On June 18–19, Fabriano hosted a two-day study event promoted by the UNESCO Chair on Education, Growth and Equality, led by Prof. Patrizio Bianchi, economist and former Minister of Education.

The Chair, based at the Department of Economics and Management of the University of Ferrara, operates within the UN’s 2030 Agenda to promote research and training on sustainable development, public policy, and inclusive education.

Over the years, it has fostered collaboration among internationally renowned researchers, university professors, and representatives of Italian and foreign institutions. The Fabriano meeting, the first of three seminars comparing three regions in Central-Northeastern Italy, focused on marginal areas in advanced contexts.

The Marche session explored the impact of recent employment crises affecting the region. The program included three sessions: one on theoretical and global framing, a second on methodological tools for analyzing marginal areas, and a third on policy implications.

Numerous speakers participated, including academics, institutional representatives, and entrepreneurs. Among them were scholars from various Italian universities, local industry representatives, foundations, research centers, and development agencies, including Graziano Lorenzon, director of Informest.

The event concluded with a summary by Prof. Bianchi and a visit to the Paper and Watermark Museum, a symbol of Fabriano’s cultural identity.

The initiative proved to be an important interdisciplinary moment to discuss the urgency of launching targeted public policies to support the development of inland areas and those affected by structural changes in Western markets. The next meeting will be held in Udine on October 1–2 at the Friuli Foundation Conference Hall, organized by Informest, confirming the institution’s commitment to territorial cohesion and sustainable development.

In Udine, the focus will be on education and talent attraction. The two-day event will also explore the strengths and weaknesses of regional manufacturing clusters to propose policies that can counteract ongoing deindustrialization processes.