Mainstage

The WMF, as a platform for making the Future, has the mission of connecting personalities and projects that can provide a concrete impact in creating a better, shared and sustainable tomorrow. Cosmano Lombardo, CEO and Chairman, introduces the three-day WMF 2023 and its themes.

In the first two decades of the 21st Century the process of digitization of all human activities has accelerated. Two major technological breakthroughs spearhead the changes: 5G network connectivity (with 6G already in the experimental stage) and the coming of age of Artificial Intelligence that allows for increasingly autonomous machines with decision making capacity supported by distributed Big Data. Social practices, organizations and institutions are in flux. We do not know which will be the precise impacts of these developments, but we know the current trends and the issues they raise. The lecture will examine these trends and elaborate on the challenges they present in the organization of work, in communication, in political disinformation, in the autonomy of social movements, in education, and in warfare. The results of multidimensional and technological change are not predetermined. They will ultimately depend on policies and strategies that this lecture will discuss.

The fight against the Mafias is experiencing a new era, which goes beyond the traditional fight at the ground level and takes on the new challenges brought by digital technologies. Two different ways of fighting for the freedom of thousands of people for too long oppressed by fear.

The efforts of the Postal Police are central to the fight against cybercrime and data protection; the new organization, both central and peripheral of the Postal Police's Cyber Security Operations Centers COSC, has underscored the leading role of the Postal Police in what concerns national security.

Alice Mangione irreverently portrays the interaction between humans and AI, bringing a particular version of the world-famous voice assistant onto the Mainstage.

The transfer of expertise from the world of academic research to the world of industrial research is a fundamental component of our society's progress. In recent years, this relationship has grown in parallel with the spread of technology in all areas of our lives, paving the way for new and increasingly effective forms of collaboration and increasingly involving small and medium-sized enterprises as well. Cineca supports this path toward digitization and today, with the European Leonardo supercomputer, the fourth most powerful in the world, recently installed at the Tecnopolo in Bologna, reinforces its commitment to the transfer of enabling skills toward society. We talk about this with Cineca President Francesco Ubertini.

Pablo Trincia, a major voice of Italian investigative journalism, was the first to bring the serial podcast to Italy in 2017. With Veleno, a serial investigation on the case of the devils of the Modena lowlands, he transformed the podcast market, becoming one of the most followed and imitated podcasters on the Italian scene.

From genomics to imaging, from biomedical analyses to the ability to predict a patient's response to a particular treatment. If used well, AI can turbocharge researchers and doctors in finding answers to common diseases.

The daily lives of the Ukrainian population is marked by war and bombs. However, in this terrible context, one of Europe's most vibrant and active technology sectors thrives, fighting for freedom. For a technology that destroys there is always one that builds the foundation for a free and democratic future. A technology that unites people into one big global family with the noble purpose of growing together by fighting misinformation and propaganda.

Paolo Cevoli talks about Emilia Romagna on the Mainstage.

Takoua narrates WMF 2023 by live drawing.

Camihawke is one of the most recognized and influential content creators on the Italian scene, who has best combined her web persona with that of other media.From radio to TV, passing through publishing and podcasts, thanks to her next adventure in theater Camilla will test herself in the live dimension, bringing her content in direct contact with her community for the first time.Camilla will tell a preview at WMF about this important moment in her artistic journey.

What is the role of gaming on social? Showcase for the world's most famous pro-players, just an entertainment tool for specific platforms or a gateway to 360° content creation? A dynamic and slightly irreverent interview to discover Giorgio and his journey from pro-player to content creator: a hard and long journey, which, however, allowed him to create a large digital family made of friends before than fans.

The job market in the past few years has been completely transformed by the rise of digital jobs. What are the outlooks for a market that, as of today, lacks guarantees and clear rules? Cosmano Lombardo talks with Pierpaolo Bombardieri, General Secretary of UIL, about the path toward a smarter, worker-friendly job market.

Aiming to spread its brand nationwide, Netsons revised the rules of influencer marketing, involving Rocco Siffredi, the historical face of broadcast media and giving him a new guise: that of the NERD, far from the logic of digital and new technologies; Netsons accepted a great challenge and found a new key to effectively tell about its services and activities with a language that is also ironic and engaging.

AI has become a major topic of public debate in the past few months. However, questions are often raised about the correct approach to this groundbreaking technology. Gianluca Misuraca tells on the WMF 2023 Mainstage the path to a human-centric approach to AI that involves public-private collaboration to build a better future together.

Clelia Piperno has always been committed to the study of cultural heritage and historical developments that enable us today to combat all forms of racism, anti-Semitism, and denialism. The project Talmud, Technology for a New Idea of Global Citizenship is an expression of how Clelia Piperno has decided to match the power and opportunities of Artificial Intelligence to the field of cultural heritage and the studies that can be derived from it.

Andrea Sesta and Augusto Rasori bring on the WMF 2023 Mainstage all the irreverence and humor of Lercio News, with a masterful mix of factual news and satire.

Advances in AI are about to change the way we work and live. Soon you will converse with machines as easily as with your neighbor; computers will create first drafts of documents and graphics; and programs will act as your agent in dealing with governments, companies, and coworkers. These innovations will accelerate progress in art, science, and human knowledge, but they will also bring new risks and dangers. How well we manage this tremendous gift will be the defining challenge of our times.

Robotics can bring great benefits to our society: from industry to service robotics; and now also in cognitive rehabilitation. iCub, a humanoid robot of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, is used in a rehabilitation center where it carries out robot-assisted training of social skills for children diagnosed with autism.

Studying the human organism allows AI and Robotics designers to draw inspiration from nature at many levels and in many regards, in principles and function, for engineering new materials, mechanisms, and algorithms, and efforts to create AI and robots as self-regulating artificial lifeforms. Here the presenter describes a novel embodied AI framework using a human-inspired AI cognitive system with robotic hardware embodiment, including naturalistic humanlike face, hands and arms, locomotion, and an extensive software suite including diverse AI algorithms, computer animation tools, and application authoring tools, for exploring humanlike cognition as a holistic, embodied phenomenon. 

When innovation is not a option, but the only way for an entire country to flourish and solve its problems, then the best solutions are born. This is the case in Albania, which, after suffering the deep economic and social damage of the collapse of the communist system, is now opening up to the global digital job and startup industry, becoming one of the world's leading future-making hubs.

RES Freedata is a Digital & Consulting Agency that deals with the conception and development of Digital and Social Media Marketing strategies. It receives the award for the digital transformation project proposed and implemented at IPI, a company operating in the real estate buying and selling sector; the campaign and strategy involved not only IPI's marketing sector but also generated innovative solutions for the real estate sector.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is a multilateral development bank, with the main mission to help businesses and economies thrive through financial investments, business services and involvement in high-level policy reform, promoting entrepreneurship and resilience. The EBRD operates in 38 countries of operation, helping them to transition to market economies through investing around €10billion a year. The EBRD has extended its focus through the Star Venture Programme with the aim to identify high-potential start-ups and to mobilize globally sourced expertise to help these young firms scale up rapidly. Currently, the programme operates in 22 countries across the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEMED), the Western Balkans region, Eastern and Central Europe, and Central Asia.

Rai has always been very attentive to the inclusion of people with sensory disabilities. The Public Service as an example of a social and cultural innovation that enters the homes of millions of Italians every day thanks to the great commitment of Rai Pubblica Utilità. Thanks to the partnership between WMF and Rai Public Utility, the WMF Mainstage is interpreted in LIS.

The growing popularity of social media during the 2010s brought about a major revolution in the entertainment landscape and the enjoyment of content. Today, after fifteen years, the Creator Economy is a solid industry, bringing with it new professionalism and also a new way of communicating. Luca Leoni, CEO of digital media company Show Reel Media Group, talks about how this market works today.

The Creator Economy is an increasingly mature industry that accounts for a large part of the digital market; Show Reel Media Group is a partner of the WMF and receives the award for its commitment to supporting, enriching and fostering the conscious and ethical development of this sector, through the work a factory of talents engaged in communication and social engagement projects, as well as through its determined commitment to identifying, for this market, an institutional recognition and a stable framework.

A collaboration between Luca Gervasi, one of the most beloved content creators of the moment, and Monge, a major Italian petfood brand. Luciano Fassa, Monge General Director, and Lucia Lusetti, Marketing Manager, tell on the Mainstage the match between Creator Economy and petfood, as a trigger to develop new marketing strategies and expand brand awareness via social media.

In an ever-changing world, the constant common denominator of any innovation is proper and effective project management. ISIPM has always been the point of reference for Italian project management professionals. A clear, precise and transversal methodology that accompanies and supports any form of technological and social innovation.

Legacoop, an association representing Italian cooperatives, in continuity with the goals and mission that animate its work, is awarding the prize to the farm laborer cooperatives in the Ravenna area (CAB Terra - Ravenna; CAB Massari - Conselice; CAB Bagnacavallo and Faenza - Bagnacavallo and Faenza; Agrisfera - Ravenna; CAB Campiano - Ravenna; CAB Fusignano - Fusignano; CAB Comprensorio Cervese - Cervia) for the act of generosity shown in having their fields flooded to save Ravenna and the surrounding area from the flood emergency that occurred in May 2023.

Sir Tim Berners-Lee discusses the evolution of the web, highlighting the impact of generative AI and discussing how the society should responsible use technology. Talking with our CEO and Chairman Cosmano Lombardo, Sir Tim Berners-Lee will share the inspiring story of his journey as the inventor of the World Wide Web. He will discuss his vision and the challenges he faced during his career.

Innovation runs fast and scares, especially when it affects very sensitive aspects as it does with AI. What is the role of the policy maker? Not to curb it, but to help society give itself rules to co-exist democratically with technology. Anna Ascani, Vice-President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, tells about the commitment of Italian and European institutions in the direction of strong investments in training to understand and make the best use of these technologies.

In a world that is rapidly transforming through technological advancements, we need to look beyond the present and embrace the possibilities of the future. Let’s challenge conventional thinking as we envision a future where AI collaborates seamlessly with humans, transforming industries and empowering humanity to achieve more. Microsoft and Open AI are at the forefront of shaping a better, more inclusive future with new digital experiences.

Innovation and excellence is a combination that is becoming increasingly common in the Italian market, particularly through the efforts of the Italian Agency for Foreign Trade (ICE). Startups, SMEs and large companies that share a common feature, excellence and the will to innovate, which, thanks to the support of institutions, bring the quality and know-how of Italian companies all over the world.

The new economic planning period from 2021 to 2027 in Latvia is focused on supporting innovation in high value-added industries through a strategy known as smart re-industrialization. This strategy serves as the foundation for research, development, and innovation involving various stakeholders from the public, academic, and private sectors.The strategy identifies five high value-added industries: Bioeconomy, Biomed and Biotech, Smart materials, Engineering, Smart energy and mobility, and Information and Communication Technologies. In the coming years, there will be increased concentration of innovation and science within these industries, accompanied by efforts to boost human capital and establish more technology transfer and export support mechanisms.Attracting foreign direct investments to these industries is a top priority, facilitated by initiatives such as the Green Channel. The government, in collaboration with partners, is working to make Latvia an attractive location for entrepreneurship, research, idea development, testing, and global market entry, in order to maintain a highly competitive innovation environment.Significant efforts have been made to accelerate the development of the local startup ecosystem, and recently, there has been a growing focus on the role of state-owned enterprises in the overall innovation ecosystem. Latvia aims to join international research hubs like the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN). Additionally, Latvia seeks to become a proactive launchpad for innovation in DeepTech, 5G, and Precision Medicine, playing a crucial role in transforming the country into a globally recognized hub for knowledge and solution development.

We asked ChatGPT to help solve for some of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges through the use of technology and innovation  – from Carbon and GHG Emissions, Circular Economy, Biodiversity, Access to Energy, Pollution and Waste Management, Geopolitical Upheaval, and more.  What were the answers, and how effective might they be?  Can AI really save us from the looming possible catastrophes on the horizon?  We’ll review the ‘wisdom’ from the world’s most popular and leading AI engine and see how practical and human-centric the responses are, and what perhaps they should and could be if we can source the answers from successful human collective intelligence AND viable engagement.

For the second year in a row, SACE withdraws on the WMF stage the award intended for the training and support project for female entrepreneurship "Women in Export - Objective South." A project promoted in partnership with Microsoft, UPS and the Federico II University of Naples, which consists of a free specialized training course designed with the aim of enhancing the female intellectual capital of southern companies by strengthening their technical-managerial skills. The theme of women's empowerment is a pillar of SACE's training offerings, and one year after the launch of its community, it has decided to promote a new training initiative aimed at strengthening the female managerial endowment of Southern companies through the strengthening of technical-managerial skills in the areas of sustainable innovation, internationalization and business leadership.

Supercomputing, AI, quantum computers will be key technologies for the near future. That is why, in 2022, Italy has invested under the PNRR on the creation of the National Research Center in High Performance Computing, Big Data and Quantum Computing, which will enable the country to collaborate and compete at the highest level in Europe and the world.Among the challenges for the near future, in addition to the processing of increasingly large masses of data, is to imagine future scenarios for complex systems such as climate or smart cities.

Generative AI is definitely among the hot topics of 2023, having captured the worldwide attention of experts and non-experts and becoming public knowledge. It is a topic that both fascinates and raises questions about the applications of these paradigms. In this talk we will explore how the latest advances in AI can produce results for the common good if used responsibly and ethically.

Margherita Granbassi tells on the WMF Mainstage about Federscherma's commitment to innovation and inclusion in sport through the Milan 2023 World Championships.

The 6 Startup Competition finalists will compete on stage: Functional, Yalla, Wallife, CYRKL, PlanetWatch e FLYV. 3-minute pitches to wow the judges and win the grand final prize.

Innovation is a collective process that relies, at least in part, on sharing information and know-how internationally. In this context, the development of innovation diplomacy, of which Sweden and Algeria are two key players, is crucial. International cooperation to make the future together.

What makes a VC invest in one startup over another? Bill Reichert, Partner at Pegasus Tech Ventures, shares on the WMF Mainstage how to target a VC's heart and win them over using the "Getting to WOW!" technique.

Bill Reichert, Giuseppe Oppedisano and Marco Quadrella award the WMF Startup Competition winners.

Fabio Celenza brings the art of dubbing on the WMF Mainstage with that dash of satire and irony that distinguishes him.

Diletta Leotta chats with Cosmano Lombardo about her journey in show business and her new projects.

Nowadays we hear about Artificial Intelligence all the time, but we don't always understand exactly what it is about. Stefano Quintarelli, entrepreneur and inventor of the SPID digital identity, helps us enter the world of AI in a simple and straightforward way to understand its power and risks.

Today we face the twin emergencies of human-induced climate change and biodiversity loss, which are closely linked and threaten the well-being of current and future generations. Because our future is highly dependent on biodiversity and a stable climate, it is critical to understand how the decline of nature and climate change are linked.

E-commerce has radically changed the lives of millions of people, with the opportunity to buy goods from all over the world and receive them at home within a few days. However, delivery logistics have often been the target of debate over issues related to sustainability and working conditions. Here lies the project of Alfred 24, whose network of smart lockers has revolutionized the world of delivery and e-commerce by ensuring safety and sustainability.

Tey Elrjula shares his inspiring journey from refugee to crypto evangelism. He illustrates with recent and real examples how Bitcoin's borderless nature is empowering communities to shape a future without boundaries, blending personal experience and transformative vision for a Bitcoin-powered world.

AWorld is the official platform supporting ACTNOW, the United Nations campaign for individual action on climate change and sustainability. This year Aworld and WMF have collaborated and launched a challenge to generate a positive and sustainable impact by partnering with Treedom to create a forest. Aworld receives the award for its commitment to sustainability.

The world population has recently exceeded 8 billion people, and the housing issue is one of the major problems of contemporary society. This was the origin of Wasp's vision, which, starting from the dream of ensuring housing for all as a birthright and observing nature, developed a new sustainable construction system through 3D printing.

What are the limits of human aviation? What if human could fly? Gravity Industries designs, builds and flies Jet Suits, pioneering a new era of human flight. There aim is to inspire people to dare and answer to this question, reshaping the future of humanity.  

We are living through an unprecedented moment of multiple crises. While ordinary people are struggling with the rising cost of living, the very richest have become dramatically richer and corporate profits have hit record highs, driving an explosion of inequality. Taxation plays an important role.  Decades of tax cuts for the richest and corporations have fuelled different kinds of inequalities and concentrated power in few hands, with the poorest people in many countries paying higher tax rates than billionaires. It should not be this way. In recent history, taxation of the richest was far higher and taxing the rich and making billionaires pay their fair share is becoming hugely popular. A fairer taxation and more equal world are possible.

Humans have always been fascinated by Space as an often unreachable limit. However, efforts to learn about it and exploit its potential have increased in recent decades, particularly with the advent of the Internet and satellites. One of the major players in these projects is the European Space Agency (ESA), which is working on integrating AI into space exploration to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics that rule the universe and make human activity increasingly sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Artificial Intelligence learns from a huge amount of data, often also very personal. Its learning mechanism has generated concern in various international privacy guarantors and first and foremost in the Italian one, leading to the temporary ban of ChatGPT and Open AI in the last few months. Here arises the role of the policy maker who is not aiming to stop the progress, but to turn it into real innovation by amplifying the collective welfare.

Innovating under the bombs? It can be done. Despite the war, the Ukrainian people are still developing a very strong technology sector, both civilian and military, that stands alongside an equally strong open innovation ecosystem. What is the secret? Courage, the tenacity to act despite fear and to collaborate for a free future.

Eggtronic, Nect and Unobravo share their experiences on the WMF 2023 Mainstage. Three great international scaleups that have conquered the market in just a few years with their innovative ideas in the technological and social fields.

Thanks to new digital lead acquisition channels, Tempocasa managed to bring to life an innovative campaign to identify talent and new resources to integrate into its work team, giving space to the younger generation. With the collaboration of Fantacalcio.it, the campaign declined in a multimedia way and allowed Tempocasa to amplify its innovative recruitment strategy.

Digital twins can be a formidable tool for emergency management in a big city. Massimo Bugani, Councillor for Innovation of the Municipality of Bologna, describes the Invento project, the first step toward a Smart Cities ecosystem to guarantee citizens innovative services and solutions.

In the era of digital technologies, Mafia and investigative protocols are evolving very rapidly. Mafias are exploiting social media and cryptocurrencies to create an online drug market, while Italian organized crime differs markedly from other international organizations. At the same time, law enforcement agencies are developing new investigative protocols to combat the new digital face of the Mafias through big data analysis, AI, and the development of more advanced hacking programs that block the activities of the Mafias.

Remembrance is a powerful weapon in the fight against Mafia. A weapon that does not bring death and destruction like those of massacres and murders, but change. The memory of Mafia victims becomes the trigger to nurture their heritage and make sure that they did not die vainly. The Felicia and Peppino Impastato Memorial House has been for years a landmark for hundreds of people who fight every day, an engine for the rebirth of areas for too long oppressed by fear.

ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Lensa AI, just to name a few, have sparked debates, expectations, and fears about their potential impact on the world of marketing. In just five days, ChatGPT was used by one million users, while it took Netflix three and a half years to reach the same number of users. At the beginning of the year, searches for generative AI surpassed those for the release of Taylor Swift's new album.AI intrigues and attracts us, but it also scares us to the point where we suspend rational evaluation. For some, it can even become a syndrome of “fear of an invisible threat”.But what are the possibilities and limitations offered by these tools? How can they help us save time and become more productive? How do we avoid their “hallucinations”? When is it better to rely on human intelligence and creativity instead?

The AI Index is one of the most widely read and comprehensive annual reports on trends in artificial intelligence (AI). The AI Index is produced by a diverse team of world-leading AI thought leaders and covers AI trends in technical performance, policy, the economy, research and development, ethics as well as public opinion. This presentation provides a high-level overview of the 2023 AI Index, the most recent edition of the report. Learn everything you need to know about new AI technologies like ChatGPT from the very same report that informs leading policymakers, researchers and industry professionals. 

The world of digital agencies, creatives and zero budget in a sketch that will make you want to schedule a call to talk about it among yourselves ASAP.

Roccotnl and LolloBarollo will share their experience as content creators born in the TikTok generation: how has their experience as content creators changed from the past? And how is this platform affecting their enjoyment of it?

Alessandro Masala, founder of Breaking Italy, converses with Favij and Jakidale about the evolution of digital platforms and the profession of content creator. A journey that led them to create great cross-media projects that walk with the daily lives of thousands of people both online and offline.