University campuses as drivers of urban regeneration: Professor Edoardo Croci interviewed by Il Sole 24 Ore
Professor Edoardo Croci, SUR Lab Director at Bocconi University, was featured in a new interview by Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor dedicated to the growing impact of university campuses on urban transformation and regeneration.
The interview builds on an extensive research activity conducted by SUR Lab on the role of university campuses as urban catalysts. The study analysed 115 international case studies to investigate how campuses generate environmental, social, and economic impacts and spillovers within cities and surrounding neighbourhoods. The research highlights how universities increasingly act not only as educational institutions, but also as strategic urban actors capable of attracting investments, enhancing public spaces, promoting innovation ecosystems, and improving local services and quality of life.
A specific focus of the research was dedicated to Milan, where university-led transformations are reshaping several urban districts. Through a willingness-to-pay (WTP) survey and interviews conducted with both the academic community and residents, the SUR Lab explored which benefits and services generated by university campuses are perceived as most valuable. The findings underline strong appreciation for improved public spaces, cultural and social opportunities, accessibility of services, urban safety, and environmental quality linked to campus development.
The interview also emphasises how campuses in Milan are becoming major drivers of sustainable urban regeneration. Beyond their educational mission, they contribute to activating new forms of social interaction, stimulating local economies, fostering innovation, and supporting more inclusive and resilient urban development processes. In this perspective, university campuses emerge as key infrastructures for the future of contemporary cities and as powerful engines of urban transformation.
Watch the interview here:
Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor Interview