The Digital Revolution, also called the third industrial revolution, is the era of digital electronic equipment that started around the 1980s and is now in its middle phase. In a couple of years, the digital world has grown to become crucial to the functioning of society. The impact that AI has on people’s jobs today is growing, though economists say that occupations are likely to adapt to technological change rather than be lost altogether.

To better understand this topic and share insights, we organized the second study visit of the Skillman International Forum 2021 to Reggio Emilia, Italy, which is the center of the Italian manufacturing system and one of its main economic drivers: 15 billion GDP/year, 170,000 inhabitants, more than 50,000 companies, and an export propensity rate of 60%.

The study visit was coordinated by CIS – Business and Management School of Unindustria, the Association of Entrepreneurs of Reggio Emilia, Emilia Romagna Region.
The first stop of the day was at the Digital District of Reggio Emilia. The session was opened by the General Manager of Unindustria Reggio Emilia, Dr. Filippo Di Gregorio. Afterward, participants were guided inside the Human and Technological Training Center, a large innovative training environment equipped with the latest technologies to develop the digital skills of people and companies. The training lab is equipped with the latest digital fabrication technologies, dedicated to training activities for young recent graduates, managers and workers, and unemployed people who want to update or retrain their technical skills in Industry 4.0. Participants were also able to try out some of the digital tools, such as educational robots, robotic arms, 3D printers, scanners for reverse engineering, CNC machine tools, and software for virtual and augmented reality.

The second stop was at Reggiane Innovation Park, a project that consists of the renovation of a large disused industrial area, where the Officine Reggiane mechanical factory was once located. It is a territorial hub for industrial research and technology transfer, designed to increase regional economic resilience by anticipating innovation and attracting businesses, talent and investment. The Reggiane Innovation Park was created as a catalyst for research, skills, talent, and investment and it is a physical platform used to interconnect research, businesses, and people in order to promote innovation processes and sustainable economic growth.

With such a fruitful and intensive day, the set of study visits in Italy was concluded.