Innovation is not just about technology—it is a cultural process that runs through work, education and research. The opening event of Trieste Next invites reflection on the skills needed to navigate today’s changing job market, the central role of lifelong learning, and the importance of a research ecosystem able to engage with business and society. Promoting a culture of innovation means building bridges between knowledge and practice, between ideas and application, steering development toward models that are sustainable and inclusive. This is an open conversation between institutions, universities, businesses and young people—a chance to imagine together the future of work and research.