Tomorrow’s event organised by the Lars Magnus Ericsson Foundation
Twenty years of connections, partnerships and projects that have sought to transform technological innovation into opportunities for people and for the country. This is the journey that the Lars Magnus Ericsson Foundation will retrace tomorrow, 22 September, at 5.00 pm, at the Terrazza Civita in Rome, during the event “20 Years of Connections: Foundations, Innovation and the Future of the Country”. The event will focus on the role of foundations, new partnerships between different organisations, the relationship between the public and private sectors, and the ability of collaborations to generate a collective impact.
Mirta Michilli, Director General of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, has also been invited to the panel discussion on the Foundation’s history, alongside representatives from academia and the foundation sector. The event will continue with a discussion on overcoming fragmentation and building a shared impact, featuring representatives from institutions, ASviS and other philanthropic organisations.
The participation of Fondazione Mondo Digitale takes on particular significance in light of its long-standing collaboration with the Lars Magnus Ericsson Foundation. Among the initiatives highlighted in the commemorative document are IoT Acceleration, aimed at secondary school pupils and the opportunities offered by the Internet of Things; 5GBOT, which introduced young people and students to emerging technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, the IoT and robotics; and the contribution to Operazione Risorgimento Digitale, aimed at promoting digital skills amongst citizens and local communities. This collaboration has brought together schools, research, business and civil society, with a constant focus on educating the younger generations and bridging the digital divide.
It is precisely this experience that will form the starting point for Mirta Michilli’s reflections. The central point is clear: technology, on its own, does not bring about inclusion. It can open up new possibilities, but for these to become truly accessible, skills, support and a focus on people are needed. For the Director-General of FMD, digital skills can no longer be regarded as specialist knowledge reserved for the few: they have become an essential component of citizenship, as they influence people’s ability to learn, work, participate and find their way in contemporary society.
The challenge, therefore, is not merely to broaden access to technology, but to create the conditions enabling everyone to use it knowledgeably and transform their potential into concrete opportunities. This means investing in young people not only in technical terms, but also in creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and the ability to understand emerging technologies, starting with artificial intelligence. And it means continuing to address the regional, economic, generational and cultural vulnerabilities that can turn innovation into a new factor of exclusion.
Hence, too, the value of partnerships. The experience built up between the two foundations demonstrates how collaboration between businesses, schools, universities, institutions and the third sector can make initiatives more far-reaching and sustainable. From this perspective, the 20th anniversary of the Lars Magnus Ericsson Foundation becomes not merely a milestone, but an opportunity to reflect on the alliances needed for the future: ecosystems capable of sharing resources, skills and experiences, and of putting innovation at the service of truly inclusive progress.
The event
20 Years of Connections. Foundations, Innovation and the Country’s Future
22 September 2026, 5.00 pmTerrazza Civita, Piazza Venezia 11, Rome.
