IILA – International Italo-Latin American Organization has recently announced the new internship program in Italy, Habilitas 2024funded by the Directorate General for Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (DGCS/MAECI). This project, aimed at entrepreneurs of SMEs, business associations, cooperatives, academics and professionals in sustainable territorial development from Latin American countries that are members of IILA, offers a valuable opportunity for training and cultural and professional exchange.
The Habilitas program includes the implementation of 50 short internships lasting 4 weeks in Italy, scheduled between October and December 2024. The activities will be organized in six thematic clusters, selected on the basis of the priorities emerged from the SME Forum. The selected candidates will have until July 31, 2024 to submit their applications online, accompanied by the required documentation.
Among the various locations that will host the interns, this year too Southern Italy stands out for the active participation of the spin-off Unical. Smart City Instruments (SCI), an innovative SME and spin-off of the University of Calabria, will host eight interns, confirming its commitment to promoting sustainable territorial development and innovation.
Smart City Instruments: an international spin-off from Unical
Smart City Instruments, operating in Italy, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Panama, Uruguay, Argentina, United States, Morocco, stands out for its multidisciplinary expertise in the design of innovative and sustainable systems. SCI’s activity extends beyond design, touching the spheres of research and development applied to both local and international contexts. Currently, SCI supports public entities, including the Government of the Dominican Republic and the Municipality of Santo Domingo, in the process of transition to smart territories. Since 2019, SCI has benefited from funding from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Dominican Republic for advanced scientific research projects, focused on the problem of the invasion of sargassum on the coasts of Central America and Florida, transforming this environmental challenge into a potential resource.
The interns selected for the thematic cluster “Procesos de Innovación para el Desarrollo de Territorios Inteligentes” will carry out their activities at the SCI headquarters, located on the campus of the University of Calabria in Rende (Province of Cosenza), and in the four main Calabrian provinces: Cosenza, Crotone, Catanzaro and Reggio Calabria. The training experiences include a multidisciplinary theoretical-methodological approach, enriched by operational sessions based on practical learning (learning by doing).
A Rich and Engaging Program of Activities
The activity program will start with a week of preparation, during which participants will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the Italian context and the Calabrian territory. Activities will include field visits to local laboratories and companies, meetings with local administrators, entrepreneurs and other key actors in the territory. Significant stages include a visit to the Integrated System of Environmental Laboratories (SILA) of the University of Calabria, as well as meetings with the GOEL Cooperative Group, renowned for its social commitment and the promotion of an ethical economy. GOEL stands out for its fight against organized crime, promoting a development model that values legality, transparency and respect for human rights, supporting social cooperatives and ethical businesses.
Interns will also have the opportunity to interact with the Touring Club of Cosenza, active in promoting sustainable tourism and enhancing local heritage. Among the partners of the program, the Collegio dei Periti Agrari of Cosenza plays a crucial role in the development of innovative and sustainable agricultural practices. The Collegio combines tradition and innovation, contributing significantly to the progress of the agricultural sector and the protection of natural resources, with an approach aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of agricultural activities in the area.
Another important stop will be the visit to the IRIDEA ITS Academy. The Istituti Tecnici Superiori (ITS) represent the first Italian experience of offering tertiary professional training, based on a system consolidated for years in other European countries. Created in 2010 to train higher technicians in strategic areas for the economic development and competitiveness of Italy, these high-tech institutes are closely linked to the production system, preparing intermediate managers specialized in areas such as agro-industry, precision agriculture, food safety, innovation, research, communication and territorial valorization.
From the province of Cosenza to those of Crotone, Catanzaro and Reggio Calabria, several companies will be involved in the field visits. Among these, the experience of the young Stefano Caccavari from San Floro of the Mulinum company stands out. Mulinum represents an example of success in the agri-food sector, combining traditional stone grinding techniques with sustainable agricultural practices. The company has become a reference model for innovation in the sector, promoting the quality and transparency of the production chain.
Promoting Smart Territories
The core objective of the Habilitas program is the promotion of smart territories. Alfredo Sguglio, urban and rural socioeconomic expert and CEO of Smart City Instruments, outlines a complex vision: “A smart territory is configured as an area that encompasses urban, peri-urban and rural contexts, characterized by the harmonious integration of entrepreneurial initiatives, public interventions and social projects. This integrated model is designed to improve the quality of life and promote both economic and environmental sustainability. Through the Habilitas project, we aim to train professionals capable of transferring and applying these skills in their countries of origin, weaving a global network of smart territories capable of supporting and incentivizing long-lasting and sustainable development.”
The Habilitas Guide
The Habilitas program is led by José Luis Rhi Sausi, who currently coordinates the “Foro Pymes”, an initiative promoted by IILA – International Italo-Latin American Organization, and advises the IILA team of the AL INVEST Verde Program. Rhi Sausi was the Socio-Economic Secretary of IILA and directed for fifteen years the Italian think tank Centro Studi di Politica Internazionale (CeSPI). Under his leadership, Habilitas represents an important opportunity to develop specific skills in the fields of technological and social innovation, contributing to the strengthening of research and economic development networks between Italy and Latin America.
The Habilitas program not only promotes the exchange of knowledge and skills between Italy and Latin America, but also promotes international cooperation and sustainable development, strengthening ties between institutions, businesses and local communities.
For further details and to submit your application, interested parties can visit the official IILA website and follow the instructions indicated in the Habilitas 2024 announcement.