Inclusive Innovation Experience: presenting Innovation Center's new exhibition path

On May 14, the Inclusive Innovation Experience was presented on the 31st floor of the Intesa Sanpaolo skyscraper in Turin, through a dedicated event, part of the calendar of the Asvis (Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development) Sustainable Development Festival, in the presence of Paola Angeletti - Chief Sustainability Officer and Chairperson of Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center- and other important personalities from the institutions’, associations’ and corporates’ worlds’.

"Inclusive Innovation Experience" is the first path inside the skyscraper that, thanks to audio descriptions, maps and visual-tactile aids, supports an immersive journey of visually impaired and blind people into the world of innovation. It creates an exciting experience, which allows them to appreciate every detail of the spaces and design used to explain the areas of innovation covered by Innovation Center and its startups network. With this upgrade, the octagons already present on the 31st floor, themed: Inclusion, Smart City, Sustainability and Space Economy, become inclusive and open to all.

This project is the result of a team effort that involved several Group facilities and received a quality certification from the Italian Union of the Blind and Partially Sighted (UICI) of Turin, whose President Giovanni Laiolo, together with Sergio Prelato, a member of the UICI National Board, helped identify specific needs and accessibility rules. "Inclusive Innovation Experience" is part of a plan of activities supporting Intesa Sanpaolo Group efforts in using innovation for the social impact, working in synergy with the public and private sectors, to foster positive social change, a more inclusive and supportive society, putting at the center the individuals’ needs

An event, rich in reflections and shared experiences 

The open discussion was moderated by Rodolfo Masto - President of the Istituto dei Ciechi di Milano, Unione Italiana dei Ciechi e degli Ipovedenti (UICI) and member of the Fondazione Cariplo's Central Charity Commission. Viviana Bacigalupo - General Manager of Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center - held the opening speech, emphasizing the Group's high sensitivity toward inclusion, and especially the positive social impact that could be generated in innovation, implementing inclusive practices.
Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center has long been engaged in the design and implementation of social impact innovation initiatives, promoting an inclusive society geared toward a sustainable future, and the Inclusive Innovation Experience is just one of them.

The floor was then given to Paola Angeletti - Chief Sustainability Officer of Intesa Sanpaolo and Chairperson of Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center. The Sustainability Officer structure guides the Group's development strategies on Sustainability, consistent with the bank’s corporate culture, being the leading Bank in Europe in terms of sustainable profitability, technological innovation capacity, and sensitivity to ESG issues. Paola Angeletti emphasized the link between innovation and sustainability: “innovation is the driving force for addressing major economic, environmental, and social challenges, by pursuing equitable and inclusive development.”

Filippo Vecchio - Head of Communication, Culture and Marketing of Innovation at Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center- , presented the Inclusive Innovation Experience in detail, focusing on diversity as enrichment and the need to break down barriers to welcome and enhance everyone's thoughts and experiences.

Elena Avogadro - Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Intesa Sanpaolo, - emphasized the Group's commitment to diversity and inclusion, also as a strategic business lever, and Giovanni Laiolo - President of UICI Torino - , thanked all those who worked on the project for their goodwill and commitment, emphasizing the culture of innovation, that he felt was particularly present at the Innovation Center.

The event ended with the remarks of Chiara Foglietta - Innovation Councilor at the Turin Municipality -, regarding the City's projects for the removal of architectural barriers, emphasizing the need for everyone's collaboration and the importance of public-private partnerships to improve the city and create more inclusive environments.

A day full of constructive insights from important players. All the guests could experience in person the Innovation Experience path, showing great appreciation and interest.

A fine result, which makes us proud to undertake initiatives and projects on inclusion, an indispensable element for a society that wants to call itself innovative.