Leading think tank for sustainable innovation

1. Avanzi. Sustainability in Action
Milano, November 2011
Leading Think Tank for Sustainable Innovation
Avanzi. Sustainability In Action is a leading and independent think tank for sustainable
innovation.
Since its founding in 1997, its mission has been to become an independent and credible
player in the field of sustainable development. Applied research and pilot projects carried out
by Avanzi have shown an innovative approach in terms of both policy implications and actors
involved. By collaborating with the most qualified universities and research centers in Europe,
it has assured an independent and rigorous approach in both innovation drivers investigation
and policies development. Avanzi has played a pioneering role in promoting and
disseminating sustainable development and has contributed to a radical perspective change
in many public and private organisations in Italy.
Avanzi has conducted research and provided innovative services and business activities,
mainly in the field of Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) and Ethical finance –e.g. setting
up a dedicated rating agency, Vigeo Italy, and collaborating with the ONG Forum
FinanzaSostenibile – the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Local Agenda 21.
Bridging academia, business and the public sector, Avanzi represents a quite unique context
in Italy: the investigation on innovative approaches, policies and instruments is followed by
their effective implementation and broad dissemination through pilot projects and start-ups
incubation with high social and environmental impact potential. By closely working with the
public, private and no profit sectors, it engages with stakeholders and challenges reputational
risks and business opportunities.
Avanzi operates at four different levels - innovation, analysis, implementation and training - in
three different domains of sustainable development:
• Public policies, plans and programmes design, evaluation and implementation.
Avanzi assists public bodies and companies in policy design and implementation,
providing knowledge and methods for the assessment of their impacts on
sustainable development. Through proprietary methodologies development and
stakeholders involvement, Avanzi identifies the most significant options, the
indicators better describing compliance and administrative costs associated with
them and the key measures for the implementation and monitoring of
environmental, development, welfare and planning policies.
• Stakeholders' engagement and environmental disputes resolution and prevention.

2. Participation and stakeholder involvement in decision making processes is a
distinctive element of Avanzi’s approach. Avanzi operates as facilitator, mediator and
analyst, providing inputs for the identification of consensus based solutions for local
and environmental disputes resolution, urban renovation, Agenda 21 processes,
crisis management;
• CSR, environmental innovation management and accountability.
Avanzi assists enterprises and other organisations in acknowledging their responsibilities
towards stakeholders and in managing the change. The approach is modular and customised
and aims to integrate social, environmental and ethical concerns into all business activities
and levels, from strategy to operational management. Particular care is dedicated to
identification of risks and opportunities, anticipation of conflicts, benchmark, disclosure,
investor relation.
Avanzi's network of leading Italian and European universities and research centers includes:
Istituto per la RicercaSociale (IRS), Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM), Department of
Architecture and Planning (DiAP) of Politecnico of Milan, the Centre for Research on Energy
and Environmental Economics and Policy (IEFE) of Bocconi University and the
ScuolaSuperioreSant’Anna of Pisa; the EURICSE, the ForschungsstellefürUmweltpolitik
(FFU), the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), the Öko-Institut FVG, the
Science and Technology Policy Research (SPRU) and the
ZentrumfürEuropäischeWirtschaftsforschung (ZEW).
The most interesting EU projects developed by Avanzi within this network as coordinator or
main partner are:
• Foster social acceptance of RES by stakeholder engagement (REScoop 20-20-20),
Intelligent Energy - Europe program (2012-2014);
• Governance for Sustainability (G-FORS), FP6 funded project under Priority 7 - Citizens
and Governance in a knowledge-based society (2006-2009);
• EVIA: Evaluating Integrated Impact Assessments, European Commission DG Research
(2006-2007);
• IQ Tools: Indicators and Quantitative Tools for Improving the Process of
Sustainability Impact Assessment, European Commission DG Research (2004-2006);
• The Thematic Evaluation on the Contribution of the Structural Funds to Sustainable
Development, European Commission, DG Regio (2002);
• Sustainable Teleworking (2002-03);
• Improving the Human Research Potential and the Socio- Economic Knowledge Base
Program (IHP), Blueprints for the integration of Science, Technology and
Environmental Policy, European Commission, DG Regio (2002-2003);
• Local Authorities’ Self-Assessment of Local Agenda (2000-01);
• Sustainable House (1998-2000);
• Eco-Efficient producer services (1998-2000).
For more information, consult: www.avanzi.org
Avanzi's team is made up of about 12 researchers (excluding stages and temporary
collaborations) with varied backgrounds ranging from economics, law, urban planning to
political and environmental sciences. Leaders are well-established and recognized in the
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3. scientific community, as their publications in high scientific journals and presentations at
international congresses prove. Professional experience includes research and training for
universities, public sector, business and finance, consulting and NGOs. The list of clients
includes the European Commission (DG Research, DG IST, DG Industry, DG Env), regional
and local governments, industry associations, private firms, public utilities as well as NGOs.
Team research expertise focuses in the following fields:
• Energy and climate policy (leader: Davide Zanoni)
• Urban planning (leader: Carolina Pacchi)
• Environmentaleconomics (leader: Matteo Bartolomeo)
• Business ethics and finance (leader: Davide Dal Maso).
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