Welcome to our three-day exploration in Bolzano, focusing on the transformative role universities can play in the strategic development and policy-making of their territories.

Central to our discussions is the concept that universities are not just educational institutions but are direct and decisive players in shaping the development strategies and policies of cities through its decision-makers, students and researchers (“democratic citizenship”). This event aims to underscore the innovative and (sometimes) disruptive impact that student and researcher participation can have on public policy and administration processes within municipalities.

During our event, we will delve into the role of key decision-makers within the city and the university, involving Mayors, Rectors, and City Councils. These leaders play vital roles in enacting regulations and plans that enhance university-city cooperation through a top-down approach. Simultaneously, we will explore innovative, bottom-up and shared methods of policy-making and administration processes by analyzing the participatory practices of students and researchers. Methods like assemblies, Living Labs, and Democratic Forum lead to co-design, co-participation, and co-administration, allowing fresh ideas and perspectives to permeate decision-making processes.

These practices empower participants and ensure that development strategies address a broad spectrum of community needs. Ultimately, cities, as reflexive communities, become epicenters of innovation and interaction, benefiting from both structured leadership and grassroots involvement.

Together, these two levels of engagement—top-down from traditional decision-makers and bottom-up from active participants—create a dynamic interplay that can significantly enhance the effectiveness and relevance of university-city cooperation.

The questions that we will investigate are these:

• Are decision-makers aware of the potentiality of city-university cooperation? (topdown approach) If yes, which strategic and enduring tools are used to enhance cooperation between city and university in the different fields?
• Do you envisage in your town and university examples of participatory democracy such as students’ assemblies, Living Labs, debates, auditions to Municipal Councils or commissions, broadcasts or groups of students or researchers who participate (or try to participate) to the definition of the content of relevant policies for society and advance awareness on certain topics (es. Climate assemblies and protection of environment?) (bottom-up approach)
• Do you envisage in your town and university examples of civic engagement and innovation by students and researchers and professors such as expositions, movies, creative artworks which contribute to relevant policies for society accomplished through a shared path with the participation of the Municipality and the university (eg. co-created urban projects) (co-creation, co-participation).

The joint work between university and city can be a contribution to the resolution of crosscutting social issues, supporting the various public, private and third sector actors and getting to the heart of society, in order to affirm that in a city, the university really does make a difference and that the democratic citizenship of students and researchers can become a fulfilled process