by Mohtas Anwar Modier | Oct 9, 2025 | Aware
Bootcamp 2025: Luigi Dell’Erba Students Shine at Bootcamp 2025 Award Ceremony.
Castellana Grotte, Puglia – October 9, 2025.
The Luigi Dell’Erba Higher Secondary Education Institute buzzed with palpable excitement as students from classes 5Ac, 5Bc, 5As, and SCA gathered to commemorate their remarkable achievements during the highly anticipated Bootcamp 2025 Award Ceremony. The enchanting event, held within the school’s vibrant halls adorned with colorful banners celebrating sustainability, honored these gifted students for their exceptional contributions to the Puglia System for Sustainable and Fair Innovation.
Bootcamp 2025, magnificently coordinated by Luiss LabGov, the Apulia Water Authority (AQP), and the AWARE partners, centers on empowering youth to engage in the co-design and co-governance of innovative solutions addressing critical environmental and social challenges.[1] This inspiring initiative aligns seamlessly with the school’s mission to cultivate the next generation of passionate citizens and insightful critical thinkers, equipped with the skills to lead transformative change and champion a more sustainable world. As the ceremony unfolded, a warm welcome enveloped all attendees, including esteemed guests such as the insightful Prof. Christian Iaione from LUISS University, celebrated for his extensive expertise in governance and climate innovation, and the dedicated Eng. Roberta Rana, Director at the Apulia Water Authority. Their esteemed presence highlighted the profound intersection between academic excellence and meaningful real-world applications.
Students were celebrated not only for their outstanding academic achievements but also for their steadfast commitment to social responsibility and their drive for innovative progress. Each student took the stage, radiating passion and enthusiasm as they showcased their dedication to teamwork and problem-solving, effectively demonstrating that unique and innovative thinking can tackle pressing issues such as climate change adaptation, sustainable urban development, and inclusive governance. The Bootcamp 2025 Awards transcended mere accolades; they represented invaluable learning experiences that prepared students for the complexities of collaboration, innovation, and leadership in an ever-evolving world.[2] The school’s active engagement in such transformative initiatives affirms its strong commitment to nurturing an educational environment that empowers students on their journey to craft a brighter future.
The ceremony drew to a close with an exhilarating and optimistic outlook on the future, emphasizing the essential role of student engagement in spearheading sustainable innovation. As these budding innovators step boldly into the world, their collective efforts symbolize a beacon of hope for a just and sustainable future. The Luigi Dell’Erba Institute proudly remains at the forefront of educational excellence, inspiring students to evolve into visionary leaders capable of shaping our world for the better.
[1] Mahmoud, Israa, et al. “Towards a co-governance approach for nature-based solutions.” Guidelines for Co-Creation and Co-Governance of Nature-Based Solutions: Insights from EU-Funded Projects. European Commission, 2023. 44-54.
[2] Iaione, Christian Fernando, and Cecilia Bertozzi. “Exploring the potential of Co-Governance models to accelerate SDGs at the local level.” (2025).
by Anna Berti Suman | Jun 27, 2025 | Aware, Event, News, The Urban Media Lab
VIDEO
On June 26, 2025, on the beautiful premises of Villa Blanc, Luiss University, we hosted the XYZ CAMP 2025 (https://landing.luiss.it/xyzcamp/), an intergenerational event to discuss research, governance and policy approaches to address the complex topic of Just Sustainable Innovation. We engaged young talents from Luiss courses, top executives, policy-makers including from national governments and EU institutions, practitioners, professionals, government officials, NGOs leaders and academics.
The morning saw lightening talks and dynamic roundtables that touched upon compelling topics such as the spaces and knowledges that are needed to make sustainable innovation just; new ways to approach our university’s curricula to equip our students with the skills needed to face the future; the role of culture, traditions and history to advance technological progress; the centrality of territories and local institutions in steering sustainable innovation; the mission of universities and research centres in fostering technology transfer to territories in a just manner; the inclusion of peripheries and vulnerable communities in sustainable innovation and urban regeneration; the importance of co-governance and co-design processes supported by public administration; exploring the space and valuing it as a ‘common universal good’.
In the afternoon, students from the degree programs in Strategic Management, Innovation and Sustainability (SMIS) and Law, Digital Innovation and Sustainability (LDIS) had the chance to present their projects to a jury composed of leading corporate managers and representatives from national and EU institutions. Best projects awards have been assigned to different categories, such as the ‘most regenerative’ idea which was given to the project presented by the students that joined earlier in May the Students Bootcamp 2025: “The Puglia System for Just Sustainable Innovation”, organised in the framework of the AWARE Horizon Europe project (see https://labgov.city/theurbanmedialab/aware-stakeholder-engagement-students-bootcamp-2025-the-puglia-system-for-just-sustainable-innovation/).
Throughout this engaging day, we truly lived the motto of the XYZ Camp: “Learn from the wisdom and experience of Generation X, act with the dynamism and adaptability of Generation Y, and think with the innovative and forward-looking mindset of Generation Z!”.
A sincere thanks to all organizations, partners and participants that made the day possible.
See the full video here: VIDEO
by Anna Berti Suman | May 14, 2025 | Aware, Event, News, The Urban Media Lab
On May 14, 2025, we convened the event “Bootcamp 2025: The Puglia System for Just Sustainable Innovation”. The event represented a one-day immersive experience that engaged high school and university students, emerging scholars, young entrepreneurs, professionals from organizations, companies, and public institutions in a collective journey of co-design. Organized by Luiss University, LabGov ETS, Acquedotto Pugliese, and supported by the AWARE project partners (https://www.aware-eu.eu/) —Autorità Idrica Pugliese, the University of Salento— and with the support of the Mayor of Castellana Grotte, Region Apulia, the Apulian Regional Agency for Environmental Protection (ARPA Puglia), and the Apulian Regional Agency for Technology, Technology Transfer and Innovation (ARTI Puglia), the Bootcamp addressed real-world challenges in the just and sustainable management of water and natural resources, integrating technical, legal, social, institutional, and economic dimensions. The initiative was inspired by recent policy and legislative developments, including the Italian draft decree of 2023 on wastewater reuse, EU Regulation 2020/741 on minimum requirements for water reuse, and the new EU Directive 2024/3019 on urban wastewater, all of which seek to harmonize national and European standards to foster more sustainable agriculture and public sector innovation, particularly through tools like Article 36 of Law Decree 76/2020.
Participants included over 50 students from Luiss University, CIHEAM Bari (Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari), the Universities of Bari, Foggia, Salento, and the Polytechnic of Bari, along with high school students and their teachers from IISS Luigi dell’Erba and IISS Consoli Pinto. They worked closely with mentors from Acquedotto Pugliese, Autorità Idrica Pugliese, ARPA Puglia, ARTI Puglia, Confindustria Bari, Innova, the University of Salento, CIHEAM, Luiss and LabGov ETS. One week before the event, five interdisciplinary teams were formed and assigned their challenges—rooted in five different infrastructure sites across the region—to ensure participants could begin shaping their responses ahead of time.
The day began in Castellana Grotte with a site visit to the AWARE aquaponics pilot plant, where participants experienced firsthand how reclaimed water can support sustainable food production through the integration of fish and vegetable farming (see https://www.aware-eu.eu/the-project/). It was a moment where inspiration met investigation, as students collected data, listened to keynote interventions from experts and from local and project leaders, and launched into a challenge that mirrored real regulatory, environmental, social and economic constraints. In the afternoon, the group moved to Bari, where they visited the headquarters of Acquedotto Pugliese and met with representatives from regional institutions such as ARPA and ARTI Puglia. There, the co-design workshops continued, as participants—supported by their mentors—refined their solutions and pitched them to a panel of experts, receiving valuable feedback and recognition for the quality, feasibility, and relevance of their proposals.
The challenges addressed were diverse and grounded in specific sites and community contexts. Challenge 1 focused on the AWARE pilot plant in Castellana Grotte, asking how to ensure its economic sustainability after the project’s end, what business models could be applied, and how the model could be replicated across other plants in Puglia and the wider Mediterranean, even adapting fish species to local ecosystems. Challenge 2, based in Lecce, explored how treated wastewater from the Ciccio Prete treatment plant could be reused through phytoremediation to irrigate the University of Salento’s Botanical Garden, closing the loop between urban water and green public spaces. Challenge 3 addressed the Poggiorsini treatment plant and proposed a Renewable Energy Community to make the facility self-sufficient, while also tackling sustainable sludge management through phytoremediation. Challenge 4 examined how biodiversity can be enhanced around wastewater treatment plants, with examples from Noci, Casamassima, and Melendugno, focusing on pollinators, native species, and green infrastructure integration. Finally, Challenge 5 asked how the Taranto desalination plant could be transformed into a hydroponic system for brine management, including which species can thrive in environments with higher salinity.
Throughout the Bootcamp, the methodology remained clear: mentorship-driven, challenge-based learning grounded in real policy frameworks and technical limitations. Participants were asked not only to imagine but to prototype tangible solutions through co-design canvases and briefs. All work revolved around five interlinked dimensions—technology, law, society, economy, and environmental impact—ensuring systemic thinking across all levels of proposal development. While all teams delivered strong contributions, the team working on Challenge 3 stood out with its innovative yet community-centred and intergenerational approach to integrating renewable energy and sustainable water reuse at the Poggiorsini site with considerations on local culture and local traditions.
The experience of Bootcamp 2025 also set the stage for the upcoming XYZ Camp 2025, an intergenerational research and innovation bootcamp that brings together Generation X, Y, and Z to respond to the challenges of ecological and digital transitions. It is not only a continuation of the co-design process but a reinforcement of the idea that learning and innovation must happen across generations. Students from the Strategic Management, Innovation and Sustainability and Law, Digital Innovation and Sustainability programs will pitch their ideas to leading European managers and institutional leaders, leveraging the insights gained through real-life experimentation and the strategic integration of social sciences and innovation management.
Interested in the XYZ Camp 2025?
Register at https://luiss.formstack.com/forms/xyz_camp_2025
Bootcamp 2025 was more than a workshop. It was a real testbed for inclusive, forward-looking innovation—locally rooted, globally connected, and powered by cooperation across sectors, disciplines, and generations! Get a glimpse of the day through this short video: WP5-AWARE-Bootcamp video.mov
Interested in replicating this experience? Contact us at staff@labgov.it
Follow AWARE at https://www.linkedin.com/company/aware-eu/posts/?feedView=all
Interested in the AWARE project? Contact us at info@aware-eu.eu.
Authors:
Anna Berti Suman
Marijana Krstic
Researchers at LabGov ETS and LUISS Law School
by Staff | Apr 22, 2025 | Aware
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – BOOTCAMP 2025
The Puglia System for Just Sustainable Innovation
📅 May 14, 2025 | Bari & Castellana Grotte
💡 Water. Food. Innovation. Regulation. A future shaped by you!
Are you passionate about sustainability, innovation, and shaping the future of food and water management? Join us for an exclusive one-day Bootcamp where science meets policy, business, civil society organizations, innovators to generate solutions for real-world challenges by exploring their technical, legal, social, institutional, and economic dimension.
What’s at Stake?
Water is one of our most critical resources—yet climate change, urbanization, and overconsumption threaten its availability. The AWARE-EU.EU project is pioneering aquaponics and water reuse, turning wastewater into a valuable resource to grow fish and vegetables sustainably. But we need bright minds like yours to co-design solutions that make these innovations replicable, scalable, and impactful.
Why Should You Join?
Hands-on Challenge: Work in multidisciplinary teams to solve real sustainability problems.
Site Visit & Field Experience: Get behind the scenes at AWARE’s pilot aquaponics farm and Acquedotto Pugliese’s Palazzo dell’Acqua.
Mentorship & Networking: Collaborate with top experts, institutions, and industry leaders.
Impactful Opportunity: The best idea will be presented at the Common Home Event at Luiss in Rome on June 26, 2025, with the chance to receive funding for a start-up/spin-off.
Be Part of Change: Gain insights into water reclamation, food sustainability, and circular economy innovations.
Who Can Apply?
We are selecting up to 50 outstanding students from diverse backgrounds:
✔ students from high schools & hospitality institutes (Castellana area).
✔ university students from UniBa, Politecnico di Bari, UniSalento, UniFoggia.
✔ students from IAMB – CIHEAM.
✔ students from Luiss Graduate School (e.g. MSc in Strategic Management, MSc in Law, Digital Innovation and Sustainability).
Hurry up, space is limited!
#JSIBootcamp 🚀 ✨
How to apply?
Interested candidates should apply by filling out the form available at this link: ENG: ENGLISH VERSION FORM
The deadline for submission is May 5th at 18:00 PM. Selection will be based on merit, motivation, and diversity. Selected candidates will be informed by May 7th.
Contacts
Mail mkrstic@luiss.it and staff@labgov.it
Link website https://www.aware-eu.eu/the-project/
by Staff | Apr 8, 2025 | Aware
We had the pleasure of engaging in a rich and forward-looking dialogue focused on the future of sustainable water management, innovation, and territorial cooperation within the framework of the AWARE project and beyond.
Grateful for the constructive exchange and the shared commitment to fostering circular water solutions and integrated governance models that serve both people and the planet.
Onward together toward resilient and inclusive water futures!
by Staff | Apr 8, 2025 | Aware
At LUISS Guido Carli University, we are proud to be partners in AWARE, a pioneering project that brings together 20 organizations from eight countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, the UK, Belgium, Greece, and Chile) to develop Europe’s first aquaponic farm using reclaimed water.
While the technical quality of the AWARE system is already proven, the real challenge now lies in navigating regulatory and policy frameworks to enable broader adoption. That’s where our expertise in sustainable innovation law and governance comes in.
Last week, LUISS had the pleasure of hosting a dedicated event on the AWARE project, featuring valuable contributions from Professor Christian Iaione, Dr. Anna Berti Suman, and Dr. Marijana Krstić from our Department of Law – Sustainable Innovation Law, alongside the Mayor of Castellana Grotte, Domi Ciliberti, and Dr. Fabio Ugolini, AWARE’s project coordinator.
Together, we explored the interdisciplinary dimensions of reclaimed water aquaponics—examining environmental sustainability, social acceptance, and the legal and institutional frameworks needed to scale this innovation across Europe and beyond.
We extend our sincere thanks to Mayor Domi Ciliberti for joining us and for his continued commitment to sustainability and innovation in Castellana Grotte.
Check out the Municipality of Castellana Grotte’s full interview and coverage on their social media channels:
Facebook | Instagram
