Insights from the Bologna smart city: A recap of our January webinar
On the 23 January, the data.europa academy hosted the webinar ‘Smart
cities and digital twin technology: the case of Bologna’
[https://data.europa.eu/en/news-events/events/webinar-smart-cities-and-digital-twin-technology-case-bologna],
exploring how cities can use data, models, and AI to support better
policy decisions. Joined by speakers Stefania Paolazzi from the Comune
di Bologna [https://www.comune.bologna.it/] and Marco Pistore from the
Fondazione Bruno Kessler [https://www.fbk.eu/it/], the session
explored how Bologna is developing next-generation civic
infrastructure to make public governance more transparent, efficient,
and collaborative.

The webinar started by introducing Bologna’s digital twin
[https://www.comune.bologna.it/myportal/C_A944/api/content/download?id=65096e0068f9d30099e05a03]:
a dynamic digital model of the city which integrates real-time data,
advanced simulations, and forecasting tools. The digital twin was
described as a driver of innovation and digital transformation,
showcasing use cases such as urban planning, climate neutrality
strategies, and improved public service delivery. Through real-time
data, simulation models and analytical tools, Bologna aims to
anticipate urban needs and design solutions collaboratively with local
stakeholders.

Participants then gained insight into the key technical and governance
aspects of Bologna’s digital twin, including its data and AI
platform, data sources, and data governance strategy. The presenters
highlighted the city’s co-design methodology, which brings together
public authorities, research institutions, and communities to shape
functionalities and ensure that the digital twin remains inclusive,
ethical, and socially beneficial. The webinar wrapped up with a Q&A
session with the speakers to answer any final questions from the
participants.

Did you miss the webinar? You can now watch the full recording
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KZqeL9vYFA] and access the slides on
the European Data Portal [https://data.europa.eu/]. You can also join
the conversation on our collaboration channel
[https://data.europa.eu/dashboard/en/community/data-reusers/academy-webinars/smart-cities-and-digital-twin-technology-case-bologna]
to share your ideas and insights on smart cities. Keep an eye out, as
we have more webinars coming soon!

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Publication Date/Time
2026-01-30T09:00:00+00:00
Understanding how Bologna is shaping the future of urban
decision-making with data