The GrInn Lab is a university workshop scheduled for the 2026/2027 academic year, aimed at students enrolled in the second year of the Bachelor’s Degree programs in Economics and Management or Political Science, and in the third year of the Single-Cycle Master’s Degree program in Law. The workshop is conducted in Italian and awards 4 credits to students who have included it in their course of study.

GrInn Lab: a pre-incubation laboratory for innovation aimed at the sustainable development of vulnerable areas and neighborhoods

The GrInn Lab is a workshop dedicated to innovation for sustainable development through experiments at the urban, local, and regional levels. It combines theoretical research, applied research, innovation (including social innovation), and technology transfer. Addressing the challenges and fractures that the ecological and technological transition is creating, the workshop is based on a systemic approach to innovation. It aims not only to generate complex ecological, cultural, and social impacts, but also to monitor and measure them accurately. Measuring impact is essential to ensure that the solutions developed are truly effective and sustainable over time. This allows for an assessment of the initiatives' concrete results and for timely adjustments when necessary. Furthermore, the workshop aims to actively engage five key urban stakeholders: the public and private sectors, the social sector, the educational, cultural, and scientific community, local communities, as well as startup founders, social innovators, and residents of vulnerable communities. Indeed, rigorous impact measurement allows us to guide and optimize the involvement of all stakeholders, ensuring that solutions are truly targeted to meet the specific needs of communities and foster lasting positive change in the most vulnerable areas.

The laboratory draws on the field experience of LabGov ETS, an NGO made up of former students of the laboratory and researchers affiliated with LabGov.City. It was established as part of the Luiss Research Center Law and Investment on Future and Earth. This scientific partnership between Luiss Guido Carli, Columbia Climate School (https://labgov.climate.columbia.edu/), and Hong Kong University (https://ccsg.hku.hk/en/lab-gov-about/) is dedicated to developing studies, projects, and policies for the co-management of essential urban infrastructure, services, and resources. The goal is to make regions and cities more just, inclusive, sustainable, equitable, and democratic.

The GrInn Lab, which will feature active participation from the Lab's students, doctoral researchers, researchers, entrepreneurs, managers, public administrators, and professionals from the third sector and emerging technologies, is structured around five modules:

1. Tech - Emerging technologies and innovation for sustainable development; 
2. Finance/Economics - Investments and Infrastructure for Climate and Technological Justice; 
3. Policy – Policies for Social and Territorial Cohesion and Investment in the Real Economy; 
4. Law & Governance - Governance of the Commons, Collaboration, and Civic Innovation; 
5. Planning - Sustainable, Circular, and Self-Sufficient Territories, Neighborhoods, and Communities. 
    

The 2026/2027 academic year edition of the GrInn Lab will specifically engage students in the following themes and projects: 

• Urban regeneration project for Santa Maria della Pietà. The project aims to regenerate the complex’s intangible aspects in tandem with and following the physical regeneration of Pavilions 24, 28, and 41 as part of the PUI, with funding from the PNRR. Depending on the various reference scenarios, inter-institutional collaboration with civil society, associations, research organizations, and responsible innovation entrepreneurs could also extend to other pavilions and the Complex’s park. This would create forms of collaboration and partnership in pursuit of the vision to make the SMdP a hub of well-being and innovation;
   
• Agriculture 4.0 with a collaborative approach and opportunities related to the digital administration of “disadvantaged” areas (i.e., inland areas), drawing inspiration from the Horizon Europe Aware-EU.eu project, which is building a wastewater reuse plant for food production using aquaculture and hydroponic techniques in the Municipality of Castellana Grotte in Puglia;
   
• The use of enabling space technologies to drive regional development and create innovative industrial ecosystems (space downstream), thereby enhancing the industrial districts of Lazio, Campania, and Puglia;
   
• Urban regeneration and the creation of solidarity-based energy communities (established in accordance with EU Directive 2018/2001 (known as the Renewable Energy Directive II, “RED II”) and the implementing national and local regulations), as well as community homes (new social and health facilities of the Regional Health Service provided for by the strengthening law for the care of patients with chronic diseases, also in light of the One Health and Planetary Health approach), drawing inspiration from the urban regeneration projects in Reggio Emilia and Rome (Le Vele, CERs Borgo Don Bosco, Porto Fluviale/PED4ALL);
   
• Leveraging emerging technologies and collaborative platforms (such as https://co-roma.it/, https://commoning.science/, https://commoning.city/) as a mechanism for mapping, activating, and measuring the impact of projects focused on fair and sustainable innovation through the regeneration of urban and local commons;
   
• Urban regeneration with an artistic, cultural, and intercultural foundation, such as the Open Heritage project and other initiatives carried out in collaboration with Zétema, Roma Capitale's company for culture and creativity;
   
• Economic analysis applied to urban regeneration and infrastructure investment, with a focus on cost-benefit analysis, impact assessment, and economic and financial sustainability.

The topic of the circular economy will also be addressed in a cross-cutting manner, as it serves as the common thread linking the projects and collaborative platforms. This circular economy stands as a crucial model, fostering a holistic and virtuous approach to resource management by reducing waste and optimizing material use to create a positive impact on the environment. In a global context increasingly focused on sustainability, the circular economy is not just a method, but a fundamental framework for any type of innovation that aims to be resilient and sustainable over the long term.

A key aspect of this approach is impact assessment, which is essential to ensure that initiatives are not only environmentally friendly, but also deliver a measurable positive impact on the environment. The ability to monitor and measure the ecological effects of our actions allows us to optimize processes, identify areas for improvement, and ensure that every intervention genuinely contributes to reducing our ecological footprint and enhancing natural resources.

With this in mind, impact assessment not only helps track progress toward sustainability goals, but also serves as a tool to promote timely corrective actions and reinforce long-term positive effects. Therefore, the circular economy, supported by a robust impact assessment, is a strategic key to transforming production and consumption systems, creating solutions that are not only environmentally responsible but also generate lasting value for the environment and communities.

The GrInn Lab also collaborates with the Luiss Master's Degree program in Strategic Management and its bootcamp, the XYZ Camp (https://landing. https://landing.luiss.it/xyzcamp/ luiss.it/xyzcamp/). The course lectures will combine theory with interactive activities, enriched by insights from qualified experts across various disciplines and sectors related to the topics covered. These include urban planning, community organization, civic inno-preneurship, economic sustainability, European planning, policy and legal design thinking, and digital transformation.

Students will have the opportunity to acquire key skills for the workplace, including teamwork, public speaking, and advanced digital skills. In addition to building a solid understanding of sustainable innovation in urban areas, the GrInn Lab aims to foster students' personal and professional growth.

<p >By participating in the GrInn Lab, students will be able to explore sustainable urban models that provide innovative services to urban communities, as well as discover concrete solutions to address climate change and promote economic, environmental, and social sustainability.

The GrInn Lab thus represents an innovative opportunity in the educational landscape, aimed at supporting and encouraging students to develop the skills needed to tackle current and future urban challenges and to make a significant contribution to the co-creation of more resilient and sustainable communities.  

General Rules and Recognition of Course Credits

The GrInn Lab is an in-person program featuring workshops, co-working sessions, and fieldwork that allows students to earn 4 course credits. To earn credits, you must complete at least 70% of the total course hours. Of these, at least 21 of the 30 hours of classroom work must be completed during the Friday afternoon workshops and Saturday morning co-working sessions. Meanwhile, at least 14 of the 20 hours of fieldwork must involve teamwork or cultivation/self-construction activities in the Luiss community garden on Viale Romania, which are accounted for through time bank mechanisms.

Once a student has chosen a workshop, they cannot earn University Credits through any other means. Students who have already earned the university credits required by their curriculum for Other Activities, or who have started attending optional language courses or other activities that grant university credits, are not eligible to participate in the course.

Registration

Students enrolled in the second year of the Bachelor's Degree programs in Economics and Management, Political Science, and Politics: Philosophy and Economics, as well as those in the third year of the Single-Cycle Master's Degree program in Law, can select the Soft Skills course directly from the Web Self-Service portal while completing their study plan.

More information

The GrInn Lab is coordinated scientifically and educationally by Prof. Christian Iaione, Co-Director of the Master's Degree Program in Strategic Management and coordinator of LabGov.City. For more information about the lab, students can send an email to softskills@luiss.it and to the LabGov ETS Edu team at edu@labgov.it.