How digital innovation is shaping the cities of the future

Prof. Edoardo Croci, Director of the Sustainable Urban Regeneration Lab (SUR Lab) at Bocconi University, was recently featured in three special episodes of Digital World, the RAI CULTURA program dedicated to digital innovation and its impact on society. The episodes examine how technology, data, and governance models are transforming cities into more sustainable and resilient entities.

In the first episode, “Smart City (Part One)”, the discussion focuses on how digital technologies—sensors, data analytics, and intelligent planning systems—can help local administrations address citizens’ needs and manage urban challenges more effectively. Experts, including Helene Chartier, Edoardo Croci, Salvador Rueda, and others, discuss how smart city approaches are redefining urban sustainability in an age of growing and increasingly interconnected metropolises.

HERE is the link to watch the video.

In the second video, “The Smart Cities of Today: A Guide to Sustainability,” Prof. Croci explains what truly makes a city “smart.” He describes cities as “living organisms in constant evolution”, emphasising that sustainability arises from the dynamic interaction between citizens’ needs, innovation, and governance.

HERE is the link to watch the video.

The third video, “Milan Smart City,” turns the spotlight on Milan, one of Italy’s leading examples of urban innovation. Together with Layla Pavone, who coordinates the city’s digital transformation agenda, Prof. Croci discusses the integration of artificial intelligence into municipal services and the broader strategy that makes Milan a model for sustainable and data-driven urban development.

HERE is the link to watch the video.

All three episodes are available for streaming on RaiPlay’s Digital World platform: HERE