Workshops

Society 5.0 and Its Impact on Universities: Shaping the Future of Research, Education, and Innovation

Facilitators: 

• Joanna, Morawska, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, morawska@amu.edu.pl

• Elias G., Carayannis, George Washington University, School of Business, caraye@gwu.edu

The concept of Society 5.0 and Industry 5.0 is not a simple chronological continuation or alternative to Industry 4.0 paradigm. Society 5.0 aims to place human beings at the midpoint of innovation, exploiting the impact of technology and Industry 4.0 results with the technological integration to improve quality of life, social responsibility and sustainability. This ground-breaking perspective has common points with the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It also has major implication for universities transformations.

Universities are called upon producing knowledge for new technologies and social innovation. We think that digitalisation opens the new perspectives for universities and can become one of the main drivers of their change.

Incorporating the assumptions of Society 5.0 into the universities practices and policies will allow both universities and societies to fully benefit from digital transformation. Making the human-oriented innovation as the universities trademark and developing new cooperative models will also help to achieve sustainable priorities.

How to increase the innovative capacity of companies

Facilitators: 

• Dr. Marc Aeschbacher and Valeria Legena, Lecturers at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland

In the era of the 4th industrial revolution, the ability to constantly innovate is becoming the decisive success factor for all organisations to survive on the market. For this reason, a workshop at this year's Society 5.0 conference is specifically dedicated to the question of the innovative capacity of organisations and how it can be increased. The focus here is on the conviction that development concepts that still rely on separating research and development in companies into specific departments are a thing of the past. Much more important than R&D departments are efforts to transform organisations into places of permanent development, to create an innovation-oriented mindset among all employees and to ensure the permeability of the organisation for the transfer of knowledge in all directions, across all levels and structures. 

The workshop aims to address these questions in an interactive exchange and is structured in such a way that, following a presentation of the initial situation, a joint conceptual development of these complex issues takes centre stage. In this way, the participants should not only aggregate new knowledge but also experience in the form of collaboration those working methods that will be decisive when it comes to shaping the future of organisational innovation processes.

Opinion formation, influence and diffusion in the era of social media: the case of climate change

Facilitators: 

• Daniele Giachini, Leonardo Ciambezi, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa

• Alina Sirbu , University of Bologna

• Valentina Pansanella, Istitute of Information Science and Technology "A. Faedo", National Research Council (CNR), Pisa

• Verdiana Del Rosso, Fabrizio Fornari, University of Camerino, Camerino (MC)

The workshop explores opinion dynamics and lobbying influences through computational modeling, with a focus on climate change discourse and global challenges. It introduces foundational principles of agent-based modeling for social dynamics research and demonstrates practical applications via simulations of lobbying scenarios. Participants will engage in hands-on activities, including surveys on opinion formation and data-driven analysis of lobbying activities. Additionally, the workshop fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, integrating theoretical and empirical approaches to enhance understanding of social opinion dynamics and their policy implications.

A Design Thinking Approach to Advancing Smart and Sustainable Higher Education

Facilitators:

• Raluca-Mihaela Bârsan, "Lucian Blaga" University of Sibiu

• Angela Hernandez, ACEEU

• Saša Brdnik, University of Maribor, sasa.brdnik@um.si

• Maria Jesus Cardoso, University of Zaragoza (UNIZAR)

The workshop aligns with the principles of Society 5.0, emphasizing human-centered solutions through digital technologies and sustainability. It explores the role of Design Thinking, ICT and AI in fostering an ethically responsible education ecosystem, the evolution of intelligent tutoring systems, and strategies for overcoming challenges in smart education. Drawing from European projects led by the University of Camerino, Lucian Blaga University and its network, the session will showcase best practices and collaborative initiatives. Utilizing an interactive format, the workshop features lightning talks, fishbowl discussions, and structured networking to foster dialogue, co-creation and innovation in higher education.

Digital Technologies for Smart and Sustainable Buildings in Society 5.0

Facilitators: 

• Sebastiano Maltese, Nicolò Molinari, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), Department for Environment Construction and Design (DACD), Institute for Applied Sustainability to the Built Environment (ISAAC)

• Massimo Callisto De Donato, Lorenzo Rossi, Massimiliano Sampaolo, Università degli studi di Camerino, School of Science

• Emanuele Laurenzi, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), Switzerland

Digital technologies are contributing to the creation of increasingly connected and intelligent environments, enhancing the sustainability of living environments and improving the well-being of people living in Society 5.0. Smart buildings are evolving within this dynamic context, driven by the adoption of emerging digital technologies such as IoT, AI and data-driven analytics. These innovations enable real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance and optimisation of energy consumption, ultimately reducing operating costs and advancing sustainability goals.

The workshop will explore the latest advances in the integration of smart buildings with digital technologies, highlighting their emerging potential, benefits and ongoing challenges. Through dedicated presentations, discussion of real use cases and interactive discussions, participants will gain valuable insights from the topics of the workshop.

Educational Tools for Promoting the Mediterranean Diet: The PRIMA Tool4MedLife Initiative in Society 5.0

Facilitators: 

• Prof. Silvia Vincenzetti, Prof. Valeria Polzonetti, Dr. Sofia Renzi, Prof. Stefania Pucciarelli, Dr. Laura Malandrino, Dr. Dalia Camilletti, Dr. Debora Giustozzi, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino

• Dr. Matteo Brachetta, Prof. Fabrizio Fornari, School of School of Science and Technology-Computer Science Division, University of Camerino

The Mediterranean diet, recognized for its health beneFits and sustainable practices, is deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of the Mediterranean region. However, in the last decades a shift toward western diets in the Mediterranean population has been observed. Therefore, in the context of rapid technological advancements there is an increasing need to recontextualize this traditional knowledge using modern educational tools. The PRIMA Tool4MedLife project, which integrates innovative educational tools with the Mediterranean diet's cultural and nutritional aspects, serves as a perfect example of how modern technologies can be employed to preserve and promote traditional knowledge in support of human health. 

By hosting this workshop within the context of Society 5.0, we aim to explore how digital tools can contribute to the wider adoption of the Mediterranean diet, improve public health, and create a more sustainable future. This aligns with Society 5.0’s emphasis on harnessing technological advancements to address societal challenges and enhance quality of life.