"Renaissance." Inspired by this term was Swiss historian Jacob Burckhardt, who in the 19th century used it to define that extraordinary cultural season born in Florence in the 15th and 16th centuries as a response to the "dark" centuries of the Middle Ages. The same expression was also meant to denote a new way of perceiving the figure of man who, capable of self-determination and realizing his own destiny, was once again master of all spheres of knowledge, rediscovering a profound connection between himself and the macrocosm with which he surrounded himself.

In addition to renewals in the artistic, philosophical and literary spheres, it was at this time that discoveries of a practical nature occurred, related to the need to find solutions to modern needs. From the invention of the printing press with movable type, which made it possible to revolutionize the dissemination of knowledge, to the numerous developments in the fields of anatomy and medicine, the idea of the individual at the center of nature increased confidence in the sciences, paving the way for the advances of the next century.
Today as then, all of humanity is called upon to become the protagonist of its time, and Italy can present itself as the "cradle" of a new Renaissance. However, there is still a long way to go.

If digital and new technologies are the new arts that will enable people to accomplish works unthinkable until recently, the inevitable need to interact with computers risks reviving the eternal dualism between machine "doing" and human "thinking." Therefore, before we act, we need to ask the right questions and understand what intelligences, combined with human ingenuity, will make it possible to build a prosperous, equitable, and environmentally friendly world.

In Modena, during the third edition of "Rinascimento Digitale," an event organized by Confindustria Emilia in collaboration with the Confindustria associations of Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Trentino Alto Adige and Veneto, we tried to answer these questions by examining the impact of the current digital revolution and trying to understand what the consequences will be on society and humans.

The meeting was attended by such outstanding guests as. Federico Faggin, president of Federico and Elvia Faggin Foundation, Marta Bertolaso, Professor of Philosophy of Science and Human Development at Campus Bio-Medical University in Rome, Alberto Sangiovanni Vincentelli, The Edgar L. and Harold H. Buttner Chair of EECS, University of California, and Marko Bertogna, UniMore Professor and Director of High-Perfomance Real-Time Systems Laboratory (HiPeRT Lab).

Each of them, with his or her reflection, helped illuminate the path to make our way through this moment of profound change. Beginning with the consideration that a look to the future can never be separated from a reflection on time, especially when we are in the midst of a Revolution.

It has been calculated that, every day, each of us has 1,440 minutes. But if we use about one-third of them for sleep, how can we make the best use of the remaining two-thirds? The Greeks had tried to answer this question by splitting two different views of time: kronos, or the succession of instants that reduces time to a chronological and quantitative sequence; and kairòs, the opportunity that, seized at the right moment, can determine the development of the future.

The union of these two aspects pushed man to live according to a qualitative rather than quantitative semblance, directing him toward the kind of action that leads individuals to unleash their creativity and elevate themselves. Today, in a world in which we often have the perception that the reality in which we operate is elusive, defining time means first of all understanding the speed at which things change, but also understanding when to slow down and how to make the most of the "pauses" it gives us. And it is precisely in these short spaces of time that humans must strive to make new technologies more intelligible, simplify the complexities that characterize them, and work to identify, address and solve all the individual- and relationship-level issues to which innovation inevitably leads.

New technologies, implemented by the emergency situation generated by the pandemic, have had an extraordinary impact on people's social and professional lives. They have indeed given a new impetus to our perception of everyday life, offering us spaces, ways and times that we previously considered alternative or optional. Likewise, the acceleration of this new dimension has forced individuals to rethink deeply certain established dynamics, developing, in some cases, a feeling of skepticism rather than opportunity.

From an operational perspective, it is true that the digital revolution will profoundly transform the world of work, but this does not mean the resulting loss of centrality of the individual. Machines will replace people in burdensome or performing tasks, while humans will continue to manage complex situations, moving from labor assignments to creative leadership roles.

Now, therefore, we are faced with a twofold challenge: either pursue the path of innovation decisively or get bogged down in a context of strenuous readjustment. What we need to do is to make sure that technological progress is accompanied by innovation in thinking. And to achieve this, we can only rely on our intellect.

Generating confidence in innovations, both in terms of adoption and understanding, will be a crucial condition for the success of the new Digital Renaissance. On our ability to integrate and employ new technologies in professional, personal and social spheres will depend the possibility of building a more supportive world that can ensure the well-being of businesses and individuals, respect for the environment and promote sustainability. In contrast, letting change be driven only by the timing of technological development will bring nothing but short-lived expectations.

In this issue of Impresa&Imprese, titled "Humans at the Center of Digitization," we like to share with you thoughts and reflections that emerged during the Modena event in the hope that they may provide inspiration and accompany you on the path of change as well.

Happy reading!

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