Genoa stands out on the international stage for its ability to innovate and advance in the digital sector, significantly impacting both the municipality and the entire city. This is the finding of Urban Innovators Global (UIG), a specialized organization in smart communities and urban innovation, which unveiled the results of its survey during the opening day of the Genoa Smart Week 2024.
The analysis, presented by Bas Boorsma and Raffaele Gareri from UIG, was conducted across numerous global cities such as Dubai, Rotterdam, and Reykjavik. While not intended to create a ranking, this evaluation provides valuable recommendations for administrators and acknowledges Genoa for its high scores in innovative leadership and digital technology application. Among the areas of excellence are broadband access, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
A key strength of Genoa is its advanced approach to technological innovation. The municipality is encouraged to accelerate its technological strategy and consider appointing a Chief Data Officer and Municipal Stewards for innovation and transition, following a model already adopted in other European cities. Following UIG’s findings, Genoa has been invited to join a group of leading cities to participate in the “Imagine the Citiverse” event in Tampere in May 2025. During the event, Teppo Rantanen, executive director of Tampere, and Roland van der Heijden, Digital City program manager of Rotterdam, discussed the importance of the Citiverse as a tool for enhancing urban planning.
The tenth edition of Genoa Smart Week was inaugurated by Deputy Mayor Pietro Piciocchi, who highlighted how Genoa, a decade ago, was a pioneer in the Smart City domain nationally. He emphasized, “The data shows that our city is well-positioned in terms of smart city proactivity.” Noteworthy projects include the Mobility Lab at the Porto Antico and monitoring systems for bridges and overpasses.
The President of the Liguria Region, Marco Bucci, stated: “The Genova Smart Week, which kicked off today, is now a deeply rooted event.” Bucci emphasized the importance of replicating Genoa’s innovative projects throughout Liguria.
During the opening session, Barbara Grasso took over the presidency of the Genova Smart City Association, succeeding Daniela Ameri. Grasso highlighted the importance of enhancing local businesses through public-private synergies.
Claudio Garbarino, city councilor in charge of strategic planning and transportation for the Metropolitan City of Genoa, showcased the successes of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan. There are plans to promote the Viamare project to improve maritime connections in Liguria.
In the second session, discussions focused on research and knowledge transfer in the smart city sector. Paola Dameri, Vice-Rector for Internationalization at the University of Genoa, mentioned the Giano and Urban Dashboard prototypes. Paolo Zanenga and Georgia Cesarone addressed the challenges of investment in transition and the Data Act set to take effect in 2025.
The President of Amiu, Giovanni Battista Raggi, reiterated the significance of artificial intelligence in waste management. Enrico Sterpi, President of the Order of Engineers of Genoa, and Giorgio Genta from Ett discussed the role of digital technology in design and the digitization of artistic heritage.
The Genova Smart Week continues to attract a growing audience. Alfredo Viglienzoni from the technology office of the Municipality of Genoa highlighted the increasing interest in test drives for electric and hybrid vehicles. The week also features events for start-ups and workshops on innovative projects such as Healthy City 4.0 and Raise-Spoke 1.
In the afternoon, the Intelligent Urban Mobility project will be presented, coordinated by Movyon, which leverages the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence to enhance urban mobility management.
The Genova Smart Week 2024 moves forward with its second day scheduled for Tuesday, November 26th. The event will take place in the prestigious Salone di Rappresentanza of Palazzo Tursi from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, focusing on Artificial Intelligence serving citizens and cities. Discussions will cover the “City Brain” initiative and the role of “Big Tech” in anticipatory and predictive governance, exploring the future of smart cities and AI’s role in public administration. The event is organized in collaboration with the Order of Engineers of the Province of Genoa.
The session will be moderated by Alberto Bruzzone, a journalist from La Repubblica, who will lead the discussion on AI applications in public administration, with a particular focus on Genoa. The day will begin with a welcome address by Marta Brusoni, executive Councillor (Assessore) for Personnel, Civil Services, and IT at the Municipality of Genoa.
The introductory sessions will feature a tutorial on the evolution of AI presented by Alfredo Viglienzoni, followed by Livio Giberti’s presentation on the development of the information system for the Municipality of Genoa. Andrea Dell’Amico from Microsoft will showcase the data platform and generative AI, while Mattia De Rosa will discuss AI vision. Aditya Ayyagari, CEO of Quadrivium Digital, will conclude this segment focusing on data as the foundation for AI applications.
At 11:20 am, a session dedicated to AI and the new frontiers of development for cities and businesses will commence, moderated by Georgia Cesarone, President of CTI Liguria. The meeting will delve into urban innovation through Italian and European experiences, with contributions from individuals like Luca Mancino, Tomaso Vairo, and Susanna Jean. The integration of artificial intelligence in railway and metropolitan transportation will also be addressed by Nadia Mazzino from Hitachi Rail.
The afternoon, from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm, will focus on territory, infrastructure, and heritage monitoring, featuring projects and systems for territorial and environmental observation. Guido Paliaga, President of SIGEA Liguria, will moderate the session. Among the speakers, Giampiero Fabbri and Fabio Picchio will highlight best practices and case histories, while Francesco Meneghetti and Carlo Ottria will present significant projects. The day will conclude with inputs from experts like Antonio Iengo, Stefano Coltellacci, and Gianni Vercelli, who will discuss drones and aerial robotics for environmental monitoring.
The day’s program is rounded off with discussions on specific projects in Genoa, such as dynamic control and digitalization of the territory, with speakers like Stefania Manca, Elena Martinasco, and Maria Giovanna Pacifico. The event serves as a crucial opportunity to reflect on the future challenges of smart cities and the impact of artificial intelligence on our daily lives.
