“Everyone knows that Florence is a beautiful city, the birthplace of the Renaissance. However, it faces a significant issue,” says Guillaume Ribet, Managing Director and Partner of Ginkgo Advisors. “With 13 million tourists visiting a city of just 350,000 residents every year, housing has become a major concern. That is why we chose Florence for our next project.”

As cities expand, urban sprawl leads to overcrowding, pollution, and the loss of green spaces, while many old industrial sites remain abandoned. Ginkgo Advisors focuses on regenerating these areas into sustainable communities, addressing environmental, social and urban growth challenges. Over more than a decade, Ginkgo have been raising capital for similar projects in close partnership with private and institutional investors, including the EIF and the EIB. “We’re currently managing 28 projects across Europe and are present in six European countries,” Guillaume adds.

“It starts with a doctor in Trieste who witnesses a car accident. He rushes to the scene to offer his help, but decides to step back and let the man die,” says Mario Mazzarotto, Director of Movimento Films. “Non Odiare is a film about the aftermath of this decision.”

Founded in 2008 a stone’s throw from the Colosseum Movimento Films produces and distributes documentaries, series, and feature films for television and cinemas, and its titles have been selected by major international film festivals such as Berlin, Venice, Cannes, Rome, Locarno, Sundance, and Rotterdam. “The audiovisual funding environment is tough. There are only a few banks with the expertise and willingness to support film production in Italy today,” says Mario. “This is why it’s so important to find support from sources like the EU. We need to move as fast as possible, so it’s important that there are no unnecessary delays.”

“In our fields, in the warm Sicilian climate we produce all sorts of fruits and vegetables. From artichokes to carrots, peppers, zucchini, aubergines, but the top product is our cherry tomato,” says Luciano Caruso, Director at Abiomed, “We sell them fresh, sun-dried as tradition dictates, or even as a sauce.”

Abiomed is an association of agricultural producers founded in 2001 by 10 producers. It has since grown to a network of 434 producers located in the provinces of Ragusa, Agrigento, Catania, Caltanissetta, Syracuse and Trapani. They also work with local schools to promote nutrition. “Good, locally-sourced food is itself a great investment in future generations,” Luciano explains. “Producers play an active role in our community, collaborating with local schools and sports teams, helping to put on athletics, cycling, and volleyball activities, and campaigning at the same time about good nutrition for youth and athletes. Training starts at the table.”