In Bologna, Italy, Leonardo, one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, powers a “digital twin,” or 3D model of the city incorporating data points on topics as diverse as access to green space, bike lanes, and energy use. The initiative is one part of Bologna’s goal to become a “city of knowledge” where community civic participation, tech innovation, and the investment of private businesses generate a city that serves all of its citizens.
UVA Looks Across the World to Build New Connections for the Charlottesville Community
Essay
UVA Looks Across the World to Build New Connections for the Charlottesville Community
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nderneath the colonnades that line the University of Virginia’s Academical Village, students rush back and forth between classes, engaging in themes such as global sustainability, data ethics, and public policy. Across the ocean, a set of similarly charming porticos leads to an office working to address these questions in ways that may prove useful for Charlottesville and beyond.
In October, UVA hosted a delegation from Bologna, including Mayor Matteo Lepore, senior city and municipality officials, and faculty from the University of Bologna, to begin a series of conversations with UVA and the City of Charlottesville on our shared areas of interest and potential future collaborations. As part of the visit, Mayor Lepore gave a public talk on municipal leadership in Bologna and his vision for the city. Earlier in the day, Provost Ian Baucom and the Mayor signed an innovative MoU, making official the intention to build a collaborative relationship between the two entities.
Provost Baucom and Mayor Lepore signed an MoU between UVA and Bologna.
Mayor Juandiego Wade of Charlottesville and Mayor Lepore also met and compared notes on their challenges and strategies of city governance. The conversations addressed equity and social inclusion, priorities for both cities. Mayor Lepore emphasized Bologna’s commitment to ensuring that every resident, regardless of background, feels like a “citizen from day one.” Both cities highlighted the importance of civic participation and the need to involve citizens in decision-making processes, whether through Bologna’s participatory budgeting process or Mayor Wade’s personal engagement with individual residents.
Mayor Wade, seated with Charlottesville city manager Sam Sanders, addressed Mayor Lepore and the rest of the Bologna delegation.
Looking forward, UVA and Bologna are eager to exchange knowledge and expertise on these and other related topics, such as AI, public governance, and urban mobility. Plans are in motion to explore student and faculty exchange programs between UVA and the University of Bologna, aimed at fostering joint research. Additionally, public-private partnerships will be a key area of focus, building on Bologna’s success in integrating private investment into public projects and UVA’s strategic initiatives to engage the business community in solving real-world problems.
As UVA and Bologna begin a wide-ranging collaboration, the visit marks an exciting first step in a shared commitment to addressing the challenges of the 21st century. From climate action to digital innovation and social inclusion, the emerging ties between our cities and universities offer the potential for transformative partnerships that will benefit our communities.
