News
ITALY – Telecom Italia and Expo 2015 announced the ‘Changemakers’ laboratory for innovative projects
Expo 2015 and Telecom Italia are launching “Changemakers for Expo Milano 2015”, a new venture
conceived to identify and support the development of ten projects that are capable of enhancing the life
of at least ten million people, helping to solve social and environmental issues by leveraging the latest
digital technologies. 
The venture was unveiled at the first Expovisions event. Expovisions is a series of meetings
organized by Expo 2015 and Telecom Italia, a Global Service Partner of the Universal Exposition, as part
of the lead-in to Expo Milano 2015. It invites leading figures from business, academia and
the institutions to discuss how innovation and technology can improve quality of life in our cities, and to
translate ideas and suggestions for the future into effective leading-edge solutions. Speakers at the first
Expovisions event – “Smart ideas for a better life” – held at the Piccolo Teatro Studio in Milan
included Giuseppe Sala, CEO of Expo2015; Marco Patuano, CEO of Telecom Italia; Andrea Sironi, Full
Professor at the Bocconi University of Milan; Undersecretary to the Prime Minister’s Office Paolo Peluffo;
and expert new technologies journalist/writer Steven Berlin Johnson.
The “Changemakers” project has been conceived for young, talented people under thirty to bring
together and select the most promising practicable proposals in areas of key importance to economic,
social and environmental development. Aspiring “innovators” are invited to present their ideas on the
hallmark issues of the 2015 Universal Exposition, in which the introduction of new digital technologies
is capable of having a particularly large and effective impact. Topical subjects include personal mobility;
sustainable energy consumption; access to basic education; citizen/government relations; accessibility
for the differently-abled; managing tourist flows; and the sustainable production and fair distribution of
food resources. Candidates may submit their projects to the website from 1 October. 
The winning changemakers will be put into special teams and spend two months at an ad hoc
laboratory in Milan where they will have access to advanced technological equipment and high-level
expertise. The selected teams will be able to develop their projects, drawing on support from senior consultants
and national and international mentors and experts, and will benefit from ongoing exchange and
dialogue. Local institutions and partners will also be able to contribute to the laboratory’s activities.
The most groundbreaking projects will be presented to potential investors and partners keen on
backing implementation. The most impressive results will be publicly presented during the Universal
Exposition and on the Expo 2015 and Telecom Italia websites.