Aimed at regeneration for a research hub, innovation new spaces and services after the move to MIND      

Coworking, university residences, multifunctional centres to promote the regeneration of the district and boost academic research in the Città Studi area in Milan, including after the transfer of several scientific Departments of the University of Milan to the MIND area, with emphasis on innovation, the right to education and new services.  

This is the goal of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Lombardy Region, City of Milan and University of Milan, approved 22 March by the Regional Government on the joint proposal of President Attilio Fontana  together with councillors Fabrizio Sala (Education, University, Research, Innovation and Simplification) and Stefano Bolognini (Metropolitan City Development, Youth and Communication). 

The Understanding aims to advance “Città Studi” as a “HUB of services for study, research and innovation”. The long-term objective is to uphold the strong academic tradition of Città Studi, also after the transfer to the Expo area of the scientific departments existing here to date, so that in the future research, culture and life in the district can continue to be integrated.

“With approval of the Memorandum,” commented President Fontana, “Lombardy Region and the signatory institutions can actualise a strategic vision that puts emphasis on research and innovation and aims towards developing new residential spaces and services for students. This is another important step in the direction taken since the start of the legislature. Over the last three years we have invested funds amounting to 407 million euro to support several important initiatives for the right to education and ’scholarships’. The goal is to give practical assistance to those who want to help build our future”. Specifically, the university states that it intends to maintain its presence in Milan by occupying a significant portion of the buildings at Città Studi.

Planned actions

In detail, the Memorandum of Understanding includes several specific projects that will be overseen by an inter-institutional Steering Committee. One of the first steps will be to create spaces promoting the exchange of skills, such as libraries (even if not associated with the University), coworking study rooms, and multifunctional centres for integrated learning. Furthermore, existing structures will be by used and renovated so as to foster an unprecedented interaction with other research facilities, whether metropolitan, national or international. Large spaces could be designated for the purposes of Humanities departments and specific interdisciplinary research laboratories. 

Another positive feature of the project will be an extension of the measures promoting the Right to Education, including the design of residences (also temporary) for students and lecturers featuring architecturally innovative solutions, or, as another proposition, the transformation of historical and iconic buildings, e.g. those incorporating the current Department of Biology on via Celoria and via Golgi. 

The project spawned by the Memorandum will lead to a plan for reusing the buildings at Città Studi, designating them for functions of general interest promoted by public and private entities - provided they are able to activate and boost valuable synergies with research and with the development of highly innovative activities. The plan will be completed by an evaluation of public transportation systems servicing the new destinations to be established at Città Studi.

Memorandum of Understanding gives go-ahead for research hub 

“Our major objective,” remarked Councillor Fabrizio Sala, “is to create a research hub with shared spaces. These are where students can exchange experiences in innovative laboratories, thereby stimulating an ever higher quality of education oriented towards the future; including a digital connection with the Arexpo district in Rho, where the University of Milan has already activated a new scientific campus inside the MIND Area”.  

“The Region, City and University,” stated councillor Bolognini, “aim to draw up a whole course of action. On the one hand, these efforts seek to bolster the current infrastructure in terms of connection and fibre optics, and on the other aspire to help Milan recover its leadership in the field of academia post-Covid”.  

Services for the right to education 

Councillors Sala and Bolognini pointed out that “Milan has always been a destination of top students coming from other Regions and countries; 30% are non-resident students, 8% are foreign students and nearly 50% of those entitled to scholarships come from outside the Region”.

This has provided the stimulus to create a hub for innovation, learning and research that will also provide services for the Right to Education; with residences, student housing and innovative spaces that promote the development of interpersonal relationships and the exchange of experiences.