How we turn technology into a concrete tool for inclusion
During “La settimana della vera CSR” on March 11, Claudia Angelini demonstrated how the ST Foundation transforms technology into a concrete tool for social inclusion, turning innovation into real opportunities for people and communities.
The webinar, promoted by the Italian “Fundraising Festival”, brought together companies, foundations and associations to share best practices and insights about projects, ideas, and new ways to work in the third sector. On stage with us was UniCredit, in a session moderated by Valerio Melandri, Founder of the Fundraising Festival.
As our Country Manager for Italy, Claudia briefly introduced our Foundation and its unique model: the non-profit arm of STMicroelectronics, created in 2001 to fight the digital divide by investing not money but time and skills. Our volunteers design and deliver digital training, adopt a train-the-trainer approach to multiply impact, and partner with local non-profits that connect us with learners and provide training spaces.
Why focus on training? Because it is where ST’s core business, its human capital and its social responsibility naturally meet. ST enables digital transformation with its technologies; its Foundation transforms that same expertise into accessible courses that help people understand and use technology, becoming key players in the digital transition.
To make this concrete, Claudia cited the basic IT courses for people starting from zero, for example in detention centers or reintegration paths. A young person arriving in Italy without digital skills or a CV is effectively invisible in the job market; after the course, they know how to use a PC, write a CV, search online and use email – small steps that open real opportunities.
At the heart of all this are the volunteers. They are carefully trained on content, teaching methods and the contexts in which they will operate. They come from diverse roles within ST and, by becoming aware that they are facilitators of autonomy rather than “heroes”, they find deep motivation in seeing their professional skills change lives, course after course. ST supports them with up to 48 hours per year of paid leave for volunteering, recognizing the value generated for communities, for the company’s reputation and for employees’ soft skills.
Claudia emphasized that the Foundation never works alone: to reach over 1.3 million beneficiaries worldwide, it builds strategic partnerships with non-profits that share its vision, have a meaningful user base, safe spaces and teams ready to be trained so they can continue activities independently. In return, partners are asked not to request money, not to offer similar paid courses to the same target group, and to ensure insurance coverage and safe premises for all activities.
Looking ahead, Claudia pointed to artificial intelligence as the next major challenge. AI risks widening the gap between those who can use it and those who cannot. And we are already developing additional modules and awareness sessions to prevent a new form of exclusion.
La settimana della (vera) C*SR – GIORNO 2 – mercoledì 11 marzo 2026 – YouTube
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