On March 2, 2023, Comune di Rho signed an agreement with Federated Innovation @MIND, enabling cooperation through specific innovation projects or other forms of collaboration within the MIND ecosystem, which includes leading research institutes, universities, hospitals, businesses, networks, and startups. Andrea Orlandi, Mayor, and Emiliana Brognoli, Assessore all’Innovazione, are tasked with making the agreement a reality. In this interview, they share their expectations and objectives.

What led to the partnership with Federated Innovation @MIND?

The partnership with Federated Innovation @MIND is the result of an open and continuous dialogue with key innovation players in the area. MIND represents an ecosystem of excellence, and as a municipality, we recognized the value of such collaboration to bring innovation for the benefit of our citizens. This initiative is part of a broader strategy that Comune di Rho has undertaken in collaboration with Feel, the govtech think tank that supports us in developing public innovation initiatives. We have embarked on a digital transformation journey towards becoming a Smart City, with the goal of using technologies to improve public services and the quality of life for our citizens. The "Rho Smart City" call for ideas that we are promoting is a crucial step, as it allows us to actively engage the world of technological innovation and find solutions to address urban challenges. Our city is in a strategic position within the Milan metropolitan area, and the presence of a hub like MIND has enabled us to initiate a synergistic collaboration aimed at realizing long-term, innovative projects, not only for Rho but for the entire area.

What needs inspired and launched the "Rho Smart City" call?

The "Rho Smart City" call emerged from observing some concrete needs faced by Rho’s citizens and the municipal administration, especially regarding mobility and the quality of public spaces. Every day, we realize that getting around the city can become a challenge, and urban growth makes it necessary to think of solutions that not only make mobility smoother but also improve the overall livability of the city.

One of the main needs concerns smart urban infrastructure. Managing traffic, parking, ZTL (Limited Traffic Zones), and traffic lights in a more coordinated and "smart" way is crucial to ensuring smoother flows. We need technological solutions that allow us to improve traffic management, avoid congestion, and optimize the use of resources, thus promoting less stressful mobility.

Another key point is the regeneration of public spaces, particularly squares, which we want to transform from simple transit points into true meeting and socializing places. Technology can play a crucial role here, making these spaces more welcoming, safe, and functional.

There is also a strong need to promote a culture of sustainable mobility. It's not enough to improve transport; it's necessary for everyone to understand the importance of making more conscious and environmentally-friendly mobility choices. This means raising awareness among citizens about the economic, social, and environmental benefits of greater use of public transport, bicycles, or other sustainable transportation systems.

Finally, the challenge of on-demand mobility aims to revolutionize how we think about public transport. The idea of having transport systems that adapt in real time to the needs of citizens is one of the most promising innovations. We envision a system where public transport doesn't follow rigid routes but responds flexibly to demand, optimizing time and resources.

The call for ideas allows us to identify potential solutions with the aim of making our city more modern, livable, and sustainable.

What are the expected results of the project?

We all know how frustrating it can be to move around a city congested with traffic, where parking is hard to find, and public transport doesn’t always meet users' needs. The idea is to introduce technologies that make all of this more efficient, improve traffic management, reduce the number of cars on the road, and, consequently, lower pollution. Smart technologies will help us achieve this. Educating and involving citizens is essential because the most lasting change comes from the people themselves.

But the city’s transformation doesn’t stop with mobility. We envision squares that use innovative technologies to become safer, more inclusive, and sustainable, and we aim to create an innovation ecosystem. We expect to become a model Smart City, where public and private sectors work together to experiment and implement solutions that can be replicated elsewhere.