Innovation is helping to:
Generate new sources of revenue
Improve service delivery
Engage residents and other stakeholders
Critical success factors:
Dedicated funding
Culture of innovation in city
Leadership from Mayor
Verona
Italy
Mayor
Federico Sboarina
Population
257,993 (2019)
Spotlight on innovation in Verona
Built environment and culture are two of the most prioritized policy areas for innovation in the city of Verona. Innovation is applied to specific projects and implemented through a combination of innovative participatory approaches and urban planning tools. Recently, Verona has approved plans to redevelop the city’s historic Arsenal complex into “Ars District” a citadel of culture and creativity, of innovation and sustainability. Once renovated, the former arsenal will become a multipurpose community space where residents and tourists can find the new seat of the Academy of Fine Arts, a laboratory and exhibition space, an urban park, and more.
Vision and approach to innovation capacity
Along with 50% of cities surveyed, Verona does not have an explicit innovation strategy. Similar to more than half of cities surveyed, Verona approaches innovation capacity both from a holistic/macro level, as well as in specific policy areas.
Policy areas that Verona is focused on
Innovation in built environment and culture is implemented through urban planning tools focusing on enhancement of city center/historical heritage, reduction of land use, urban renewal, regeneration of green space along the ecological corridors of the Adige river and the historical complexes. Besides, the city is entering into agreements with private firms and academic institutions to develop projects (particularly but not exclusively focusing on culture policy area) that leverage technologies or technical solutions to support and promote the idea of a "smart city" in the urban area of Verona. The city is also adopting innovative participatory approaches (e.g. ARS Lab - an experimental urban center with the aim of informing and involving residents in the urban plans/projects)
Policy areas by number of cities
Innovation skills or roles
Verona does not have a dedicated team for innovation.
Innovation roles by number of cities
Terms Verona most associates with innovation
Verona's most common innovation activities
- 1
Taking risks or testing new ideas
- 2
Data-driven analytics/public data management
- 3
Engaging residents in new ways
- 4
Developing new solutions based on digital technologies
- 5
Organizational change within the municipality
- 6
Human-centered design
- 7
Rethinking your city’s approach to financing partnerships
How is innovation funded here?
Like 19% of cities surveyed, Verona does not have dedicated funding to support innovation capacity.
Top sources of funding
Verona has no reported sources of funding.
Activities being funded
Verona does not fund any specific activities.
47 cities
Launching or sustaining a project
79 cities
Idea generation & brainstorming
51 cities
Investing in digital systems
36 cities
Investing in physical infrastructure
30 cities
Paying for services
*"Training staff and building capacity" is not an option in the 2018 survey, while "Launching or sustaining a project" is not an option in the 2020 survey.
How is innovation measured?
Verona has developed partnerships to promote innovation capacity with other public agencies, private firms, not-for-profit organizations, professional associations, city residents/resident associations as well as other cities.