The Context
Digital technologies play a central role in education, work, access to services, and social participation. In Italy, while digital adoption has grown steadily in recent years, digital inclusion remains uneven, with gaps affecting specific population groups and territories.
According to the latest available data (2022) from the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), Italy ranked 18th among 27 European Union Member States, underscoring that the country remains below the EU average in overall digital performance, particularly in human capital and digital skills. This positioning highlights challenges that continue to limit the full participation of all citizens in an increasingly digital society.
While internet access has become widespread, digital skills and effective use of technology remain limited among a significant share of the population. Older adults, people with lower levels of education, migrants, and individuals living in socially or economically fragile contexts are disproportionately affected by these gaps. For these groups, limited digital competencies can translate into reduced access to education, employment opportunities, healthcare services, and public administration.
As more essential services, from education and healthcare to civic and administrative processes, move online, digital skills are no longer optional. Bridging the digital divide in Italy, therefore, represents not only a technological challenge but a broader social and educational priority to promote equal opportunities.
ST Foundation’s Presence
The ST Foundation launched the DU Program in Italy in 2003, with the support of ST volunteers. Initial activities focused on vulnerable groups in the areas surrounding the ST site in Agrate Brianza, with the objective of introducing basic computer skills and fostering confidence in using digital tools.
Over the years, the program has expanded, reaching a more diverse audience. This evolution has enabled the Foundation to gain experience working with diverse target groups, including children, young people, migrants, older adults, and inmates, and to adapt its educational approach across a variety of social contexts.
Activities in Italy are structured around two complementary pillars. Core initiatives remain central, with a strong focus on basic digital literacy, coding, STEM education, and student career orientation. Largely driven by volunteers, these activities aim to strengthen digital skills, support informed educational choices, and promote inclusion through practical learning experiences.
In parallel, the Foundation has strengthened its society digitalization activities, designed to address broader social needs related to digital access and competencies. This area gained relevance during and after the pandemic, when schools, families, and older adults faced isolation and limited digital skills. In this context, targeted initiatives were developed to support distance learning, foster digital autonomy, and encourage active participation in society. In collaboration with CREMIT (Research Center on Media Education, Innovation, and Technology), a computational thinking course was introduced to help children apply core concepts of computer science to problem-solving across different contexts. At the same time, Tablet for Seniors courses were tested, refined, and scaled, both online and on-site, supporting older adults in everyday digital activities.
As of the end of March 2026, more than 8,300 beneficiaries have been reached since the program’s inception, reflecting the Foundation’s long-term commitment to digital inclusion in Italy.
