Six months of shared work, new initiatives launched, and expertise made available to the territory. The Activity Report for the first half of 2026 by Venice Sustainability Foundation (VSF) reflects the evolution of activities developed alongside institutions, businesses, universities, research centers, and local partners.
Rather than merely summarizing results, it tells the story of how diverse relationships, knowledge, and experiences have translated into projects, analytical tools, and opportunities for collaboration for Venice and the Veneto region.
During the half-year, the partnership welcomed DBA Group, broadening the Foundation's technical and industrial expertise in infrastructure, innovation, and energy transition. Additionally, the ninth thematic area, dedicated to Innovative Cultural Productions, was activated, completing the organizational framework outlined prior to the establishment of VSF. Initial activities focused on analyzing cultural foundations in Venice and defining tools to network their knowledge, relationships, and initiatives.
In the field of sustainable tourism, the Foundation continued to support institutions and foster dialogue among stakeholders involved in managing tourism phenomena, working with data and digital tools to analyze urban dynamics. Furthermore, the first report on city user flows in functional Venice is nearing publication, serving as a knowledge base for developing new sector policies.
The Report also documents the launch of new discussion platforms. The conference “Porti, interporti e corridoi. Venezia e l’Alto Adriatico come porta dei traffici verso l’Est” (May 28, 2026, Venice) brought together key players from the logistics, infrastructure, and manufacturing sectors of the North-East, laying the groundwork for the launch of the Infrastructure Working Group ("Tavolo Infrastrutture"). Regarding the energy transition, the Biomethane Working Group ("Tavolo sul biometano") was launched to examine the conditions required to develop the regional supply chain.
Activities under the Venice Resilience Hub, developed within the United Nations global MCR2030 network, strengthened national and international debate on the capacity of cities, territories, and economic and social systems to face crises and change, leveraging the expertise gained in Venice.
The Report also features a dedicated section on education and training, translating knowledge, methodologies, and case studies developed across various project areas into learning pathways for businesses, public administrations, professionals, students, teachers, and communities. Initiatives ranged from training on energy transitions and SME resilience to technical and professional programs on sustainable tourism, alongside mentoring and educational activities aimed at younger generations.
In the first half of the year, VSF also promoted, organized, or participated in 32 international, national, and local events, engaging over 2,000 people. These were not isolated initiatives, but opportunities embedded in research, in-depth analysis, and planning activities that serve as springboards for new collaborations.
The Report thus captures the essence of a mission driven by connections: between knowledge and application, vision and concrete action, local focus and national and international engagement. In this ability to regenerate without losing its identity – bringing together heritage, knowledge, enterprise, and innovation – lies the true sense of a new Venetian Renaissance.
The VSF Activity Report for the first half of 2026 is available to view and download here (available in Italian only).
