Enrico Carraro and Professor Romano Prodi, who will give a dedicated keynote speech. The event can be streamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/kJBK02pNuYA from 14:30 on 11 October

The idea of Origins of Futures stems from the long wave of the Edison Group's reflection born in 2023 on the occasion of the company's 140th anniversary. Thanks to its long experience and history of firsts, Edison is well aware of the responsibility that the promotion of progress entails and the absolute necessity to be and act as a ‘good’ ancestor to guarantee a future truly inspired by the values of sustainability, inclusion and justice for the community.

The 4 Working Groups:

1. 1. Innovation and Sustainable Progress: This group explores the evolution of environmental awareness and technological innovation, with a particular focus on lifestyles, the management of urban and natural spaces, economic progress, and environmental consciousness.
2. 2. Knowledge and Inclusion: It addresses the challenges posed by technology, science, and artificial intelligence, as well as the transformations in education, training, and learning, with a focus on new generations and the importance of truth.
3. 3. Communities and Connections: This group examines how community ties are changing in an increasingly fragmented society, with a special focus on the sense of community and mutual support as key elements for a sustainable future, also from a social perspective.
4. 4. Imaginaries and Trust: This group investigates the capacity to continue imagining the future in a context marked by a profound crisis of imagination, and consequently, trust in tomorrow. We must ask ourselves: How can we restore the ability to imagine the future? How can art and politics collaborate to sketch new possible utopias? In a world struggling to dream, how can we regain the motivation behind the dream of an alternative world or reality?

Participants:

Avataneo Alessandro , Author, filmmaker, teacher at Scuola Holden; Baia Curioni Stefano, Professor of Economic History at Bocconi University; Benatti Francesca, Professor of Comparative Law Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Bianchi Alessandro General Manager Pirelli Hangar Bicocca; Bianchi Luigi Arturo, Professor of Commercial Law at Bocconi University and lawyer; Bougleux Elena, Professor of Cultural Anthropology University of Bergamo; Bouin Olivier, Director of the Network of French Institutes for Advanced Study; Brinkmann Vincenz Archaeologist, Member of the Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University; Capua Ilaria, Virologist, Senior Fellow of Global Health Johns Hopkins University; Chiappero Martinetti Enrica, Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Pavia; Colombo Francesca, Cultural Engineer, Pianist, Managing and Cultural Director BAM, Fondazione Riccardo Catella; Costa Alessandro, Director General Venice Sustainability Foundation; Cotroneo Roberto, Journalist, writer, and photographer; Dattoli Davide, CoFounder & Executive Chairman Talent Garden; Della Valle Massimo, Research Director and member of the Board of Directors of the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) and Member of the Lincean Academy; Dubini Paola, Associate Professor of Economics at Bocconi University; Ercolessi Elisa, Professor Department of Physics and Astronomy Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna; Gerbi Lorenzo, Co-director of Baltan Laboratories, Eindhoven; Giacca Mauro, Head of School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine&Sciences, King’s College London; Giovannini Enrico, Professor at the University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Scientific Director of the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development (ASviS); Gozzi Martino, Head of Studies - Scuola Holden; Hoch Michael Physician, researcher at CERN; Jacomella Gabriela, Literary scout, author and essayist; Leinen Jo, Former Member of the European Parliament, Committees for Environment, Foreign and Constitutional Affairs, President of China-Delegation; Mafille Coquelicot, Visual artist; Magatti Mauro, ARC Centre for the Anthropology of Religion and Generative Studies, Dept. of Sociology Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Magnifico Marco, President of FAI ; Medda Francesca, Professor of Applied Economics and Finance, Director UCL Institute of Finance&Technology University College London; Mento Federico, Secretary of Social Value Italia; Molinari Luca, Professor of Theory and Architectural Design University of Campania; Metta Giorgio, Scientific Director of the Italian Institute of Technology IIT; Prencipe Andrea, Professor Organisation&Innovation LUISS Guido Carli University; Ricuperati Gianluigi, Writer, essayist and curator; Schnapp Jeffrey, Founder/director metaLAB at Harvard; Sideri Massimo, Columnist for Corriere della Sera, Adjunct Professor at LUISS Guido Carli University; Spies Paul, Former Director of Stadtmuseum, Berlin; Stevens Yvette, Engineer Former Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone, Geneva; Tabas Brad, Professor Department of Social and Human Sciences ENSTA, Bretagne; Monti Nicola, Chief Executive Officer Edison; Biandrino Pergiuseppe, Executive Vice-President Legal and Corporate Affairs Edison; Fortis Marco, Vice-President of Edison Foundation; Lory Ronan, Chief Financial Officer Edison; Mottura Lorenzo, Executive Vice-President Strategy, Corporate Development & Innovation Edison; Parenti Cristina, Executive Vice-President External Relations & Communication Edison; Terenghi Barbara, Executive Vice-President Sustainability Edison; Magrin Federico, Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli; Donati Nicolò, Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli; Berni Sofia, Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli; Cadamuro Elena, Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli; Tarantino Massimiliano, Director Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli.