Research News

VIU_TeDIS is one of the partners of the project “Promoting maritime and multimodal freight transport in the Adriatic Sea” (PROMARES) financed by the Italy-Croatia INTERREG Program.

Program priority axis: Maritime Transport.
Program specific objective:Improve the quality, safety and environmental sustainability of marine and coastal transport services and nodes by promoting multimodality in the Program area.

VIU_TeDIS is one of the partners of the project “Intermodal Connections in Adriatic-Ionian Region to Upgrowth Seamless solutions for passengers” (ICARUS) financed by the Italy-Croatia INTERREG Program.

Program priority axis: Maritime Transport
Program specific objective: Improve the quality, safety and environmental sustainability of marine and coastal transport services and nodes by promoting multimodality in the Program area.

VIU_TeDIS is one of the partners of Peripheral Access: Transnational cooperation and partnership for better public transport in peripheral and cross-border regions, cofinanced by Central Europe Program.

Program priority: Cooperating on transport to better connect Central Europe.
Program objective: To improve planning and coordination of regional passenger transport system for better connections to national and European transport networks

VIU, through its TEN Program on Sustainability, is partner in EUCLID – EU-China Lever for IPM Demonstration, which was launched at the kick off meeting held at the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) in Sophia-Antipolis, France, on September 28-29, 2015.

First Draft is a blog for discussions related to craftsmanship, design, globalization of SMEs, competitiveness.

It was opened in 2004 as a dissemination output of the first TeDIS research on the "design, creativity and innovation" focus area.
It is animated by TeDIS researchers and collaborators and is an up-to-date overview of what is going on in Italy on this topic.

Michelangelo Foundation appointed Tedis and particularly Stefano Micelli, its Scientific Director as expert to collaborate in the concept of their Homo Faber project, to select the artisans to be part of one of the exhibition's pavillion and to curate the automotive pavillion.

Official Website

Tour PMI is one of the innovation projects of Banca IFIS Impresa which aims to create a storytelling of the Bank through its client companies.
Banca IFIS every month selects the companies among all the Italian regions and meets the entrepreneurs directly in their productive realities for a storytelling through the development of mini-documentaries describing their story. Tedis contributed to the concept development and to the storytelling management. 

Tedis has been appointed by PIM to collaborate in a research analyzing the revitalization of city centers through the artisans labs and shops as key factor of the economic reinassance of urban life.

The Italian Ceramic Association and Tedis carried out a research on strategic "go-to-market" marketing in the ceramics sector.
The research consist of a strategic analysis of the "go-to-market roadmap" of the ceramic sector for a reading of the criticalities and opportunities present on today's markets and to implement actions and synergies to better address the crisis, in particular in the following contexts:
- "go-to-market" model of the craft sub-sector,
- model of actions and implementation of opportunities and operational synergies between the various subsectors,
- analysis of problems related to counterfeiting and unfair competition.

Regional Association of Chambers of Commerce of Veneto appointed TeDIS to carry on the work package n.5 of the project: “guidelines and requirements for migrating to the Transpogood platform“; activity n. 5.1 “roadmap and forum discussion” and activity n.5.2 “impact on the private and public sector”. Transpogood is a project financed by the Italy-Croatia Program.

Workshops and seminars are important ancillary activities of the TEN Program on Sustainability, designed to disseminate the knowledge acquired, to further strengthen the network and to initiate new cooperation programs.

In this respect, the TEN Program is conceived as a knowledge-sharing platform promoting international dialogue and exchange of know-how on Sustainabile Development.

In recent years, Chinese Economy, Waste Management, and Environmental Security have been central topics in a series of workshops and seminars promoted by the Program.

TEN also hosts international seminars and conferences on a variety of topics linked to Sustainable Development and promoted by outstanding institutions (e.g. Harvard University, IWWG - International Waste Working Group, Banca d'Italia).

This activity aims to establish new networking opportunities with important institutions in the field of Sustainable Development.

Recent experiences include:

> Sustainable Consumption & Production International Conference, in cooperation with the International Society for Business Innovation and Technology Management

> Sustainable Waste Management Winter School on Anaerobic Digestion, in cooperation with...

> Greening the Green Revolution: Food Security, Safety & Quality, in cooperation with...

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In line with its mission and commitment to promote Sustainable Development and SDGs, VIU is part of ASviS – Alleanza Italiana per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile (Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development). 

The aim of the national Alliance is to increase the awareness of the Italian civil society, economic players and policy institutions on the importance of United Nation 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, in order to mobilize those different stakeholders in pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Italy.

The Alliance started in activity in 2016 and counts today more than 300 members among the most important civil society institutions and networks active in the fields of culture, education, public administration or otherwise pursuing specific Sustainable Development Goals (health, well-being, education, employment, quality of environment, gender equality, etc.).

VIU is committed to take part in ASviS’ actions to promote SDGs and to be actively involved in the activities related in particular to:

Goal   2 - Zero Hunger
Goal   4 - Quality Education
Goal   6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
Goal 12 - Responsible Consumption
Goal 16 - Governance
Goal 17 - Partnership

Every year VIU takes actively part in the ASviS Festival dello Sviluppo Sostenibile, the largest Italian initiative to raise awareness and mobilize citizens, young generations, businesses, associations and institutions on the issues of economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Focus
Today we are facing important global challenges in terms of climate change, political transitions, population increase, energy access, health issues that pose Security at the center of a common reflection.

The environmental, social and economic pillars are the framework of sustainable development. In order to preserve the environment and guarantee the needs of future generations, environmental management needs to combine several aspects such as waste management, water quality, air monitoring, pollution prevention, sustainable agriculture, food safety & security, energy & energy efficiency, urban innovation, both at a global and local scale. With a growing population worldwide, those aspects can significantly contribute to secure peace and wellbeing.  

In the last 10 years, VIU has developed research and capacity-building projects focused on studying and disseminating knowledge about strategies and the dynamics of environmental management and security in terms of environmental protection, transboundary issues, natural disasters and energy security.

Researchers with different backgrounds (e.g. economics, environmental sciences, law) are involved in those projects, thus contributing to highlight the multiple factors involved. The scale of the projects carried out in this area ranges from local to international.

Goals
- To promote capacity building for professionals and policy makers on topics of environmental management
- To strengthen the dialogue among scientific, corporate and governmental institutions in order to ensure collaboration in facing environmental management and security challenges
- To promote interdisciplinary approach to integrate economic, environmental and social aspects when dealing with those issues

Projects
In line with VIU methodology, networking and building communities around discussion topics is at the basis of our approach to projects, with the aim to activate competencies in a variety of disciplines. Our projects on this focus area are built around:

- Capacity building to policy makers and professionals as short training sessions addressing a specific topic approached through a multi-disciplinary perspective. In-class sessions and site visits supports the adopted methodology.
- Communication and Dissemination on research results to different stakeholders, e.g. policy makers, business community, citizens, scientists.
- Research on policy and strategies on environmental management, including economic aspects and consumers' behaviour.

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In line with VIU's mission and commitment to promote Sustainable Development and the 17 Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, this Focus Area addresses the following:

This focus area analyses the role of Information and Communication Technologies in supporting strategies and activities of the Public Administration and how they can sustain the relations among different institutions and the interaction with citizens, enterprises and associations.

It includes the following topics:

- e-government: focusing on strategies, models and actions related to the introduction and widespreading of ICTs in order to improve the activities of public sector organizations, to evolve processes, connecting different orgnizations and users.

- e-democracy: focusing on strategies  that can facilitate citizens' participation to political and administrative issues.

- technologies and new communication models for Culture and Tourism: supporting Public Institutions in the analysis and implementation of new models and innovative strategies of valorization and communication of cultural heritage and of touristic resources based on ICT and new media.

Click HERE to see the relevant projects carried out in Innovation in Public Administration

Focus
Creativity, design, and innovation are central to maintaining the competitiveness of Italian firms in the global economy. Companies that combine traditional craftsmanship with industrial production, especially in Made in Italy sectors like luxury fashion and design, gain a strong competitive edge. By integrating Industry 4.0 technologies, they enhance artisanal processes, boost efficiency, and create innovative products that merge heritage skills with digital innovation. This combination of know-how and technology drives national growth and strengthens Italy’s global presence.

Goals
-  Promote Industry 4.0 in craftsmanship to enhance efficiency, quality, and product innovation.
-  Combine tradition and innovation by supporting artisans and companies in the digital transition.
- Showcase Made in Italy excellence through the integration of heritage skills and advanced technologies.
-  Build collaborative networks among artisans, designers, and technologists to create innovative products and business models.

Creativity and "Made in Italy" sector
The integration of craftsmanship and industrial production marks a key step for the knowledge economy. Creativity today is recognized not only as a dimension of thought but as a practical activity: “doing” is a way of thinking. Italian companies that successfully combine management skills with spaces for imagination and hands-on creation are more innovative and competitive, particularly in Made in Italy sectors. Industrial capacity for customization, supported by traditional know-how and Industry 4.0 technologies, represents a core competitive advantage and a driver of national growth.

Focus
Sustainable logistics is a key driver for competitiveness, efficiency, and environmental responsibility in both global supply chains and urban contexts. Growing urbanization and international trade require innovative solutions capable of reducing environmental impacts while ensuring the smooth movement of goods and people. Urban innovation in logistics and mobility policies provides effective tools to optimize transport systems, improve service quality, and strengthen the relationship between enterprises, institutions, and local communities. Academic research in this field plays a central role in developing evidence-based models, guidelines, and strategies that support policy-making and business practices. By fostering collaboration across disciplines and sectors, research on sustainable logistics and urban innovation contributes to the creation of resilient economies and more sustainable cities.

Goals
-  Advance sustainable logistics solutions to enhance efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, and support resilient supply chains in both local and global contexts.
- Promote urban innovation by developing policies, models, and tools that optimize transport systems and improve mobility within cities.
- Foster collaboration between enterprises, institutions, and local communities to strengthen networks and support evidence-based decision-making.
- Generate knowledge and guidelines that inform policy-making and business practices, contributing to sustainable and competitive urban economies.

European Projects
An international network of researchers and institutions develops projects in transport, logistics, and supply chain management aligned with the European Union agenda. These projects, supported by funding from the EU and the European Commission, involve countries within European MacroRegions, including the Adriatic and Ionian, Alpine, Baltic Sea, and Danube regions. They focus on generating innovative solutions and policy guidance specifically for the sustainable logistics sector, promoting environmentally responsible, efficient, and resilient transport and supply chain systems. By integrating sustainability into logistics, these initiatives have become strategic for enhancing the competitiveness and long-term success of economic and productive systems across all territorial levels.

Researchers Network
Marco Mazzarino (Head of Unit), Maurizio Cociancich, Luca Braidotti

Venice International University has renewed its engagement with the United Nations Global Compact and has recently published a report on the activities conducted since 2017.

VIU has been a member of the UNGC - United Nations Global Compact, since 2015. UNGC is a voluntary United Nations initiative that aims to encourage businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies.

In 2016, VIU then joined the GCNI - Global Compact Network Italy Foundation, the Italian branch of the UNGC.

Launched in 1999, the Global Compact initiative counts today 13000 corporate and other stakeholders participants, in 161 countries worldwide.Companies and institutions joining the Global Compact initiative publicly commit to align their corporate strategies and operations with the 10 Global Compact Principles on human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption, and to take steps to support UN goals, in order to create a sustainable and inclusive global economy that delivers lasting benefits to people, communities and markets.

Local networks, as the Global Compact Network Italia Foundation (GCNI), work to advance the initiative and its 10 Principles at country level. They help companies understand what responsible business means within different national, cultural and language contexts and facilitate outreach, learning, policy dialogue, collective action and partnerships.

VIU is represented in the elected Board of the Global Compact Network Italia Foundation by Elena Semenzin from Ca' Foscari University.

VIU was technical partner in organizing and hosting the 1st edition of the Italian Business & SDGs Annual Forum, held at VIU premises on the island of San Servolo on Sept. 26, 2016.

TeDIS conducts research and training on Innovation and Competitiveness in the Global Economy, with a focus on globalization processes in areas such as Creativity and Design, Sustainable Logistics, and Urban Mobility Policies.

TeDIS serves both as a research hub, collaborating with companies and institutions, and as a cultural and training platform, organizing events and meetings.

Since its foundation in 1999, TeDIS has been funded by public institutions—including local government, the Italian Ministries for Research and Innovation, Formez, and the European Commission—as well as private companies such as SAP, Sun Microsystems, Telecom Italia, HP, and Lotus. It has also developed joint research projects with Duke University’s Center on Globalization, Governance and Competitiveness.

From 1999 to 2009, TeDIS focused on Industrial Districts & Technologies, analyzing SMEs’ evolution with network technologies and ICT, and on SMEs, Clusters & Internationalization, studying their global expansion and the role of local manufacturing systems.

Since 2009, TeDIS has shifted its focus to Creativity, Design and Innovation, Sustainable Logistics, and Urban Mobility Policies, participating in several EU-funded projects and fostering international networks for researchers, institutions, and policy-makers.

Today, TeDIS participates in the VIU’s Research Group Thinking Global Resilience: Cities and Global Change, actively contributing in its initiatives and collaborations that engage both faculty members and students across the VIU network.

Contact
tedis@univiu.org

TeDIS People

Scientific Director
Stefano Micelli - stefano.micelli@univiu.org

Executive Director
Lucia Di Gioia - lucia.digioia@univiu.org

EU Project Controller
Matteo Cavalieri - matteo.cavalieri@univiu.org

Creativity, Design and Innovation
Stefano Micelli  - stefano.micelli@univiu.org

Sustainable Logistics: Transport, Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Marco Mazzarino - marco.mazzarino@univiu.org

VIU Fellows
Enzo Rullani, Ca' Foscari University of Venice
Giancarlo Corò, Ca' Foscari University of Venice
Mario Volpe, Ca' Foscari University of Venice
Marco Mazzarino, University IUAV of Venice
Luca De Pietro, University of Padua
Marco Bettiol, University of Padua

Researchers
Maurizio Cociancich, Stefano Grigoletti, Giovanni Longo, Paolo Menegazzo,
Lucio Rubini, Chiara Sorice, Jessica Tomaselli. 

IFIS bank appointed TeDIS to implement a communication plan on digital workshops in order to show how traditional Italian companies of Made in Italy has had the capacity to transform theirselves in companies confronting the global economic challenges thanks to the new technologies of the digital manufacturing.

Project financed by the Italian Ministry of Work devoted to experimenting innovative methodologies for continuous training destined to employ waged workers.
The project focused on supporting the growth of professional Knowledge communities, with specific attention to professional operators, activating 4 professional communities that found in the web the main tool of coordination and information exchange. The professional communities’ web site was a place of training, discussion, comparison for professionals already working in Italian SMEs.