Barresi award
About this good practice
Since 2016, the award aims to help young entrepreneurs to stand out and develop their project ideas. It supports young entrepreneurs based in Bologna metropolitan area, offering prizes in cash and in services: support to develop the entrepreneurial project, training, information, promotion, networking, communication activities promoted by the Metropolitan city. From 2016 to 2019 it was part of a bigger competition specialized in the cultural and creative sector.Since 2020 it changed its focus and now the competition addresses business pursuing at least one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN 2030 Agenda. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to gain social and environmental benefits. The competition valorises the participation of young women too.
Among the winners, interesting examples of circular economy emerged in the last edition: an artisanal shop that creates bags with stocks of leather coming from production waste, warehouse inventories and surpluses that otherwise are thrown away and an enterprise that converts milk that is about to expire, otherwise intended for disposal, in cell culture products. The 2021 edition focused on tourism, rewarding ideas that can activate the relaunch of this sector, among the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.The business start-up guidance centre of the Metropolitan city of Bologna, runs the competition.
Cash prizes have to be spent for the business development, a monitoring system is in place.
Resources needed
The resources available for the last edition (2021) were:
-financial resources: €28.000 (grants for the winners); €4500-5000 (communication)
- human resources:a technician working about 40% of its time on the project;a project manager committed for 20% of its time; a director committed for the 5%.
Evidence of success
The winners, thanks to the cash and in services prizes had the chance to develop and expand their business and, in this way, to promote sustainability and circular economy. They had the opportunity of networking with the public institutions and with other business realities, broaden their competences and get more visibility. In the last edition, a support was given to mitigate the Covid19 pandemic crisis. Since 2016,13 young entrepreneurs were encouraged in the development of their company.
Potential for learning or transfer
The award is a powerful instrument for the Metropolitan City of Bologna, as it helps in pursuing the Agenda 2030 goals, promoting economic, social and environmental sustainability among young entrepreneurs.
It is also flexible: each edition can address particular needs, as in the case of the 2021 edition, when it targeted tourism, one of the sectors more hit by the Covid19 pandemic crisis in order to try to accelerate recovery, while pushing for innovation towards sustainability.
The format of the award is easily replicable in every region and can be adapted according to the needs of the local area and/or of the time period.
It is of great importance to define an appropriate dissemination plan and to encourage a constant public engagement, because the participants are selected through spontaneous applications. The more entrepreneurs participate, the greater the chance to reward the more interesting ones. Therefore were foreseen economic resources for a communication campaign.
Further information
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
