The OLIVETTI LAB Call for Ideas is promoted by the Municipality of Ivrea and developed by Fondazione Santagata for the Economics of Culture. It seeks innovative ideas to enhance “Ivrea, Industrial City of the 20th Century”, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its surrounding territory.
About the Call
The aim of the Call is to encourage new proposals for the management, protection, and promotion of Ivrea’s tangible and intangible heritage, by actively engaging designers, start-ups, associations, cultural enterprises, students, and researchers.
The selected ideas will explore Ivrea’s contemporary identity as a potential model of social, cultural, and urban innovation, inspired by Olivetti’s legacy and the principles of sustainable development.
This Call is part of the UNESCO Site Management Plan, and seeks to identify projects capable of addressing the main challenges of the area, within three thematic areas: Knowledge, Community, and Development.
Thematic Areas
Knowledge – Innovative heritage dissemination, accessibility, and communication.
Community – Active citizen engagement and stronger sense of belonging.
Development – Sustainable tourism, creative industries, and social-economic innovation.
How to Participate
Participation is open to designers, start-ups, cultural and creative enterprises, associations, third-sector organizations, students, and researchers, individually or in teams.
Each applicant may submit only one project proposal. The application must include:
the application form (downloadable here)
the presentation of the idea in slides (.pdf format)
the CV(s) of the applicant(s)
a valid ID document of the individual or legal representative of the lead applicant (lead entity).
Applications must be submitted by 2:00 p.m. on 9 December 2025 via email to:
protocollo-gen@comune.ivrea.to.it
The selection phase will conclude in December, with the announcement of finalists published on the Municipality of Ivrea’s official website.
Awards
3 finalist projects: €500 each
Mentorship and support provided by the Santagata Foundation for the Economics of Culture, to develop and promote the selected ideas
Timeline
Launch of the Call: 22 October 2025
Application deadline: 9 December 2025
Announcement of finalists and winners: January 2026
Start of project and mentoring program: February/March 2026
More Information
For additional information, contact: comunicazione@fondazionesantagata.it
Partners
FAQ
Who can participate?
Designers, start-ups, cultural and creative enterprises, associations, third-sector organizations, students, researchers, and young professionals — individually or in teams.
Can I submit more than one project?
No. Each applicant may submit only one proposal.
Are there territorial requirements?
Participants must be active in Italy, with particular focus on the Canavese area.