Milan Today. Demography, work, and new urban balances

Innovation, professional transformations, and new opportunities: the role of skills in building a more inclusive labor market.

On October 20, 2026, at Palazzo Isimbardi in Milan, “Milano Oggi. Demography, Work, and New Urban Balances” took place, the first event of a project developed by The Adam Smith Society together with the Municipality of Milan and EY, dedicated to the economic, demographic, and social transformations of the city.

The initiative brought together representatives from institutions, businesses, and the research community to reflect on the changes reshaping Milan: from the evolution of the labor market to the impact of artificial intelligence, from new social needs to the use of predictive data to guide urban policies.

Gianna Martinengo, Founder and President of Women&Tech® ETS, as well as CEO of DKTS and member of the Board for Technological Innovation and Digital Transformation of the Municipality of Milan, was among the speakers of the session “Work, AI and skills: the new productive geography of Milan”, scheduled from 10:15 to 11:15.

The discussion also included Marta Spinelli, Vice President of Assolombarda, Carlotta Penati, former President of the Order of Engineers of Milan, Paola Nicastro, President and CEO of Sviluppo Lavoro Italia, and Vincenzo Caridi, Head of Department at the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies.

At the center of the reflection is the relationship between technological innovation, the transformation of professions, and skills development. Artificial intelligence is profoundly changing production processes, organizations, and ways of working, making it increasingly important to invest in continuous training and in people's ability to face change.

For Women&Tech® ETS, this transformation also represents a fundamental challenge in the field of equal opportunities. Access to digital skills, the participation of women in technological sectors, and the enhancement of talents are essential conditions for innovation to become a driver of inclusive growth rather than an additional factor of inequality.

In a scenario where new professions emerge and others transform, it is necessary to promote accessible learning, guidance, and professional updating pathways, capable of engaging people of all ages and backgrounds. The dialogue between institutions, businesses, the education sector, and civil society thus plays a decisive role in building a fairer and more sustainable labor market.

The morning session, moderated by Dario Di Vico, journalist of the Corriere della Sera, also addressed demographic changes and the attractiveness of Milan, the use of predictive data in public policies, and the new fiscal issues related to the artificial intelligence economy.

The initiative is part of a path looking towards Milan 2035, with the goal of placing human capital at the center of innovation, supporting the city's development through a balance between economic competitiveness and social cohesion.

Gianna Martinengo's participation fully aligns with the mission of Women&Tech® ETS: to promote a culture of innovation that values people, encourages female presence in scientific and technological fields, and helps build a future where knowledge, skills, and opportunities are accessible to everyone.