Urban innovation and the development of local projects, with a focus on the ecological, digital, and energy transitions, as well as research projects with an international scope and broad social impact.

These are the areas that will guide the study and work of three young, aspiring doctoral students in “Law and Business.” Thanks to an agreement between the Municipality of Reggio Emilia, Laboratorio Aperto, and Luiss Guido Carli, they will be able to work within the new City Science Office (CSO). This space is dedicated to collaborative scientific production and the development of new projects, and it will be located at the Chiostri di San Pietro, a renowned center for the artistic heritage of this Emilian city. This new hub for inclusive innovation and “glocal” sustainability will replicate the Amsterdam experience, the only comparable initiative in Europe, thereby bringing Reggio Emilia closer to the elite of international urban innovation.

Aspiring researchers can submit their applications via the Luiss website by responding to the online call for applications (by 4:00 PM on Friday, February 11). Candidates must establish their residence or domicile in the Province of Reggio Emilia by the time the training programs begin. Of the three PhD programs, two will be sponsored by the Municipality of Reggio Emilia and one by Laboratorio Aperto, each lasting three years, with educational support from the University named after Guido Carli.

At the hub in the Chiostri di San Pietro, the doctoral students will focus their research on administrative, social, and digital innovation, as well as on developing project partnerships aimed at fostering a genuine pact between the city’s economic and social forces for a just climate and technological transition.

These activities will take up 70% of the three young scholars' time, while the remaining 30% will be dedicated to training, theoretical research, and writing their doctoral theses. 

“In recent months,” says Lanfranco De Franco, the Municipality of Reggio Emilia’s Councillor for Participation, “we’ve continued to experiment with innovations in our communities. These innovations stem from collaborative processes and dialogue with stakeholders and citizens themselves, and they take the form of public-community partnerships. This shows that cities are places where innovation is possible, thanks in part to the impetus provided by local government. The City Science Office will therefore represent a qualitative leap forward in the innovation of governance models and in the capacity of public policies to influence local development. This will be achieved through the consolidation of laws and regulations, positioning our city among those municipalities that believe in young people and research and look to the future. The Open Lab is the core mechanism for sharing these investments and visions with all stakeholders in the local system.

“The establishment of the City Science Office will provide another opportunity to strengthen the central role of the Open Lab, which drives the development of new public policies within a local ecosystem but with a global vision. It’s a project that’s attentive to change and ready to place its trust in young researchers, thanks to the collaboration between the Municipality and Luiss, a leader in higher education,” emphasized Christian Iaione, Director of the Master’s Degree Program in Law, Digital Innovation, and Sustainability at Luiss. He continued, “ This initiative demonstrates our university’s focus on social and urban innovation, as well as on nurturing the talent and ideas of young researchers who are ready to engage in the field to create social and economic impact within the stimulating and inclusive environment of Reggio Emilia.”

For information and registration, visit: https://app02.luiss.it/dottorati/domandaAmmissione/IT