According to a recent study by Aster - a regional association for technological development - in Emilia Romagna there are over 73 thousand privately owned companies with owners over 60 years old. This means that companies will soon undergo generational change that places at risk almost 305 000 jobs, about 20% of the workforce of Emilia-Romagna.
While the family-owned companies of the region have been a major driving force of its economy, this natural generational change cycle always carries with it some risk. Even more so this time round since there is an increasing proportion of companies with owners over 60.
A regional project - aptly named Spinner - to promote awareness regarding this "generational shift" which started in 2001 and will finish next year. The project is attempting to cast the generational change as a chance for companies to innovate and move forward with technological change.
