In February a new company called R? joined Progetto Manifattura. The founder is Rocio Del Pilar Benavides B.

R? is takes discarded objects – come bikes, furniture, lamps, and other stuff  – and turns them into designer objects, integrating a variety of used and new materials.

Proof-of-concept is in the table designed for a coffee break area in Progetto Manifattura.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:171:]]

More than 180 people attended the presentation of the Preliminary Design of the new production area by Kengo Kuma. The design marks an important step in the rebirth of the historic tobacco plant, part of a larger urban renewal program for the City of Rovereto.

The importance of the theme brought together the association of Trentino architects, Progetto Manifattura and the City of Rovereto to organize the presentation of Kuma's design and a discussion of its merits. Standout concepts came for architectural plans, the use of local materials (notably wood), and the technical solutions chosen to reduce by 30 percent the amount of energy consumed, as well as the use of rainwater to cover 80 percent of the complex's need.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:170:]]Production of food is also in the plans, with hydroponics and greenhouses on the green roof.

Another strong contribution to the ecosustainability of the project is the Green Travel Plan. The project is reducing the number of parking spaces required by current norms by 40 percent as the plan foresees integrating and augmenting public transport with low and zero emission vehicles.

Making presentations were provincial assessor Alessandro Olivi, Rovereto mayor Andrea Niorandi, and the president of the local architect's association Alberto Winterle.

Assessor Olivi expressed appreciation for Progetto Manifattura for its contribution to revitalizing the local economy. Mayor Miorandi highlighted the urban planning aspects of the project, especially the opening of new public spaces along the Leno riverfront.

The Board of the City of Rovereto held its weekly meeting at the ex Manifattura Tabacchi to learn more about recent advancements in the project. Gianluca Salvatori, president of Progetto Manifattura, illustrated the project, focusing on five central ideas.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:161:]]1. The project regenerating the potential for production based on sostainablility priniciples.

2. Architectural redesign is modernizing an historic facility while providing a place for local construction industry to upgrade its practices.

3. Reconnecting the Manifattura production area to the city provides a new kind of integrated living/working space.

4. A distinctive architecture and worklife will provide Rovereto with internatinoal recognition.

5. Progetto Manifattura will become a place where ecosustainable concepts can be seen in action, offering the public a means of participating directly in important social and economic changes.

Architects and urban planners of the province of Trento will meet 23 Feb. 2012 at 18.30 in the conference room of Progetto Manifattura to discuss the cocept of urban renewal. The focus will be the preliminary project of the new production area designed by architect Kengo Kuma, one of the authors of the project master plan.

Presenting the project will be Kengo Kuma together with:

• Alberto Winterle, president of the Archtects' Association of Trento
• Gianluca Salvatori, president of Progetto Manifattura
• Andrea Miorandi, mayor of Rovereto

 The event will be held at the old Manifattura Tabacchi, piazza Manifattura 1. The public is welcome.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:159:]]

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:157:height=305,width=300]]The magazine Nordest europa.it  (in italian), Jan-Feb 2012, talks about the economic future of Italy beyond the present crisis. They see entrepreneurs dedicated to emerging markets like ecosustainable products and services, ICT and other high tech areas. The article "Oltre la Crisi" (Beyond the crisis) mentions Gianluca Salvatori and Progetto Manifattura because the "green innovation factory" is an incubator of companies working in green building, renewable energy, and technologies for the environment.

Progetto Manifattura is looking at the long term. The goal is to create a nucleus of many small companies in the clean-tech field to become the Italian epicenter of epochal economic change. It's all part of the so-called "Trentino System": the decades long pursuit of the local government to grow in clean tech and high tech.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:154:height=243,width=353]]Homes built for high efficiency are becoming more attractive to cosumers. Buyers in the USA think first these days about buying homes that are built to save energy, rather than purchasing a home that isn't efficient and then trying to upgrade its efficiency. See the article at http://www.theatlanticcities.com/technology/2012/01/how-home-builders-are-selling-green/1048/

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:153:]]On January 23 Progetto Manifattura made a presentation to officials from the European Commission. More than 80 people representing a dozen nations were present.

A link to the slides follows:

120123_EACI_Bruxelles.pdf [2.55 MB]

Monday 23 January 2012, Progetto Manifattura will discuss the project and its goals at the office of the European Reggion Tirolo – Alto Adige – Trentino with functionaries of the European Commission. The presentation will look at the cluster's development in terms of design, partnerships, and B2B opportunities. Presenter will be the Brussells office director Vittorino Rodaro and Gianluca Salvator, president of Progetto Manifattura S.r.l.

$100,000 in pilot test funds and recognition as a Top Utility Technology by utility executives across the US. Apply into the Utility Technology Challenge between now and January 31, 2012!

CTSI, in partnership with Fraunhofer TechBridge and the Department of Energy, seek companies and technologies from around the globe focused on cleaner and more environ

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:144:]]

Do you know someone who completed their doctoral studies in the field of Innovation Management in 2011?

In order to stimulate the next generation of innovation researchers, ISPIM and John Wiley & Sons are offering prizes worth over EUR 4000 to the authors of the three best innovation dissertations from 2011. The deadline for submission to the ISPIM-Wiley Innovation Management Dissertation Award is 31st January - that is just three weeks from now.