Meet the PANEURAMA Team: Biunivoca

Q: Can you provide a brief overview of yourself, the industry you work in, and your professional experience?

Hi everyone, I am Daniele Barone, and currently, my main role is as CEO and founder of Biunivoca. Within Biunivoca, I also oversee the coordination, planning, and placement of students in various schools across Italy.

I actively collaborate with different companies on business development, education management, and HR.
For three years, until 2024, with Biunivoca, we represented Epic Games in Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, and Malta, focusing on the educational sector and the adoption of Unreal Engine.

We were also the first point of contact with professional studios across all the sectors where Epic is involved (gaming, virtual production, animation, architecture, design, fashion, etc.). I am primarily a technician who has stepped into the manager’s shoes.

Q: In recent years, what do you consider the most significant changes within your industry? How does it affect you or your company? Could you give some examples?

The most significant change has been uncertainty. Those who work in our field are used to uncertainty and continuous updates. The rapid development during and after COVID, alongside the emergence of old tools used in new ways (real-time rendering) and artificial intelligence, initially created a rush to respond to the market quickly without planning, followed by a great fear about what these new developments could mean.

Before COVID, processes were fairly standardized. Now, companies struggle to understand where to focus their efforts to stay afloat. Only the few who have implemented good planning and forecasting have the necessary funds to invest in research and development. Others remain in limbo, and this uncertainty blocks market growth and development. Changing established processes and workflows requires significant effort, and betting on the wrong approach could lead to failure.

It is important to emphasize that predicting new developments ahead of others is not optional but absolutely necessary to survive in such a competitive and fast-moving market.

Q: What, in your opinion, are the primary challenges currently faced by the industry?

The industry is currently facing a very challenging period. Unfortunately, many companies remain within their comfort zones, but I believe it is crucial to have an overall vision that allows for diversification and adaptation to current conditions.

The ability to adapt to new workflows, think transmedially, and approach sectors you have not worked with before can make a significant difference.

An element that is too often underestimated is the human one: ensuring a peaceful work environment that fosters growth and internal collaboration will provide significant advantages, even within small, dedicated teams of passionate and highly skilled people.

Q: Could you please identify the most significant opportunities within the industry?

We are surrounded by opportunities, but the real question is, where do we start?
Have we always sought excellence? Have we worked hard enough throughout our careers? Success is a sum of many factors we accumulate over time; it does not happen suddenly, and sometimes we can be unlucky, and it may never come.

Today, a good artist, director, or teacher cannot only focus on their immediate work; they must be aware of everything happening around them, from students to multinational directors. This is tiring, and few people do it or know how to do it well.

Opportunities can only be seized depending on the personal and cultural foundation we have built over the years. It is not a question of technique but of substance.

Q: What do you think are the most important hard skills in your industry?

Today, highly specialized technical skills are the standard if you want to work. What makes the difference is passion, dedication, commitment, and consistency.

I would prefer to hire someone with fewer technical skills but who has the ability and desire to learn quickly; the team around such a person (who already embodies these values) will help them become competent in a short time.

I encourage new artists to continue studying and training because, one day, everything they have learned will finally make sense, and all the pieces will connect. No one can take away your skills and your network.

Profit and success are just consequences.

Q: As an industry representative, what do you think educational institutions should focus more on to better prepare young artists for their careers?

One of the most important aspects that adds value to professional training is involving good teachers who actively work in the industry and have direct, up-to-date experience with software and hard and soft skills.

Schools should focus on recruiting the best teachers available, as without strong instructors, no course can effectively prepare young professionals who are appealing to companies. This would create a virtuous cycle where talented and passionate students would find work within their teachers’ studios.

Another point to consider is the ability of educational institutions to keep their programs current and train professionals who are in demand in the industry; in my opinion, dialogue with companies plays an essential role in this.

Q: What do you think are the most important soft skills in the industry, and could you give some advice on how to develop them?

The ability to learn and adapt is, in my view, the most valuable skill. Having a solid foundation in the arts, humanities, and sciences can be incredibly helpful in developing this ability.

Networking through conferences, meetups, masterclasses, and workshops, and maintaining a broad industry overview, along with staying updated through social media, are important tools for young artists and technicians.
It is always valuable to observe how leaders in the sector behave and to listen to their stories and advice.

Finally, I recommend maintaining an open approach and exploring subjects outside your immediate area of specialization to avoid limiting alternative paths and new developments.

Q: Could you provide suggestions or recommendations for students and graduates aiming to succeed in the current market?

Don’t look for shortcuts, and follow your passion. Talent and expertise are visible to those who know how to see them, and this will make a significant difference in these uncertain times.

Mastery of technique is fundamental, but it is not enough on its own; it is essential to surround yourself with exceptional people who motivate and support you in teamwork.

Build your network, give back to the community, and study as much as possible.

About Biunivoca

Biunivoca is a high-level consulting and training company specializing in real-time technologies located in Italy.
We’ve been working in the 3D technology training sector for 20 years, and for the last three years, until 2024, we were the educational representative for global giant Epic Games in Italy, Hungary, Switzerland, and Malta.
Recipient of an Epic MegaGrant dedicated to education, Biunivoca is one of the training centers with the largest number of authorized Unreal Engine instructors in the world.

Biunivoca provides high-level specialized consulting in various sectors of the creative industries (Gaming/Virtual Production/Architecture/Animation/Training & Simulation/VR XR AR/Automotive/Plug-in Development for Unreal Engine), as well as being an official reseller of Unreal Engine licenses.
Our educational portal, which also functions as A hub for schools, companies, teachers, and professionals, it allows for the management and planning of training and consulting, as well as creating a point of reference for students seeking new schools and relevant industry information.