Innovation, energy transition and new technologies were some of the topics at the heart of the Italian-Congolese Forum for the promotion of dialogue between artisans and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Joule, the Eni school of entrepreneurship, also took part in the initiative, which was held in Rome from 31 January to 2 February 2024, with a speech by Mattia Voltaggio. "For the Congo", said Voltaggio, Head of Joule, "2024 is the year of youth. This is a key theme that expresses confidence in the future and in the possibility of exploring new prospects for growth. Joule, the Eni school of entrepreneurship, is driven by the same confidence in the future and in the possibility of an energy transition that is equally shared in the countries where we operate".

The three-day event, organised in Rome by the Embassy of the Republic of the Congo under the patronage of the Government of Brazzaville, brought together more than 400 players representing Italian and Congolese institutions, companies and artisans, who were keen to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing small and medium-sized enterprises in various sectors, based on an artisanal fabric in which Rome and Brazzaville recognise themselves as having common ground.

"Italy is the cradle of small and medium-sized enterprises and deserves our full focus. The Congo is ready to put forward proposals for mutually beneficial cooperation". These were the words of Jacqueline Lydia Mikolo, the Congolese Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Handicrafts, as she opened the Forum.

On 2 February, the Minister and a Congolese delegation were invited by Eni to visit the Gazometro area in Rome Ostiense, home to the Rome Advanced District (Road) and the Eni 2050 lab, where prototypes of Eni's main technologies for the energy transition are on display. At the end of the visit, startups from the Joule ecosystem presented their innovative solutions to the entire Congolese delegation.