Case Study

The Urban Innovation Foundation in Bologna

Fondazione Innovazione Urbana

Bologna in Italy, with its population of almost 400,000 people, has for long been a trailblazer in participatory government approaches, as demonstrated by the 2014 Regulation on Collaboration Between Citizens and the Administration for the Care and Regeneration of Urban Commons. This regulation facilitated the development of "collaboration agreements" between citizens and public officials to collectively care for shared spaces, such as green areas and abandoned buildings.

In 2017, Bologna took a further step towards fostering community engagement and collaborative governance, with the establishment of a Civic Imagination Office within the municipal government. The Civic Imagination Office comprised a diverse team of experts in architecture, urban planning, sociology, and policy. This multidisciplinary team was dedicated to designing and supporting participation, collaboration, and co-planning activities initiated by the local government. The objective was to use new skills and collaborative tools to imagine and co-create solutions for more inclusive and shared city management.

The project evolved into Fondazione Innovazione Urbana (FIU), a public foundation focused on fostering civic engagement and sustainable urban development. The FIU organises participatory processes that involve citizens in co-designing and managing public spaces, addressing local needs, and enhancing social inclusion.

The Laboratori di Quartiere (Neighborhood Labs) engage residents in the co-design of urban projects. For example, in the neighbourhood of Bolognina, citizens collaborated on redesigning public spaces, resulting in the creation of new green areas and social hubs.
The FIU facilitates Patti di Collaborazione (Collaboration Pacts), where citizens and the municipality co-create and co-manage public spaces. For example, in San Donato, the FIU supported a co-creation project where residents designed a new park, focusing on ecological sustainability and community needs.
This cultural project aims to foster social inclusion through art, particularly in diverse neighbourhoods. The initiative brings together artists, residents, and local organisations to create public art installations and events that promote integration.

Through its initiatives, the FIU empowers citizens to actively participate in the development of their city, ensuring that urban transformation reflects the needs and aspirations of its diverse communities, serving as a model for sustainable and inclusive urban development.