Tenuta Lab: Social Innovation Bootcamp

Located at the historic Suvignano Estate near Siena – confiscated from the mafia and reclaimed by the State – Tenuta Lab offers an immersive research experience that integrates food systems, rural innovation, ethics, and responsible entrepreneurship. Designed for MA/PhD students across disciplines, this intensive program fosters transdisciplinary collaboration to address contemporary challenges in agrifood, sustainability, and social impact.

Held from June 9-13, 2025, the bootcamp combines field-based research, design thinking, and entrepreneurial methodologies to develop innovative, community-driven solutions. Through hands-on projects, mentorship, and systemic analysis, participants engage with local stakeholders, policymakers, and business leaders to explore sustainable models for food production, circular economies, and ethical business practices.

By leveraging the unique context of Suvignano – a symbol of territorial regeneration and legal resilience – Tenuta Lab provides a dynamic learning environment where research translates into action. The program promotes impact-driven scholarship, equipping PhD students with the tools to co-design transformative interventions that bridge rural and urban food ecosystems while reinforcing cultural heritage and economic resilience.

Program Highlights:

• Just-in-Time Learning: Practical information is delivered when needed, ensuring relevance and immediate application.
• Active Learning: Participants engage in exercises, case studies, simulations, and creative, non-formal education sessions to foster teamwork.
• Mentorship: Expert mentors provide ongoing feedback and personalized support to guide participants through the learning process.
• Collaborative Focus: Group projects, discussions, and interactive activities promote knowledge sharing and problem-solving.
• Adaptable Agenda: The program remains flexible, incorporating personalized sessions to meet the evolving needs of participants.

Measuring Success

The bootcamp assesses participants' development through qualitative indicators, including collaboration, creativity, project co-design, and public presentations. These outcomes ensure that participants not only generate actionable projects but also develop key competencies for their future endeavors.

Program Structure

• Virtual Pre-Session: online training to introduce participants to the local context, challenges, and methodologies.
• In-Person Bootcamp: A week of immersive, on-site learning at Suvignano, combining training, fieldwork, and project co-design.
• Post-Session: follow-up virtual meetings for presenting case study proposals and sharing feedback.

The program also includes sessions on scientific dissemination, teaching participants to craft communication campaigns about their work at Suvignano. These campaigns will be shared through media outlets, university blogs, and social media, ensuring widespread impact.

Institutional presentations will showcase both methodologies and outcomes to a broad, international audience, amplifying the reach and influence of the Tenuta Lab Social Innovation Bootcamp.

For more information on previous editions, visit:
Innovative Research Practices: Empowering Early Career Scientists in Global Sustainability
The complexity of food environments addressed with participatory methods: the mini-doc from the four-day workshop of Spoke 1