Rome – Italian firm Sisal marked eight decades in business Sunday by hosting its fourth annual FutureS forum, bringing together leaders from government, industry, and academia to address the evolving landscape of digital innovation. The event, held in Rome, focused on the critical intersection of technology, duty, and social impact as Italy-and the world-navigates rapid advancements in areas like Artificial Intelligence. Discussions centered on building a sustainable digital future and leveraging innovation to meet both economic and societal challenges, with a newly released book detailing the company’s history also being presented [[2]].
Rome, December 10 – Italian company Sisal hosted the fourth edition of FutureS on Sunday in Rome, bringing together institutions, businesses, and stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by digital innovation. The event also marked the 80th anniversary of the company, highlighting its role in Italy’s technological and cultural evolution.
The forum centered on the idea of innovation as a core element of corporate identity, ambition, and responsibility – a concept Sisal believes can transform change into opportunities for both businesses and society. Founded in 1945, Sisal has consistently aimed to create value for people, communities, and regions, viewing innovation as a cultural cornerstone rather than simply a technological tool.
During the event, Carlo Alberto Carnevale Maffè, Professor of Strategy at the SDA Bocconi School of Management, discussed the significance of innovation in today’s competitive landscape in an interview with journalist Barbara Carfagna. The conversation focused on the ability of companies to anticipate future trends and proactively shape acceleration, particularly in the areas of Artificial Intelligence and the development of dual-use technologies for both civilian and military applications.
A panel discussion, “Building the Future: Innovation, Trust and Digital Development,” moderated by Carfagna, featured Camilla Folladori, Chief Strategy Officer of Sisal, and Max Pellegrini, CEO of Namirial. They explored the transition to an economy where digital identity and artificial intelligence are becoming critical infrastructure, requiring businesses to integrate speed, governance, and responsibility into their strategies.
The final panel, “Building the Future: Sisal, Sport and a Changing Italy,” featured Sisal CEO Francesco Durante and Carlo Mornati, Secretary General of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI). They discussed the social and cultural value of innovation and Sisal’s contribution to the growth of Italian sports.
“FutureS is our platform to contribute to the debate about the future of the country, bringing an idea of innovation that combines technology, responsibility and social value,” said Francesco Durante. “This commitment stems from 80 years of history: Sisal has always accompanied the transformations of Italy, investing in people, skills and modern systems. Today, we renew this mission with even greater determination: to put our experience at the service of change to build a more responsible future.”
This year’s FutureS event underscored the need for a digital ecosystem built on interoperability, trust, and collaboration. The discussion comes at a time of rapid technological advancements and shifting geopolitical dynamics, requiring businesses and institutions to develop shared strategies that integrate vision, governance, and responsibility. A continued dialogue between the public and private sectors was also identified as essential for transforming digital transformation into sustainable growth and navigating its complexities on a global scale.
During the event, the book “Sisal. 80 Years of Innovation,” curated by Luca Masia and published by Allemandi, was presented.
