An opportunity for those who want to do business in marginal territories
There are those who recover abandoned buildings by transforming them into cultural spaces, those who create new job opportunities and those who build services to strengthen the social fabric of local communities. For young people who want to start a project in the Italian internal areas, a new opportunity for training and support opens up. In fact, applications for the fifth edition of “Imprese Spericolate” are open until 20 July 2026, the program promoted by the Pietro Pittini Foundation and created in co-planning with Magma Impresa Sociale and Meraki – Desideri Culturali.
A program to generate social impact and local development
The initiative was born as an evolution of “Percorsi Spericolati” and aims to support the birth and consolidation of organizations with a social, cultural and economic impact in the most fragile and marginal areas of the country. The program is free and is aimed at both informal groups and already established entities that wish to develop projects capable of generating value for local communities.
Who can participate
Groups made up of at least two people intending to set up a profit or non-profit organisation, or organizations created less than 30 months ago, can apply. The projects must be developed in one of the areas identified by the National Internal Areas Strategy (SNAI). Among the requirements is the presence, in the governance of the group or organisation, of at least one person under 35 years of age.
Projects born in previous editions
Over the years, “Imprese Spericolate” has contributed to the birth and growth of various local initiatives. These include Casa Alexander Langer in Tarcento, in the province of Udine, a space dedicated to culture and community participation; the recovery of a former colonial house in Tramonti di Sotto, in the Pordenone area, transformed into a place for hospitality and artistic residencies; and the reopening of a former kindergarten in Polcanto, in Mugello, now a meeting center and point of reference for the area.
Training, mentoring and organizational development
The 2026-2027 edition will take place between October 2026 and March 2027. The path will alternate moments of in-person training, online meetings and personalized mentoring activities. The residential part will be held in Friuli Venezia Giulia and will delve into central themes for the growth of organizations, from strategic planning to economic sustainability, from communication to social impact assessment, up to the forms of collaboration between public and private entities.
Tailor-made support for each project
In addition to training, each group will be able to count on personalized support from professionals and experts from different areas of the country. The objective is to support participants in defining their own development plan and in building organizational models capable of guaranteeing continuity and sustainability over time.
A grant of 15 thousand euros for the best project
The path will end with a final in-person event in Friuli Venezia Giulia during which the participants will present their projects to an evaluation commission. The initiative deemed most promising will receive a grant of 15 thousand euros intended to support the development of the activity.
How the selection will take place
In the selection of applications, the territorial roots of the project, the ability to intercept local needs and opportunities, the economic and organizational sustainability, the potential social impact and the motivation of the proposing team will be evaluated. The results of the selection will be communicated by September 25, 2026.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted by 20 July 2026 via the dedicated online form, attaching a brief description of the project, a team presentation video and a preliminary budget. Before sending, it is recommended to consult the official notice, which contains all the information relating to the access requirements, the methods of participation and the different phases of the process.
“Imprese Spericolate” is also created thanks to the support of Fondazione Friuli, Confcooperative Alpe Adria, Legacoop Friuli Venezia Giulia and BCC Credifriuli.
