The learning process presented in the table demonstrates a profound reflection on emerging economies and their impact on the future, structured across six thematic sessions: circular economies, massive collaboration, natural economies, social regeneration, impact entrepreneurship, and the future of work. Each session allowed participants to explore their prior knowledge, set learning objectives, reflect on new perspectives, and project practical applications of the concepts acquired.
In the first session, focused on circular economies and value flows, participants recognized the need to close the product life cycle and rethink waste as a resource. There was interest in designing strategies to create self-sufficient ecosystems and in changing behaviors toward a culture of care and sustainability.
The second session, on massive collaboration and distributed economies, revealed an initial unfamiliarity with concepts like “massive collaboration,” but also a desire to learn how decentralized systems can foster innovation. The role of digital platforms in enabling large-scale collaboration was highlighted, along with the need to prioritize knowledge exchanges over product exchanges.
In the third session, focused on ecological interactions and natural economies, discussions addressed the shift from monocultures to polycultures to ensure agricultural sustainability. The concept of urban mining emerged as a tool to promote resource circularity by connecting data and processes more efficiently. Participants reflected on the importance of maintaining biodiversity and viewing nature as a resilient model.
The fourth session, centered on regenerative economies and social sustainability, explored how urban and local practices can encourage understanding of supply chains and strengthen localized economies. The need for a systemic transformation was identified, one that promotes a culture of care across all dimensions and balances human and natural resources.
In the fifth session, dedicated to social entrepreneurship and impact economies, participants emphasized that businesses must go beyond profitability and contribute to a positive societal impact. They reflected on the challenges of developing social entrepreneurship initiatives within the current capitalist system, recognizing the complexity and effort required to achieve meaningful change.
Finally, the sixth session, focused on emerging economies and the future of work, raised concerns about balancing automation driven by artificial intelligence (AI) with human intervention. It was highlighted that AI cannot fully replace human understanding but can provide tools that, when used correctly, support technical and creative processes.
Throughout the six sessions, participants experienced a significant shift in their understanding of the role of alternative economies. They realized the importance of adopting a more collaborative, sustainable, and human- and nature-centered approach. This reflective process also provided practical opportunities, such as projecting local urban initiatives, developing collaborative digital platforms, and exploring economic resilience through knowledge exchange.
In conclusion, the learning table demonstrates how new economic and social dynamics require a shift in mindset toward collaboration, sustainability, and technological innovation. Each session provided a space to reflect on present challenges and propose strategies for a fairer, more sustainable, and equitable future. This process not only enriched individual knowledge but also planted ideas that, when put into practice, can contribute to the transformation of our societies and economies.
