Globally, over one billion people live with some form of disability, yet many face systemic barriers to accessing meaningful employment. As societies strive to become more inclusive, innovative models are emerging that show how companies can work together to create workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
One standout example comes from Italy, where the Italian branch of the Japanese multinational Murata Technologies has partnered with the social enterprise PizzAut to promote the employment of people on the autism spectrum.
This unique collaboration blends corporate commitment, social innovation, and international vision, offering a potential blueprint for other companies globally—including in Japan.
An alliance between industry and Social Innovation
The Japanese company was founded in 1944 by Akira Murata and, although not particularly well known to most people, it’s a global leader in electronic components. The head office is in Kyoto, while in Europe it has a number of commercial branches, including the Italian one in Cernusco sul Naviglio (MI), where 32 people work.
We met Maurizio Spadari, Branch Manager of the Italian subsidiary, in the shaze room of the Murata office “shaze is the Japanese word that indicates the company’s philosophy”, explains Spadari, “which is the basis of all our activities”. There is a panel in the room explaining this philosophy, with words that were written exactly 10 years after the company was founded.
Shaze – the Murata philosophy
We contribute to the advancement of society by enhancing technologies and skills applying scientific approach creating innovative products and solutions being trustworthy and, together with all our stakeholders, thankful for the increase in prosperity.
In 2023, Murata Italy entered into a partnership with PizzAut, a famous Italian pizzeria that trains and employs young adults with autism in the food service sector. The collaboration emerged from a desire to go beyond philanthropy and embrace a form of corporate engagement that creates real, inclusive job opportunities.
The core of this initiative lies in the mechanism of “distacco” (job secondment): Murata formally hired a young man with autism and seconded him to work at PizzAut, where the environment and team are fully equipped to support his integration and development.
This allows the employee to benefit from a nurturing workplace while maintaining a stable contractual relationship with a high-profile tech company.
How it works: a Win-Win model
Under Italian labor law, job secondment allows an employer to assign an employee to another company or organization while remaining their legal employer. Murata used this provision creatively to support the social mission of PizzAut and simultaneously fulfill its own commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Maurizio Spadari, who’s also HR Manager stated: “This initiative reflects our long-standing corporate philosophy of contributing to society through innovation. Partnering with PizzAut allows us to promote inclusion in a concrete way, while also learning from an organization that has turned diversity into strength”.
For PizzAut, founded by activist and father of an autistic child, Nico Acampora, the collaboration marks a significant step forward. “This agreement shows that major companies can be part of a social change movement,” Acampora noted. “It proves that even individuals with complex needs can be included in structured work environments—when the system is willing to adapt”.
Alessandro now works as a barman at PizzAut Monza and maintains a strong bond with Murata: “when he’s not busy at the pizzeria, he comes here to our offices, talks to his colleagues and takes part in our company events”, Maurizio Spadari explains. “When we go there as a company or as individuals, he recognises us immediately and is proud to say that these are my colleagues“.
A model with global relevance
This collaboration highlights a new pathway for global corporations seeking to engage in social impact initiatives. Often, in companies around the world, despite the existence of employment quotas for people with disabilities, integration remains limited by rigid corporate structures and deep-rooted cultural norms. Yet Murata’s Italian branch is demonstrating how flexible tools and strong partnerships can lead to meaningful inclusion.
By combining the reliability of a corporate employer with the specialized support of a social enterprise, this model ensures that people with autism are not only employed, but truly empowered. It could inspire similar actions across Murata’s global branches and beyond, particularly in Japan, where the model could resonate with evolving attitudes toward neurodiversity.
The collaboration between Murata Technologies and PizzAut offers a compelling example of how business and social enterprise can come together to address systemic challenges. It also shows that meaningful inclusion doesn’t require sacrificing quality, productivity, or identity, but rather rethinking how we value diversity in the workplace.
As the global conversation around inclusion and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) responsibility grows, this initiative stands out as a pragmatic, replicable, and deeply human response. For international audiences, especially in Japan, where Murata has its roots, it sends a powerful message: inclusion is not just a local or legal obligation, but a universal opportunity for innovation, dignity, and shared growth.
