Excellence and Innovation
Rome, April 9, 2026 – In the solemn setting of the Chamber of Deputies, the beating heart of Italian institutions hosted an event today dedicated to the country's productive future. The awards ceremony, promoted by the Italy-USA Foundation, was held to celebrate businesses that have distinguished themselves for their innovative spirit, competitiveness, and international vision.
The prestigious America Innovazione award was assigned to approximately 60 companies, including startups and innovative SMEs, which emerged from a selection process involving over 15,000 entities throughout the country.
A Bridge Between Talent and Global Markets
The Italy-USA Foundation's initiative is not just a tribute to merit, but also represents a strategic bridge between the Italian business community and international markets. The award-winning companies were evaluated based on criteria including technological capacity and digitalization, growth potential in foreign markets, social impact, and cutting-edge methodologies. The following was reiterated during the ceremony:
Rewarding innovation today means investing in tomorrow's competitiveness. The companies present represent the pinnacle of Italian entrepreneurs who love challenges and make significant sacrifices to achieve their goals
serious games to support transversal skills
Among the highlights of the day was the innovative SME PA360 Training on Skills. The company's founder and CEO, Michele Petrone, received the award for its ambitious international project "SoftSkills Game."
PA360's innovation lies in its transcendence of traditional training: through games and simulation (gamification), the project enables the development of transversal skills—such as leadership, empathy, teamwork, and problem solving—in an immersive and measurable way. This recognition highlights the effectiveness of a model that blends psychology, technology, and management training, making learning a strategic asset for modern companies.
The event concluded with the hope that the winning companies' business model can serve as a driving force for the entire country, confirming that "Made in Italy" innovation remains one of the most influential languages on the global scene.
Learn more about PA360 Training on skills on Crunchbase:
International recognition of PA360 Training on skills
The future of work depends on human expertise. And we're to play our cards right.
Absolute security and reliability: Thanks to the integration of advanced asymmetric encryption systems, 3.0 badges are completely tamper-proof. The authenticity of the certificate and the identity of the issuing institution (PA360) are guaranteed and verifiable in real time by any employer or institution.
Maximum portability (Interoperability): The new badges are designed to travel without borders. You can collect them in modern digital wallets, integrate them into your resume, and share them with one click on professional platforms like LinkedIn, definitively overcoming any technical barriers.
Transparency and rich detail: A 3.0 badge isn't just a visual certification, but a true information package. It contains detailed information on the specific skills trained, the assessment criteria passed, and alignment with international competency frameworks.
No stress about transitions: For those who already use our simulators, the update is invisible and automatic. The methods for receiving and sharing remain simple and intuitive, while those who own previously issued badges will continue to enjoy full support and full validity.
"An example of how Italy can scale international markets by providing advanced technological solutions for digital training..." — Il Sole 24 Ore
Teamwork
Teamwork, however , becomes the true heart of soft skills, fueled by collaboration, networking, and sharing. After all, we are also social beings!
This list, which is not necessarily exhaustive, must also include another skill that often falls mercilessly into oblivion: the capacity for continuous learning. I am referring to constant updating and learning, to a necessary open-mindedness, to the essential and vital curiosity about diversity, different cultures, and alternative perspectives.
Working on soft skills means promoting, even with innovative methods, an enrichment that is not only cognitive but, above all, emotional and motivational.
Therefore, it involves facilitating personal and professional growth and developmentso as to be competitive and make progress in our lives and careers.
Transversal competencies as a top priority
Going beyond any reflection, according to the World Economic Forum in its update of "The Future of Jobs Report 2025", soft skills represent, in all respects, a top priority for companies all over the world.
The study highlighted some particularly striking findings:
- 94% of companies consider soft skills more important than technical skills. Excellent finding.
- The most in-demand skills include: critical thinking, creativity, empathetic leadership , and change management. Easy to say!
- Soft skills are strategic for tackling the evolution and dominance of new technologies. An undeniable truth.
communication , effective interpersonal skills , and problem-solving are almost mandatory. They always have been!