2026 Schools Competition: Kontractor nurtures young talent for a fair and sustainable future

The second edition of the “Fair and Sustainable Future” Schools Competition came to a close with the awards ceremony held at the Giorgio Squinzi Auditorium at Assolombarda in Milan, dedicated to the projects developed by the students and to dialogue between schools, businesses, institutions and the research community.

The initiative was organised by Kontractor and Kopron, in collaboration with FAR Networks, ATS FAAR Industries and RE.Log Hub, under the patronage of Assolombarda.

The project involved pupils and teachers from upper secondary schools, who were asked to reflect on the themes of social equity, inclusion and environmental sustainability, transforming values and visions into projects that envisage communities that are more aware of and attentive to their local area.

The event on 23 September 2026 provided an opportunity for dialogue across various fields of expertise, bringing together training, innovation, social responsibility and new prospects for communities.

A comparison of skills and new perspectives

The event provided a forum for dialogue between the education sector, businesses, institutions and the research community, exploring issues relating to collaboration, innovation and the ability to address the ongoing changes in an informed manner.

Following the opening of the event and the official welcome address by Davide Ballabio, Director of Training and Human Capital at Assolombarda, the programme continued with a presentation by Ilaria Pasta, Brand & Development Director at Kontractor, entitled “The future is built together”, which focused on the value of collaboration between people, businesses and local communities.

Artificial intelligence and critical thinking

Massimo Giordani, Innovation Manager, explored the relationship between artificial intelligence, innovation and critical thinking, highlighting how these tools can support the analysis of problems from different perspectives, test one’s own ideas and simulate scenarios.

Particular attention was paid to the ability to formulate effective questions and to verify the information generated by AI, by checking sources, the timeliness of the data and the reliability of the answers. From this perspective, artificial intelligence can broaden the scope for analysis and comparison, whilst prioritisation and decision-making remain the responsibility of people.

Education, sustainability and new prospects

Bezhad Maleki, Assistant Professor of Practice at SDA Bocconi School of Management, shared a personal account of the value of education as a driver of growth, opportunity and transformation, recounting his own journey through education, work and research. His experience highlighted the role of knowledge in creating new possibilities and in linking skills, professional development and the ability to tackle complex situations.

The discussion then moved on to the meaning of sustainability, understood as a balance between environmental protection, opportunities for people, and the enhancement of the places and identities that help to build a community. A distinctive feature of the presentation was the use of the Bezhad digital twin, which accompanied the narrative of its journey and highlighted the link between education, social sustainability and the future. The conclusion emphasised the role of the younger generations in building communities that are environmentally friendly, socially just and economically sustainable.

The morning concluded with the presentation of the students’ work and the awards ceremony for the selected projects.

The schools taking centre stage in the 2026 Schools Competition

One of the highlights of the day was the presentation of the work produced by the participating classes, which explored the themes of social equity, inclusion and sustainability through different languages, tools and perspectives.

From designing new school spaces to reflecting on reuse and caring for the local area, the pupils have turned their ideas into concrete projects. Some chose the podcast to explore topics such as the carbon footprint and environmental scenarios for 2030; others used Minecraft to imagine a more accessible school, with tactile pathways, green spaces, greenhouses, solar-powered canopies and systems for monitoring energy consumption.

There was no shortage of more traditional forms of expression alongside original creative approaches: digital storybooks and illustrated stories tackled themes such as food waste and individual responsibility, whilst one project used mosaics made from recycled materials to explore listening, rights and rebirth. Other students focused on circular fashion, transforming existing materials through recycling and redesign, culminating in a full-scale fashion show.

The schools involved include ITIS Guglielmo Marconi in Gorgonzola, Sant’Agostino Language Sixth Form College in Gorgonzola, IIS Niccolò Machiavelli in Pioltello, IIS Argentia Majorana in Gorgonzola, ITSOS Marie Curie in Cernusco sul Naviglio, IIS Altiero Spinelli in Sesto San Giovanni and the Kandinsky Institute in Milan.

The variety of the projects provided a clear snapshot of the journey: digital tools and creativity, care for the environment and social responsibility have become the languages through which the pupils have described their vision of the school, the local area and the communities of the future.

Kontractor and its commitment to a culture of sustainability

For Kontractor, the Schools Competition is a practical initiative to promote a culture of sustainability that combines care for the environment, social responsibility and education, whilst highlighting the role of schools as places for growth, discussion and participation.

Through this initiative, the company is reinforcing its commitment to forging links between young people, businesses and the local area, helping to promote a vision centred on collaboration, knowledge and the responsible growth of communities.

Investing in the younger generation means fostering the development of skills and awareness that can keep pace with the evolution of local areas and production systems over time.

Discover the photo gallery of the event below.