CENTRINNO

Centrinno aims to transform former industrial areas in nine European cities with a focus on social inclusion and circularity. OpenDot is a partner in the Milan pilot project, working within the NEMA Network to develop Fab City Hubs, sustainable entrepreneurship models aimed at citizens and businesses to promote craftsmanship and digital manufacturing (in the fashion and design sectors) at the neighborhood level, keeping materials local and promoting the global circulation of know-how. During the development of the project, a community of local creatives and small entrepreneurs was created, along with training courses on the circular economy and residencies for product and fashion designers. A report on biomaterials was also produced to support the community in the innovation process in the sectors considered (craftsmanship, fashion, and design). 

Centrinno is a project funded by the Horizon 2020 program and dedicated to urban and circular manufacturing, social inclusion, and the recovery of former industrial areas in cities. The project is coordinated by the Municipality of Milan and involves 26 partners in 9 cities: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Blönduós, Copenhagen, Geneva, Milan, Paris, Tallinn, and Zagreb.

The goal is to activate Fab City Hubs in Milan: spaces aimed at citizens and businesses to promote digital and circular manufacturing at the neighbourhood scale. The idea is inspired by the Fab City Global Initiative, a network of 38 cities and regions around the world that pledge to produce 50 percent of what they consume locally by 2054.

Milan is one of the pilot cities and focuses on crafts, urban manufacturing and the circular economy in the fashion and design sectors. During the development of the project, a community of local creatives and small entrepreneurs, training paths on circular economy, residencies for product and fashion designers were created.

In order to support the community in understanding this booming field, it has also designed a report on biomaterials. The document, edited by OpenDot, has three parts: the first explains how a biomaterial works, its characteristics and components. There are also a selection of "recipes" for producing them at home, selected by the British research center "Materiom." The second part presents a selection of biomaterials already on the market, which can be purchased even in small quantities and are ideal for local manufacturing projects. The last part presents some examples of applications and the benefits of their use.

The dissemination and enhancement of the community also passes through the organization of events and moments of comparison, as was the case for the first edition of "MILANO CIRCOLARE - the event of the city that reduces, recovers, recycles," an initiative of the City of Milan as part of the Air and Climate Plan. The event was realized by selecting among more than 100 realities active in Milan that responded to an open call and counted more than 3,000 visitors. 

OpenDot participates in Centrinno's activities within the NEMA business network, which was created precisely to support the digitization of manufacturing and make it more local and sustainable.

Partners in addition to OpenDot in NEMA are: Cariplo Factory, WeMake, Acube and BASE.