The value of the neighbor: proximity economy meetings

Context

In brief

• Five meetings from May to December on local supply chains
• Proximity as a competitive advantage
• First meeting on May 19th on youth and work
• Concrete examples: 30% of Ticino SMEs collaborate in short supply chains
• Legislation: 2023 Cantonal Law on supporting local supply chains, with contributions up to 50,000 CHF

Key facts

• What: Series of meetings on the economy of proximity
• When: From May to December 2024
• Where: Free space of Materia in Castronno
• Who: Confartigianato Imprese Varese and Materia Impresa Lab
• Amount: Not specified

An economy that works, creates value, and holds together territories and communities, but often remains outside the public narrative. It is from this contradiction that “The Value of the Neighbor” was born, an initiative promoted by Confartigianato Imprese Varese and Materia Impresa Lab, with the aim of shedding light on local productive supply chains and their strategic role. The project focuses on an idea: territorial proximity is not a residual element of the past, but an increasingly decisive competitive lever. Recent global crises have indeed shown how closeness between companies, collaboration, and local networks affect the ability to quickly adapt to market changes. In this scenario, short supply chains and relationships based on trust emerge as true models of economic resilience.

Concrete examples

In Ticino, 30% of SMEs operate in short supply chains, with a significant impact on local employment. For example, in Lugano, the wood supply chain involves over 50 companies, generating an annual turnover of 150 million CHF. In Bellinzona, local agricultural supply chains have seen a 20% increase in direct sales to consumers over the last two years.

Legislation

The 2023 Cantonal Law on supporting local supply chains provides contributions of up to 50,000 CHF for collaboration projects between companies. This legislation has already funded 12 pilot projects, with a total investment of 400,000 CHF.

Operational checklist

1. Identify local supply chains: Map the most relevant companies and sectors. 2. Promote collaboration: Organize meetings between companies to encourage the sharing of resources and skills. 3. Leverage contributions: Submit projects to access the funding provided by the cantonal legislation. 4. Involve young people: Create training programs and internships to attract new generations.

Comparisons between practical scenarios

• Scenario 1: A company in Lugano that collaborates with local suppliers reduces delivery times by 30% and increases customer satisfaction.
• Scenario 2: A company in Bellinzona that participates in a short agricultural supply chain sees a 15% increase in sales due to greater consumer trust.

First meeting: youth and territory

To stimulate a shared reflection on these topics, the organizers have designed a series of five meetings from May to December in the free space of Materia in Castronno, conceived as a place for dialogue between the productive world, young people, experts, and institutions. The initiative, developed within the framework of Materia Impresa Lab, aims to start from data and research to build a more aware narrative of the local economic system. The path will address, during the various meetings, some of the main contemporary challenges: the relationship between new generations and work, the transformations of productive supply chains in a context of deglobalization, the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, and the need to read and enhance territorial economic networks.

The first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19th at 17:30 with the theme “Youth and territory: the attractiveness of small businesses”. The meeting will be an opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities that new generations face in the world of work, with a particular focus on local small businesses. Experts in the field and representatives of the institutions will be present to share their experiences and perspectives.

"Proximity is not just a matter of distance, but of trust and collaboration." - Industry expert

Operational details

The challenges of production chains

The series of meetings will address various crucial topics for the local economy. Among these, particular focus will be given to the transformations of production chains in a context of deglobalization. Short supply chains, based on geographical proximity and collaboration between companies, have emerged as models of economic resilience. These chains allow for greater flexibility and adaptability to market changes, making them fundamental in a continuously evolving global economic context.

A concrete example is the case of Bellinzona, where the short supply chain in the food sector has seen a 20% increase in local sales over the last two years. This model has allowed producers to reduce transportation costs and increase the freshness of products, with a positive impact on consumer satisfaction.

📊 Operational checklist for short supply chains:

• Identify local producers and establish partnerships.
• Optimize logistics to reduce delivery times.
• Promote local products through targeted marketing campaigns.
• Continuously monitor the quality and sustainability of products.

The impact of emerging technologies

Another central theme will be the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the way businesses operate, offering new opportunities but also significant challenges. The meetings will be an opportunity to explore how these technologies can be integrated into local supply chains to improve efficiency and competitiveness.

For example, in the municipality of Lugano, the adoption of artificial intelligence systems for supply chain management has led to a 15% reduction in operating costs. These systems allow for demand forecasting, inventory optimization, and improved resource management.

💡 Practical example:

• A company in Lugano implemented an AI system for order management, reducing delivery times by 30% and increasing customer satisfaction.

The valorization of territorial economic networks

Finally, a crucial aspect will be the need to read and valorize territorial economic networks. Local networks, based on trust and collaboration, are fundamental for economic resilience. The meetings will be an opportunity to discuss how these networks can be strengthened and valorized to create a more sustainable and inclusive economy.

A significant example is the "Local Economic Networks" project launched in the municipality of Locarno, which saw the participation of over 50 local companies. This project has allowed the creation of synergies between companies, improving the competitiveness and sustainability of the territory.

⚠️ Comparisons between practical scenarios:

• Scenario 1: Companies operating in isolation, with high transportation costs and less flexibility.
• Scenario 2: Companies collaborating in a short supply chain, with reduced costs and greater resilience.

"Collaboration between local companies is fundamental to addressing current economic challenges." — Industry expert

Regulations and incentives

To support short supply chains and local economic networks, the Canton of Ticino has introduced various regulations and incentives. For example, since 2023, a fund of 2 million francs has been allocated to support collaboration projects between local companies. This fund is intended to finance initiatives that promote sustainability and innovation in production chains.

📊 Available incentives:

• Non-refundable contributions for short supply chain projects.
• Tax incentives for companies adopting emerging technologies.
• Support for training and innovation.

In conclusion, the series of meetings represents a unique opportunity to explore the challenges and opportunities of local production chains, emerging technologies, and territorial economic networks. These topics are crucial for building a more resilient, sustainable, and competitive economy.

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Key points

What to do to participate

To participate in the meetings, you can register for the first appointment scheduled for Tuesday, May 19th at 17:30. The meeting will take place in the free space of Materia in Castronno and will be an opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities that new generations face in the world of work, with a particular focus on local small businesses. For example, we will talk about how companies in Lugano and Bellinzona are using the circular economy to reduce costs and increase sustainability, with concrete examples such as saving 20% on energy costs thanks to efficiency projects.

Registration procedure

To register, you can contact the organizers through the Materia Impresa Lab website or through the social channels of Confartigianato Imprese Varese. It is advisable to register in advance to ensure the availability of seats. Here is an operational checklist to facilitate the process:

• Check the availability of dates on the Materia Impresa Lab website.
• Fill out the online registration form or contact the organizers directly via email.
• Confirm your participation through a message on one of the Confartigianato Imprese Varese social channels.

Useful tools

To deepen the topics discussed during the meetings, you can consult the Materia Impresa Lab and Confartigianato Imprese Varese websites. These sites offer a wide range of resources and useful information to better understand the proximity economy and the challenges that local businesses face. For example, the Materia Impresa Lab website provides updated data on Swiss tax regulations, such as the 7.7% VAT rate for essential goods and services, and the benefits for companies with fewer than 10 employees.

Practical comparisons

A useful practical comparison concerns the differences between working in Ticino and the neighboring Italian regions. For example, a craftsman from Mendrisio working in Italy can benefit from a reduced VAT rate of 4% for maintenance services, compared to the 10% applied in Italy. Furthermore, Swiss regulations provide for mandatory pension contributions that vary from 10% to 18% of gross salary, depending on the sector.

Final CTA

To calculate your net salary in Switzerland and better understand the tax implications, use our salary calculator. This tool will help you compare practical scenarios, such as the case of an employee from Locarno who earns 6,000 CHF gross per month and wants to understand the impact of taxes and pension contributions on their net salary.

Source: varesenews.it