The Bolzano Living Lab Launches in Oltreisarco

A new community initiative is taking root in the Oltreisarco neighbourhood of Bolzano. The Bolzano Living Lab, launched as part of the ASSETS project, is now officially up and running. It offers a collaborative space where local residents, associations, schools and services come together to shape the future of their neighbourhood.

The initiative is led by the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano and Cooperativa Sole. Its aim is to turn solidarity into action by creating cultural events, promoting collaborative living, and strengthening social ties across the community.

At the first meeting, the energy was clear. Participants shared ideas including a public launch event in September, a participatory map to gather local voices, and new partnerships to connect people across the area.

There are challenges ahead, such as the need for meeting spaces, the involvement of vulnerable groups and long-term sustainability. But there is also strong motivation to address them together.

The Bolzano Living Lab is a concrete example of how local collaboration can create lasting social and economic value. The next two and a half years will show how community-led change can make a real difference.