Public services and development: an open conference in Florence on November 18
How do a region’s public services relate to the opportunities available to its businesses? On November 18, 2026, Florence will host “Servizi pubblici locali come fattore di sviluppo industriale”, a conference listed by the University of Florence’s Department of Economics and Management, DISEI. The in-person venue is Villa Ruspoli, Piazza Indipendenza 9. Proceedings begin at 11:00; the programme schedules concluding remarks at 17:00, without specifying a later closing time.[3][4]
The morning opens with institutional greetings and an introduction from the DISEI organising group. At 11:30, discussion turns to the CNEL report on the quality of public services provided to businesses and citizens, with Marcella Mallen, Emanuele Padovani, Giuliana Coccia and Giovanni Fiaccavento, chaired by Mario Biggeri.[4]
Following a break at 13:00, proceedings resume at 14:00. From 14:30, presentations address competitiveness, technological innovation, new locally rooted industries, regulation and governance, with attention to Tuscany’s industrial prospects. Speakers are Annalisa Caloffi, Alessandro Petretto and Marco Bellandi. A discussion chaired by Elena Gori is scheduled for 16:00, before the concluding remarks.[4]
Our editorial reading is that the meeting may interest not only industrial economists, but also people who want to understand how decisions about services enter discussions of local development. It is an opportunity to follow questions and arguments, not an announcement of policies already adopted.
**Practical information.** DISEI invites all interested participants. Attendance is free, with advance registration required through the form linked on the official page.[3][4] Public administrators, researchers, service professionals and interested citizens can consult the programme and registration links below. Times are understood as local Florence time, Europe/Rome, CET (UTC+1). This is the local time-zone conversion for the event date, not a time-zone label printed in the programme.
**Official programme:** https://www.disei.unifi.it/upload/sub/notizie/CONVEGNO_SPL18112026_locandina_fin.pdf
**Official registration**, linked by DISEI: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePesR5QsspgWqEMsjwxGODlBkFq6owGdtm3rbZ0IKKEF_h1g/viewform
The programme gives convegno.spl_sviluppo@unifi.it as the contact address. Recheck the organiser’s programme and instructions before arranging travel.[4]
## Sources
[3] https://www.disei.unifi.it/art-597-18-novembre-2026.html
[4] https://www.disei.unifi.it/upload/sub/notizie/CONVEGNO_SPL18112026_locandina_fin.pdf