It was a real pleasure to host, at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, the first event of 2025 organized by the Competence Center for Cooperative Management, titled "Co-design: Innovating the Creation, Development, and Management of Public Services." This event was an important opportunity to delve into the topic of co-design, an innovative tool that offers new opportunities even for cooperatives operating in South Tyrol, allowing them to contribute more actively to the provision of services to the community.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our speakers, as well as to the audience who participated in large numbers, making the afternoon a moment full of insightful and stimulating reflections.

Professor Emiliano Frediani from the University of Pisa opened the day with an introduction to the legal foundations of co-design, exploring the key stages in the evolution of the legal framework for this tool. Professor Silvia Pellizzari from the University of Trento then deepened the topic of co-production of public services, analyzing it both from a theoretical and practical perspective.

Dr. Alessandro Berrettini from the University of Macerata highlighted the importance of co-programming in the relationship between the public and private sectors, while Dr. Stefano Foglia from the University of Pisa explored future perspectives on social housing and co-housing, presenting these topics as new frontiers for the management of social services.

A significant part of the event was dedicated to the concrete experiences of the Sole Cooperative, with contributions from President Roberta Massi and Dr. Chiara Monduzzi. Their testimonies highlighted real projects that showcase the effectiveness of collaboration between public administration and the third sector.

A special thank you also goes to the Director of the Cooperation Office at the Province of Bolzano, Manuela Paulmichl, Nicola Grosso from AGCI who facilitated contacts with the speakers, and Professor Peter Agstner, who served as moderator, contributing significantly to the success of the event.

This event represents just the first step in a journey that we hope will continue to stimulate dialogue and collaboration among all involved parties, for a more inclusive and sustainable future in the management of public services.