Since 2015, the Municipality of San Mauro Pascoli has supported the CERCAL LAB project, which was created to help people (with priority given to young people) interested in developing ideas, projects, self-employment, and combining manual skills, craftsmanship, and technological expertise.
Over time, spaces, laboratories, and equipment have been made available at the Cercal training institute, where people interested in developing ideas could design and create prototypes. These individuals were supported by experts and technicians, who helped both with prototype creation and the evaluation of the entrepreneurial idea. Additionally, connections with local businesses were provided to facilitate the exchange of skills and information, and to carry out experimental projects of interest to companies.
Since 2022, the CERCAL LAB initiative has maintained its original objectives and has integrated with the “Tech4Fashion Hub – Incubator of innovative start-ups in the field of fashion and ICT” project, realized by the Municipality of San Mauro Pascoli in collaboration with Cercal. The project provides facilities at Villa Torlonia as a coworking space, which was inaugurated in November 2023. To this day, the incubator mainly focuses on projects with innovative content, while the CERCAL LAB project continues to offer opportunities to experiment with more “traditional” projects related to local craftsmanship. Both initiatives are dedicated to the fashion industry.
Between 2015 and 2023, a total of 42 applications were received, 39 of which were approved, leading to the creation of specific projects; seven of these ideas materialized into start-ups, while four applications came from already established start-ups that received specific support. A total of 60 users were involved, 60% of whom were women.
Through this same project, some young people were given the opportunity to collaborate with companies in the footwear industry to develop new products, with awards given to the best projects.
It should be noted that the skills developed so far by participants in CERCAL LAB have enriched their design, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurial abilities, fostering new professional collaborations. In many cases, this has also facilitated employment or re-employment for those who chose not to pursue self-employment.
At present, the footwear production sector in San Mauro Pascoli is experiencing a period of difficulty due to the effects of ongoing conflicts on international markets, as well as a period of transformation driven by the green and digital transition and significant changes in consumer behavior and purchasing habits. In this context, the challenges for a young person interested in developing their own project, particularly in the fashion world, are very high.
Therefore, through the TASK4ISI project, with the collaboration of partner OPEN and the development of a network of stakeholders interested in supporting business creation, the Municipality of San Mauro Pascoli has the opportunity to expand support for entrepreneurship. While maintaining a focus on the fashion sector, this support will also extend to other sectors (such as catering, tourism, maintenance, services, etc.), strengthening the concept of inclusive entrepreneurship. Transnational exchanges provide an opportunity for training and comparison, to acquire information on best practices and assess the transferability of experiences from other regions.
The Municipality’s goal is to strengthen support for entrepreneurial projects, expanding the network of public and private organizations involved, to ensure continuity for the incubator while promoting inclusion, facilitating change and innovation, and prioritizing social impact. Young people, women, individuals in vulnerable situations, or with disabilities, are the primary target groups for proposed support initiatives.
To best manage the project, the Municipality of San Mauro Pascoli will leverage its relationships with local entities, other government bodies, associations, cooperatives, minorities, and potential project beneficiaries who may access the administration’s services.
This publication reflects the views of the author(s) only. The programme authorities are not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.