Bologna: A Sustainable Culture

Bologna's unique political and cultural history helped it forge ahead of most Italian cities with strategic investments in services, health care and education. How well does its focus on sustainability in a range of areas set it up for continued success?

This essay provides an overview of the development of the Bologna metropolitan region in recent decades, emphasising the role of urban policy and investment within a wider territorial context — European, national and regional.



Gianni Carbonaro is a member of the Scientific Committee and a senior advisor at the Centre for Industrial Studies, Milan, and a fellow at QASER Lab, University College, London. He worked at the European Investment Bank for almost 30 years on the economic and financial assessments of big infrastructure projects. His current specialities include smart city investing, design of financial instruments, PPP evaluation and impact investment strategies.

Chiara Pancotti specialises in the evaluation of development projects and in infrastructure investment analysis at the Centre for Industrial Studies and has worked on policy projects with institutions that include the European Commission and European Parliament.