The Symbola Foundation was established in 2005 to promote a development model based on quality. Quality is understood here not merely as manufacturing excellence or a distinctive brand, but as the ability of businesses and local areas to compete by combining innovation, sustainability, culture, beauty and social cohesion.
Symbola is renowned for its work and its ability to produce reports, research and regular analyses that focus on Italian quality. This quality is evident in sectors traditionally regarded as more conventional, yet which are also veritable hotbeds of innovation—such as design—whilst also looking towards more cutting-edge innovation in fields such as energy, mobility, environmental protection, as well as sport, social services and urban development, involving both large corporations and the most promising start-ups.
We will return to writing about the Symbola Foundation’s reports, but first we would like to introduce Startupbusiness readers to this organisation, which is unique in its ability to express itself and engage with the country’s institutions, economy and society.
The author has been a member of the foundation’s scientific committee for several years and has therefore witnessed its development, its activities, and its ability to identify and support trends in development and growth. The Symbola Foundation has a great many people who actively support it, starting with the 54 members of the steering committee, the 74 members of the scientific committee, the 105 authors who, in various capacities, support and shape the work that results in reports, events and initiatives, and the 162 members comprising large and small companies, local and central government bodies, and organisations of various kinds, ranging from national parks to universities, from multinational finance and consultancy firms to small farms, and from federations to chambers of commerce.
There is the board of directors chaired by Ermete Realacci and the operational team led by director Domenico Sturabotti, the scientific committee coordinated by Marco Frey, and there is the summer seminar organised every year by the Symbola Foundation, which this year also forms the subject of this first article resulting from the collaboration between the Symbola Foundation and Startupbusiness.
The 2026 edition of the seminar, the 24th, is scheduled to take place from 11 to 13 June in Mantua, a city that has already hosted the editions between 2023 and 2025; previously, the Foundation had chosen Ravello (2003–2005), Montefalco and Bevagna from 2006 to 2008, Guardiagrele and Chieti in 2009, Monterubbiano in 2010, Montepulciano in 2011, and Treia between 2012 and 2022. Over the years, more than 200 partners, over 1,200 speakers and over 20,000 people have taken part in the seminar, and the programme for the 2026 edition looks just as interesting, if not even more so, than in previous years.
The Teatro Scientifico Bibiena will host a series of events starting on the morning of 11 June, focusing on craftsmanship and ‘Made in Italy’, before moving on to topics such as energy independence, the role of artificial intelligence, and Lombardy’s role as a driving force behind environmental strategies. On 12 June, further topics will be discussed, including the circular economy, the water supply chain and, more generally, how we wish to shape the Italy of the future, including the challenges, critical issues and resources involved. Finally, on 13 June, the session will take place in the morning only and is entitled ‘gentle patriotism’ – a new interpretation of the concept of patriotism that is no longer autocratic or inward-looking, but one that cares for the country within its current context, in the context of the international challenges it faces, in which it is part of the European family, in which it cannot ignore its responsibilities and its role on the global stage, yet at the same time must take care of its treasures, its resources, its distinctive features, its uniqueness, and that tradition which must increasingly go hand in hand with innovation.
The three-day event, dedicated to the future of Italy, community cohesion and an economy capable of combining quality, sustainability, innovation and well-being, will feature 100 speakers taking part in over 20 hours of debate in total. Over the course of the three days, discussions will focus on Europe, energy, climate, the circular economy, artificial intelligence, employment, skills, manufacturing and regional development, with the aim of identifying concrete pathways to strengthen the country’s competitiveness without compromising the sustainability and quality that characterise the Italian model. Expected guests include Paolo Gentiloni, former European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs; Donatella Sciuto, Rector of the Politecnico di Milano; Giorgio Parisi, theoretical physicist and winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics; Marco Granelli, Councillor for Public Works, Territorial Planning and Civil Protection for the Municipality of Milan; Dario Costantini, National President of CNA; Giuliano Noci, Professor at the Politecnico di Milano; Francesca Gostinelli, Director of Enel Italia; together with representatives from the Government, the Regions, the Chamber of Commerce system, business associations, universities and companies at the forefront of the ecological and digital transitions.
The concept of quality is central to the activities of the Symbola Foundation; it is central to the content and discussions of the seminar; it is central to the value of the documents and research; and it is central to the day-to-day work carried out by the Symbola Foundation. The concept of quality as expressed by the Symbola Foundation is a structural concept; it is not a label, nor is it a marketing slogan, but a genuine model of development underpinning the approaches, actions, tactics and strategies that give substance to growth based on a culture of doing and know-how, and, as mentioned above, on innovation, environmental, social and cultural sustainability, beauty and cohesion. To ensure these elements are visible and thus take on concrete form, they must be measured, described and transformed into workable and applicable models; this is the essence of the Symbola Foundation’s mission.
Domenico Sturabotti tells Startupbusiness: “For us, the seminar is the most important event of the year; it is when we meet the people and organisations we work with throughout the year. It is the moment when we explore and discuss the issues that underpin our publications, our research, our day-to-day activities in support of the country’s economy and society. It is also an excellent opportunity for those who are not yet familiar with what the Symbola Foundation is and does, and it is therefore with great pleasure that, year after year, I see growing participation from people who approach us with a curiosity to learn more about our work and with the awareness that they too can make a contribution towards strengthening the country’s capacity to be a cradle of excellence.”
The seminar is organised in collaboration with Mantua City Council, Unioncamere and a number of partners and sponsors, and is open to anyone wishing to attend. Full details and registration information are available on the event website on this page (images taken from the Fondazione Symbola website during the 2025 edition of the seminar).
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