Imola Living Lab Project

The Formula One Grand Prix in Imola offered the occasion to host a meeting on 21 April in the framework of the Imola Living Lab project. Under the theme “Automotive technology and mobility 4.0: safety, sustainability and inclusiveness from the 2030 Agenda to the PNRR” the conference was hosted by the Imola Councilor for the Autodrome, Elena Penazzi and for the Environment, Elisa Spada, Professor Valeria Vignali of the University of Bologna and Luciana Iorio of the Ministry of Sustainable Infrastructure and Mobility (MIMS), president of the UN Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety. 

The conference is part of the Imola Living Lab action plan, a project presented to the UN in Geneva in September 2021, with a vision aligned to the 2030 agenda and the sustainable development goals (SDG).  Starting from “Enzo e Dino Ferrari” racetrack, the initiative links  the city of Imola, Con.Ami, Formula Imola, the Emilia-Romagna Region, the University of Bologna, and the MotorValley, as well as the Montecatone Institute, through a hub of innovation and training, focused on the themes of sustainability, inclusion, and road safety. 

The conference was opened by the video intervention by Jean Todt, United Nation’s Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, who highlighted the value of the IMOLA LIVING LAB project as an innovative approach to the automotive theme and the Autodrome as a place of fundamental experimentation to achieve the sustainable development goals of the 2030 agenda. A project that can become a model to be replicated in other countries. 

The intervention of Jean Todt was followed by the institutional greetings of Rodolfo Ortolani, president of the Cassa di Risparmio Foundation which hosted the event, of Fabio Bacchilega, president of Con.Ami, of Marco Panieri, mayor of Imola, and Andrea Corsini, councilor for Mobility and transport, infrastructures, tourism, trade of the Emilia Romagna Region. 

Susanna Zammataro, IRF Director General stressed the importance of putting people back at the centre of transport planning. She also underlined the importance of investing in human capital, cause “innovation cannot happen without skilled personnel”. The intervention of Maurizio Sobrero – Full Professor of Innovation Management and Coordinator of the University PNRR Commission of the University of Bologna, Antonio Erario – MIMS Director, ECE WP29 Chair took the floor; Luigi Carrarini – Head of the Technological Infrastructure Unit, Operations Management and Territorial Coordination of ANAS; Andrea Pontremoli – CEO and General Manager of Dallara; Simone Di Piazza – Head of Innovation and R&D Services of Ducati Motor Holding spa and Otello Valenti – HR & Legal Director of Scuderia AlphaTauri made the event a true opportunity to learn and share expertise. 

Moderated by Domenico Crocco, Manager for International Affairs at ANAS, the event was also followed online by 400 Unibo students and members of the order of engineers of Bologna In addition to the guests in the room.