Innovation Table 2026: institutions, businesses, and universities together to retain young talents in Catania

Companies competing in the same market sitting at the same table to build the future of the city together, as well as entrepreneurs, public administrators, university professors, and students discussing shared strategies. It is not a sporadic event but a now-structured appointment that for two years has connected the Catanese innovation system: it is the Innovation Table, convened by Mayor Enrico Trantino together with Rector of the University of Catania Enrico Foti.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Mayor Massimo Pesce, President of the City Council Sebastiano Anastasi, Councilor for Youth Policies Viviana Lombardo, Mayor's Expert Paolo La Greca, and several city councilors. There was a wide representation of the productive and technological fabric of the territory: Free Mind Foundry of Acireale, Le Village, Confindustria Catania, CNA, TIM Innovation Lab, STMicroelectronics, ISOLA Catania, Nict-Nacht, TEDx Catania, and Archimede.

Among the speakers were Antonio Perdichizzi (ISOLA Catania), Simone Di Stefano (Nict-Nacht), Antonio Musumeci (TEDx Catania), Ferdinando Anselmi (Archimede), Marita D'Urso (Le Village), and Giovanni Cantarella, CEO of Free Mind Foundry. The work was coordinated by Professor Rosario Faraci, professor of Economics and Marketing at the University of Catania and promoter of the Table since its inception, with the participation via connection of Professor Elita Schillaci and Francesco Anfuso, Marketing Director of the Arena Group.

Significant was the presence of students representing high schools in the area and the municipal, metropolitan, and university councils. The interventions agreed on a shared goal: to demonstrate to young people that starting a business in Catania is not only possible but also advantageous, considering that at the end of their studies, the local market offers qualified job opportunities, to the extent that it will require skills from other areas of the country in the future.

The central moment of the meeting was the presentation of the digital innovation strategy of the Municipality of Catania by engineer Vincenzo Passanisi, Director of Municipal IT Services, with particular attention to applications and prospects related to artificial intelligence in local public administration.

"Our goal is to create the conditions for young people to choose to stay in Catania not out of necessity, but for opportunity," said Mayor Enrico Trantino. "We are working to create a system capable of generating qualified jobs, attracting investments, and enhancing the skills that arise in our territories. The Innovation Table represents a concrete tool to turn this vision into reality."

"The University has the duty to be a driver of territorial development," added Rector Enrico Foti. "The constant dialogue with institutions and the productive system is essential to guide our students towards the world of work and to build training paths increasingly aligned with market needs. Initiatives like the Innovation Table strengthen this synergy and open new perspectives for young people."

The Innovation Table, which will meet again in the coming weeks, confirms itself as a working space where public, private, and academic skills come together to build a favorable ecosystem for economic development and qualified employment, restoring to young people the necessary confidence and concrete prospects to establish themselves in the Etna territory.