Our first official day was Monday 4th November, 2019. The group met at the Reggio Childhood Foundation. We were inducted by Professor Alberto Melloni and Carla Rinaldi. Both of these people were already very significant to me; Professor Melloni because he has been the main academic support for me as I have gone through the application process. Carla Rinaldi because she is a living legend of the foundation- one of the original colleagues of Loris Mallaguzi, the founder.

This is an example of how the cities recycling centre inspires the use of materials. As part of a celebration of flags there was an art exhibition in the city which people could come and work on. Each time someone knitted some of this flag they recorded their name. You didn’t have to be able to knit because people who knew how to taught those who didn’t. People from 43 nationalities worked on this piece and the oldest person to knit was 103!

Reggio Emilia is a metaphor for an approach which encompasses the whole city. It is a way of being that puts people at the centre. A key aspect of the culture is ‘tinkering’ (doing).

Reggio Emilia Technopole is located opposite the Loris Malaguzzi Centre and currently in the process of redevelopment which will lead to the creation of an Innovation Park ( place for meeting and cooperation between academic and entrepreneur world).

The first building restored hosts 4 Laboratories of Advanced Research and Technological Transfer which are connected with Enterprises. Inside the building, there is also an incubator of innovative Startups.