Il City Science Office come dispositivo per innovare gli uffici di pianificazione

Abstract

The paper analyzes the experience of the City Science Office in Reggio Emilia as an innovation lab for urban planning departments in Italy. Established through collaboration between the municipality, universities, and the third sector, the project has tested collaborative governance and open innovation models to tackle contemporary urban challenges, from ecological transition to digitalization. Through applied research, technical-scientific support, and internal capacity-building, the City Science Office has emerged as a tool to reduce the research-policy gap and strengthen public administration skills. The study outlines principles of applicability and replicability of the model in other Italian contexts, guiding planning offices toward greater resilience, adaptability, and integration with scientific knowledge and participatory practices.