A red thread runs through the Vicentine Prealps: it is the memory of the First World War, etched into the landscapes, the trails, and the memorials that safeguard its legacy. Along this thread was born AVGG – Alta Via della Grande Guerra(High Route of the Great War), a project promoted by the Province of Vicenza, supported by BIM Bacchiglione, and developed by ALDA+. Its aim is clear: to turn history into a driver for local development by connecting the Four Memorial Sites of the Great War across Vicenza through a scenic hiking route that speaks of memory, nature, and renewal.

But AVGG is more than just a path or a tribute to the past — it is also a vision for the future. To strengthen its economic and touristic potential, in 2024 ALDA+ seized the opportunity of a regional funding call (Regione Veneto, Action 1.3.9: Creation, development, and consolidation of product clubs in the form of business networks to support competitive repositioning) to build a local business network. The goal: to bring together accommodation providers, restaurateurs, tour guides, and local producers who live and work along the route.

It all began with field research, followed by public meetings held in the municipalities crossed by the AVGG trail. These events — organised in collaboration with the Alto Astico and Posina Mountain Union, Pasubio Piccole Dolomiti Mountain Union, and the Spettabile Reggenza dei Sette Comuni — became vibrant moments of dialogue. Participants explored the concrete opportunities the project offered to small and medium enterprises, and how networking could become a real competitive advantage.

Twelve local businesses took the leap and joined the journey. Together, they co-designed a Service Charter, a shared Financial Plan, and a Product Club Regulation — three key documents required for applying to the regional funding.

The pivotal moment came on 11 April 2024, when the companies signed a network agreement before a notary — a symbolic and practical step affirming their joint commitment to a new vision for local development.

As the lead partner, ALDA+ officially submitted the project proposal on 17 June 2024. Now, all that remains is to await the outcome.

The hope? To make AVGG a driving force for tourism, economy, and culture in the Vicentine Prealps. A path that is not only physical, but collective — and one that, step by step, looks toward the future.

The future of work is being written today—in algorithms, in renewable energy plants, in classrooms where young people decide whether to pursue digital careers.

Europe is at a turning point: the green and digital transitions promise millions of new jobs, but without bold choices, they could also deepen old divides. For these transitions to be truly transformative, they must not only create new jobs, but ensure that all Europeans, regardless of gender, have equal access to them.

The latest Global Gender Gap Report (2025) reminds us that the gap remains only 68.8% closed. At this pace, it will take 134 years to reach full equality. The economic participation gap is particularly worrying: women account for only 36% of senior officials and managers worldwide, and their share of technical roles is even lower. In the EU, only 1 in 5 ICT specialists is a woman, while just 1 in 3 STEM graduates are female. At the same time, the jobs most vulnerable to automation, such as clerical and administrative roles, are still disproportionately held by women, especially those without higher education. This stark gender divide in current sectors could easily be carried over into the new green and digital jobs of tomorrow unless we make intentional efforts now to ensure women have equal access, training, and opportunity.

This is where gender equality efforts must align with the opportunities in the green and digital transitions. The future of work will not decide itself, but it will be shaped by the choices we make now to ensure gender inclusion in emerging sectors.

The digital transition also carries opportunity. Artificial Intelligence and automation can complement “human” skills, empathy, communication, problem-solving, that dominate in women-led professions. The European Commission estimates that 90% of future jobs will require some form of digital skills, yet women still lag behind in advanced competencies. Closing this gap is not just about fairness, but also about access to the very jobs that will drive Europe’s competitiveness.

The green transition tells a similar story. The International Labour Organisation projects that the shift to sustainable economies could create 24 million new jobs globally by 2030. Yet women remain a minority in energy and engineering sectors: in Europe, fewer than 20% of workers in renewable energy are women, despite the sector’s promise of growth and innovation. Without inclusive reskilling and training programmes, the green revolution risks being another missed opportunity for half the population.

The ETUI Gender Equality in the EU 2024 report is blunt: women face three risks in the twin transition – exclusion from green jobs, overexposure to automation, and weaker protections in new flexible work models. But it also shows the levers of change: reskilling policies, childcare investment, equal pay enforcement, and bias-safe AI deployment. In other words, the future of work is not written in stone, but will depend on the choices Europe makes.

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This is where ALDA+ offers a lesson

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In 2024, ALDA+ obtained the UNI/PdR 125:2022 certification for gender equality. This recognition means that we work daily with the focus on adopting measurable standards across recruitment, pay equity, work–life balance, and governance, ensuring a culture of inclusivity and equal opportunity.

To further promote equality, ALDA+ has taken innovative steps, such as offering Artificial Intelligence (AI) training to its employees. This allows staff members, especially women, to gain hands-on experience with new technologies that are shaping the future of work. ALDA+ recognises that to be competitive in the digital economy, it’s not enough to simply have access to these technologies, but employees must also be empowered to use them effectively. Providing AI training is just one of the ways the organisation is preparing its team for tomorrow’s challenges, ensuring that women are equally represented in high-tech roles that will be pivotal for Europe’s green and digital futures.

One of ALDA+’s key projects is the GINEVRA project, part of the Interreg Central Europe programme, which focuses on the governance of emerging technologies like autonomous driving. This project ensures that these technological advancements contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive future, directly supporting the green and digital transitions. Additionally, ALDA+ is deeply involved in initiatives that integrate digital tools for local governance and democratic participation, continuing its commitment to innovation and equality at all levels.

By aligning gender equality with digitalisation, ALDA+ is ensuring that the workforce of tomorrow is both technologically empowered and inclusive, positioning itself to thrive in the green and digital economies.