Позитивные изменения. Том 3, № 4 (2023). Positive changes. Volume 3, Issue 4(2023)

More than 900 impact investors, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, academics, and other influential figures came together to tackle the big questions in the field at Impact Week 2023 in Turin (Italy). Co-Founder, Director Impact Hub Moscow Ekaterina Khaletskaya visited the event and shared what questions the impact community is concerned about and how to accelerate positive changes for people and the planet.

Ekaterina Khaletskaya

Co-Founder, Director Impact Hub Moscow

TURIN AS A CITY OF SOCIAL INNOVATION

European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA) Impact Week[93] is an annual event and the unique opportunity for the global community of investing for impact changemakers to encounter cutting-edge ideas, discover new trends and engage with partners, old and new, to maximise their impact for people and the planet, celebrate wins, learn from losses, focus on action and amplify our impact. The main Impact Week event lasts for the two days, and there are additional convenings and experiences taking place around those days. Usually, the event gathers the participants from Europe, however there are always representatives from other regions who are connected to the European impact field.

The EVPA Impact Week 2023[94] took place in Turin in November, Italy’s fourth-largest city, ambitiously vying for the title of a Social Impact City nationally and in Europe as a whole. This aspiration is rooted in several key factors. Turin is home to the renowned Polytechnic University known for its extensive technical expertise and innovative spirit, an open lab for prototype testing, and a pool of graduates eager to transform scientific discoveries into commercial ventures. Additionally, the city hosts at least ten international startup programs annually, producing over 100 impact startups and engaging a million people as clients. Furthermore, 300 ecosystem players have recently committed to the Torino Social Impact pledge and association, collaborating to foster a thriving environment for social innovation in Turin. The city also has many social enterprises. One particularly inspiring visit was to ViaBaltea, a social enterprise revitalizing a disadvantaged area of Turin by employing migrants and lower-income individuals in roles such as cooks, bartenders, cleaners, and hosts. What is interesting is that this social enterprise created an alternative for the so called ‘casa del quartiere’ the public cultural/event spot that exists in every area of the city and quite popular among the citizens. But ViaBaltea founders created a space where even more people come for the community, and additionally it creates so much needed jobs for the migrant population.

WHERE ARE WE AND WHAT IS HAPPENING?

Italy is a country where discussions about food are often central to any conversation, including here at the Impact Week. On the first day of the conference, participants listened to presentations by impact entrepreneurs who offered solutions in the field of inclusion, climate, health and other areas. As part of his presentation, Paolo Di Croce, director of the Slow Food movement, asked the question: Which fresh food product yields the highest profit margin? After listening to several answers, he revealed the correct one — a fresh salad, and highlighted the ‘fresh salad paradox’: while we complain about the high cost of organic food, many still purchase fresh salad in plastic boxes from supermarkets, paying 5–7 times more than they would at a farmer’s market. We justify this by claiming a lack of time to wash the salad, yet ironically, many Italians, distrusting of producers, wash the supermarket salad again. Consequently, we end up spending twice as much time and five times more money! This paradox is not limited to salad; it is a reflection of broader societal tendencies.

As we gather less than seven years from the 2030 milestone, we face a sobering reality: only 15 % of global SDG targets have been met. This raises critical questions about our resource allocation. However, to maintain optimism, one impact investing fund recalls the rapid evolution of blended finance for climate solutions:[95] just two years ago, it was merely a concept, but now we are witnessing real-world examples, albeit in their early stages. This positive dynamic sparks hope, but the pressing questions remain: Will we achieve our goals in time, and how crucial is it that we do?