Italia Innovation Program
Shifting the focus of a strong manufacturing national economy from ‘where we make’ to ‘why we make’.
Made by Italy: connecting contemporary global studies with a deep-rooted manufacturing culture.
The Italia Innovation Program has been a fully-immersive learning experience where a group of selected undergraduate and graduate students met Italian companies, leaders in the Made in Italy business sectors, to lead the innovation of their business and productive models.
For 6 consecutive years (2014-2019), international participants spent their summers working in teams on the resolution of a real innovation challenge and received the mentorship of a unique team of experts and professors, as well as Italian entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Company visits, inspirational talks and hands-on seminars fostered the industry understanding and boosted the project works.
6 years to find and act on Italy's innovation opportunities
The Italia Innovation Program has been joined by more than 200 undergraduate and graduate students from world-leading academic institutions like Harvard, MIT, Yale, UC Berkeley and Stanford in the U.S., HKUST and NUS in Asia, LSE, Sciences Po, Bocconi and Oxford University in Europe.
Dates: 30th June, 25th July 2014
Headquarter: H-Farm, Treviso (Italy)
Number of participants: 28
Program Faculty: Bill Emmott (The Economist), Robert J. Jackson Jr. (Columbia Law School), Norman Bishara (University of Michigan), Cynthia Shawamreh (University of Chicago), Riccardo Illy (Gruppo illy), Paolo Baratta (La Biennale di Venezia), Renzo Rosso (OTB), Liat Aaronson (Reichmann University), Margaret Hagan (Stanford University), Luca Enriques (Oxford University), Erik Gordon (University of Michigan)
Corporate Partners: Salvatore Ferragamo, OTB / Diesel Jeans, Moncler, La Biennale di Venezia, H-Farm Ventures, Carraro Group, Santa Margherita, Zonin, Zamperla, Keyline, Selle Royal
Dates: 15th June, 13th July 2015
Headquarter: Fondazione CUOA, Vicenza (Italy)
Number of participants: 30
Program Faculty: Bill Burnett (Stanford University), Annalisa Merelli (Quartz), Lynn Stout (Cornell University), Bill Emmott (The Economist), Robert J. Jackson Jr. (Columbia Law School), Norman Bishara (University of Michigan), Riccardo Illy (Gruppo illy), Liat Aaronson (Reichmann University), Dario Buzzini (IDEO), Maria Pierdicchi (Standard and Poor’s), Yoram Wind (Wharton UPenn), Ron Johnson (Apple), Sree Sreenivasan (MET)
Corporate Partners: Molteni & C., Thun, Italia Independent, Santa Margherita, Nardini, Selle Royal, Palazzo Grassi, Bonotto, Distillerie Fratelli Branca
Dates: 13th June, 11th July 2016
Headquarter: Fabrica Benetton Research Center, Treviso (Italy)
Number of participants: 36
Program Faculty: Bill Burnett (Stanford University), Annalisa Merelli (Quartz), David Schonthal (Kellogg School of Management), Robert J. Jackson Jr. (Columbia Law School), Riccardo Illy (Gruppo illy)
Corporate Partners: Molteni & C., Italia Independent, Santa Margherita, Benetton, Rigoni di Asiago, Ermenegildo Zegna, illy coffee, Domori, Nardini, Palazzo Grassi, Bonotto
Dates: 19th June, 17th July 2017
Headquarter: Fabrica Benetton Research Center, Treviso (Italy)
Number of participants: 60
Program Faculty: Jake Knapp (Google Ventures), Vincent Stanley (Patagonia), Stewart Thornhill (University of Michigan), Bill Burnett (Stanford University), Robert J. Jackson Jr. (Columbia Law School), John Bruce (Parsons New School), Riccardo Illy (Gruppo illy), Sam Potolicchio (Georgetown University), Dario Buzzini (IDEO), Peter Boatwright (Carnegie Mellon University)
Corporate Partners: Barilla, Woolrich, Domori, Tecnica, DeLonghi, Santa Margherita, Nardini, Palazzo Grassi, Davines, illycaffè, Autogrill
Dates: 8-19 January 2018
Headquarter: Italia Innovation Studio, Verona (Italy)
Number of participants: 25
Program Faculty: Elizabeth Segran (Fast Company), Alexandra Fattal (The Economist), Francesca Sarti (Arabeschi di Latte)
Corporate Partners: Molteni & C., illy coffee, Domori, Davines, Barilla
Dates and Themes: Artisanship at Scale (4-22 June 2018), Disruptive Quality (25th June – 13rd July 2018), Responsible Success (25th June – 13rd July 2018)
Headquarter: Italia Innovation Studio, Verona (Italy)
Number of participants: 45
Program Directors: Riccardo Illy (Gruppo illy, Disruptive Quality), Robert Strand (UC Berkeley, Responsible Success), Roy Green (UTS Sydney, Artisanship at Scale)
Design Director: Jake Knapp (Google Ventures)
Program Faculty: Stewart Thornhill (University of Michigan), Debra Dunn (Stanford University), Vincent Stanley (Patagonia), Nora Gallagher (Patagonia), Scott Hartley (White House Presidential Innovation Fellow), John Bruce (Parsons School of Design), Elizabeth Segran (Fast Company)
Corporate Partners: Vodafone Italia, Riva 1920, Frescobaldi, Pasta Mancini, Gucci, Levoni, Luxardo, Loison, Davines, Brazzale, Sant’Anna, Caffè Vergnano
Dates and Theme: Disruptive Quality, 7-18 January 2019
Headquarter: Italia Innovation Studio, Verona (Italy)
Number of participants: 26
Program Director: Riccardo Illy (Gruppo illy)
Design Director: John Bruce (Parsons School of Design)
Corporate Partners: Marzotto, Calamai, Santex Rimar Group, Ferrari Trento, Biasetto, Domori
Dates and Themes: Excellence at Scale (3-21 June 2019), Meaningful Companies (24th June – 12nd July 2019)
Headquarter: Italia Innovation Studio, Verona (Italy)
Number of participants: 30
Program Directors: Riccardo Illy (Gruppo illy, Excellence at Scale), Debra Dunn (Stanford University, Meaningful Companies)
Design Directors: John Bruce (Parsons School of Design), Dario Buzzini (IDEO)
Program Faculty: Daniel Van der Vliet (Cornell University), Vincent Stanley (Patagonia), Nora Gallagher (Patagonia), Hermann Simon (Simon-Kucher & Partners), Stewart Thornhill (University of Michigan), Marina Puricelli (Università Bocconi)
Corporate Partners: Ornellaia, Acquerello, Lago, Davide Longoni Pane, Bisazza, Amer, Distillerie Nardini, Ermenegildo Zegna, Barilla, Davines, Marzotto, illy