The mountains are emptying, the villages are dying out, and with them we risk losing stories, knowledge and relationships. But there are those who cannot resign themselves to seeing mountain territories become places of passage or postcards of a past that never returns. In Arvier, a small municipality in the Aosta Valley, a project is born that aims to reverse the trend and demonstrate that even at high altitude it is possible to innovate, create and build a future.
Is called “Arvier Innovation” the residency program launched by the Municipality of Arvier together with Santagata Foundation e Netural Coop – Social Enterprise, with the support of the PNRR. An open call to researchers, trainers and social innovators from all over Europe, invited to spend a month in the Aosta Valley village to develop projects capable of tackling the great challenges of mountain areas.
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The initiative is part of the pilot project “Agile Arvier. The Culture of Change”, created to regenerate the social and cultural fabric of the town and its Leverogne district.
The objective – says Andrea Paoletti, President of Netural Coop – is to transform the challenges linked to depopulation and marginalization into growth opportunities, through a participatory approach and the exchange of good practices.
A 1-month residency for 12 male and female innovators
12 profiles will be selected (two for each month, from November 2025 to May 2026), who will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Arvier’s life and interact directly with the community.
Each resident will bring their own know-how to address crucial issues such as:
What does the residency offer?
Selected profiles will receive:
How to apply
All information on the announcement and how to apply on the site
Applications must be submitted no later than 11.59pm on 19 October 2025. Results will be announced by 24 October 2025.
For further information write to info@neturalcoop.it
