The challenge

Tourism is one of the most strategic economic sectors in the cross-border area between Italy and France, but also one of the most exposed to environmental, economic and technological crises. The SMART TWIN TRANSITION project was created to address a dual objective: to support tourism SMEs in their ecological and digital transition by creating a structural ecosystem to support innovation through integrated financial, training and technological tools.

The partnership

A composite network of public and private organizations, highly specialized in business support and vocational training. The Campus Foundation, as the project’s only training partner, plays a central role in the design and implementation of capacity building actions, supporting tourism enterprises in concrete paths toward change.

My role

As project manager for the Campus Foundation, I am responsible for the technical and strategic management of project activities in one of the most dynamic areas in the European landscape: dual transition. The project is challenging in size, structure and ambition, requiring a combination of management, technological and cultural skills. My background as a university lecturer in tourism marketing at the University of Pisa and my well-established experience in European planning will prove to be crucial in understanding the needs of businesses and translating them into effective solutions.

Innovation at the center

SMART TWIN TRANSITION introduces highly innovative tools: a Digital Toolbox for collecting and accessing best practices and qualified services, the creation of digital and green mentors to work alongside SMEs, the establishment of a cross-border model call for business support, and a Virtual Reality 5.0 Demonstrator to simulate the most advanced digital applications in tourism.

The expected results

At the end of the project, more than 60 tourism enterprises will have received specialized training, while 14 MPMIs will benefit from vouchers to experiment with technological and sustainable solutions. A strategic agreement will also be signed between the partners, which will ensure the continuity of actions even after the project ends.

What we are learning

We are learning that digital and ecological transformation is no longer an option, but an urgent necessity. And that accompanying enterprises in this challenge requires not only being up-to-date, but also being able to read the dynamics of the sector with sensitivity, vision and expertise. For this reason, projects like SMART TWIN TRANSITION not only strengthen companies, but also renew the role of the European trainer and manager, who today more than ever must know how to lead innovation with intelligence and concreteness.