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Royal Inclusion: when the home becomes a museum and the museum returns to being a home, in the smart and inclusive city

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In occasione della Giornata internazionale delle persone con disabilità, il 3 dicembre, presso Palazzo Reale a Genova è stata presentata una selezione di tecnologie per la fruizione inclusiva di esperienze culturali, nell’evento “Inclusione Reale: quando la casa diventa museo e il museo torna a essere casa” organizzato da Spoke 1.

Le soluzioni tecnologiche sono realizzate all’interno dell’ecosistema RAISE da CNR, dal centro di ricerca Casa Paganini – InfoMus dell’Università di Genova, da ETT e dagli studenti del corso di laurea magistrale in Digital Humanities – Interactive Systems and Digital Media, curriculum Affective Computing, Arts and Cultural Welfare (ACW).

Più nel dettaglio la giornata si è svolta secondo il seguente programma:
9.30 – 16.30: esperienza libera delle tecnologie
16.30 – 17.30: visita guidata a cura degli studenti coinvolti nel progetto
17.30 – 18.30: workshop con presentazione dell’ecosistema RAISE e approfondimento delle tecnologie da parte degli autori.

L’evento ha consentito ai visitatori di esplorare nuove modalità di relazione con i luoghi culturali, sperimentando nuove tecnologie su welfare culturale, dove cultura e arte svolgono un ruolo di cura sia individuale che del territorio.

Le persone che hanno partecipato alla giornata hanno potuto vivere questa dimora storica in un modo nuovo, con la possibilità di fare esperienza di due installazioni interattive: DanzArTe e RespirArTe. In queste installazioni, il visitatore ha un ruolo attivo e, mediante tecnologie interattive, può vivere un’opera d’arte visiva in modo immersivo attraverso il proprio corpo: un autentico apprezzamento estetico in cui sonificazione del proprio movimento e arti visive si uniscono per creare un’esperienza immersiva in cui i partecipanti diventano protagonisti nel progressivo svelamento dell’opera. DanzArTe e RespirArTe sono state realizzate dal centro Casa Paganini-InfoMus (UniGe).

Entrambe le installazioni sono state sperimentate sia in Spoke 1 che in Spoke 2, ovvero sia in musei e luoghi della cultura della città smart ed inclusiva, sia in un contesto ospedaliero.

La terza installazione presente nel percorso di visita è Arte Tattile di ETT, presentata da Susanna Alloisio (Spoke 1, ETT). Questo progetto trasforma un tradizionale dipinto 2D in una rappresentazione tridimensionale, mettendo in rilievo i dettagli degli oggetti dipinti. I visitatori possono esplorare l’opera e ascoltare una descrizione interattiva grazie a sensori invisibili. Questa tecnologia offre un nuovo accesso all’arte per persone non vedenti o ipovedenti, permettendo di fruirne tramite il tatto e l’udito, e arricchisce l’esperienza sensoriale di tutti i visitatori.

Infine, i visitatori sono stati coinvolti nel progetto Mappe Emozionali di CNR-IMATI, coordinato da Michela Spagnuolo (Spoke 1, CNR-IMATI). La ricerca esplora la relazione tra spazio urbano ed esperienza emotiva attraverso un approccio integrato che combina sensori biometrici indossabili, tracciamento GPS, mappe emozionali realizzate manualmente e narrazioni soggettive.

Nel corso della sperimentazione, i partecipanti hanno attraversato un’area urbana registrando parametri fisiologici e, al rientro, hanno raccontato la propria esperienza e disegnato una mappa emozionale del percorso. I racconti raccolti sono stati successivamente analizzati tramite tecniche di sentiment analysis e messi in relazione con i dati spaziali e biometrici, consentendo di costruire una geografia soggettiva del territorio che rende visibile come luoghi e percorsi influenzino percezioni ed emozioni individuali.

Gli studenti del corso di laurea magistrale in Digital Humanities di UniGe hanno avuto un ruolo importante nella progettazione e nella realizzazione dell’evento culturale, sia di guide per le installazioni, sia come autori di altre due proposte di applicazioni digitali interattive realizzate durante le attività didattiche del loro percorso di studi..

Il workshop finale è stato una occasione di riflessione sul lavoro svolto per arrivare ai risultati presentati nel corso della giornata.

Tutte le nuove esperienze presentate durante l’evento sono un esempio concreto di applicazione di tecnologie innovative per il supporto di processi inclusivi, creativi e personalizzati, verso nuove forme di esperienza museale e di welfare culturale sul territorio.

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RAISE explores urban emotions

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Within the framework of the RAISE – Emotional Maps project, developed under RAISE Spoke 1 and coordinated by the National Research Council (CNR), the field experimentation phase began in the historic center of Genoa between 18 and 22 November 2025. The initiative involved 50 volunteers, invited to explore the city’s narrow streets and to share their emotional experiences of urban space through simple tools and innovative technologies.

The experimentation offered an immersive and participatory experience, designed to investigate how people perceive, move through, and interpret the city. CNR researchers guided participants along a structured yet flexible pathway, allowing each person to choose the most suitable time slot, either in the morning or in the afternoon.

Each session opened with a short training phase, during which the project team explained objectives, procedures, and the tools in use. Each participant received a mobile phone and a sensor wristband, used to track the route and collect physiological data such as heart rate. These data accompanied the emotional walk, which took place in a mapped area of the historic center, leaving space for observation, listening, and the sensations evoked by places and people encountered along the way.

At the end of the route, volunteers translated their experience into an emotional map, an expressive and accessible tool that brought together storytelling, perception, and memory. Through drawings, words, and signs, each participant provided a personal interpretation of urban space, sharing emotions, moods, and impressions. Oral storytelling further enriched the process, offering researchers valuable material for analysis.

The experimentation contributed to testing SenseCity, a set of technological and traditional tools designed to describe the perception of urban space with the aim of improving accessibility and social inclusion. By combining physiological data, movement traces, and subjective narratives, the project explored new ways of reading the city, integrating quantitative and qualitative dimensions.

The journey concluded on 3 December 2025 with a public event at Palazzo Reale, during which the research team presented the collected data and the first results of the experimentation. The event provided a moment of feedback and dialogue, open to all participants, who were invited to recognize themselves as active contributors to the research process.

With Emotional Maps, RAISE strengthened the dialogue between science, the city, and its citizens, valuing direct experience as a tool for knowledge and promoting a vision of technology in the service of collective well-being and a deeper understanding of urban spaces.

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Tactile Art, an inclusive multisensory experience by ETT within Spoke 1

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ETT has developed the “Tactile Art” project as part of Spoke 1 of RAISE, an initiative that innovates the way art is experienced.

Designed to overcome visual barriers, the tactile painting uses Sense® technology to make artworks accessible to everyone, offering a multisensory and immersive experience.

Invisible touch sensors integrated into the surfaces allow visitors to explore the artwork with their hands, while audio content is automatically activated, narrating the story of the painting and enriching the sensory experience.

Arte Tattile, un’esperienza multisensoriale inclusiva di ETT nell’ambito dello Spoke 1.
Tactile Art by ETT at Palazzo Reale, Genoa | Photo author (video frame): Marzio Cardellini (Bluframe) | Credits: RAISE

The project stems from in-depth research on inclusive understanding of two-dimensional art, with the aim of transforming every visit into a direct and personal encounter with the artwork. The creative process begins with converting a photograph of the painting into a raised three-dimensional model, where lines and details become shapes perceptible to the touch.

The three-dimensional prototype, produced at a 2:1 scale using 3D printing, ensures precision and fidelity of detail, while the integrated Sense® technology enables audio descriptions to be activated by lightly touching different sections of the painting, creating a true dialogue between the artwork and the visitor.

The experience thus becomes an immersive journey capable of stimulating touch, hearing, emotion, and memory, making art vivid and accessible to all.

Tactile Art demonstrates how technology can serve as a bridge between culture and inclusion: by overcoming traditional barriers, it expands the possibilities of artistic enjoyment and invites everyone to experience art in a direct and personal way.

The project was presented as a demo within the RAISE Village 2025 and at the recent Spoke 1 event “Real Inclusion: when the home becomes a museum and the museum becomes home again”, held at Palazzo Reale in Genoa, on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Project manager Susanna Alloisio (ETT, Spoke 1) commented on the project: “Ultimately, the tactile painting is not just an object to be observed but an invitation to touch, listen, and discover. Through this achievement, ETT shows how technology can transform the encounter with art into a shared experience, open to all, where every visitor can perceive the artwork in a unique, sensorial, and deeply personal way.”

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Photo author (video frame): Marzio Cardellini (Bluframe)
Credits: RAISE

Research and inclusion at ICEEL 2025

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The International Conference on Education and E-Learning (ICEEL 2025) took place on 21, 22 and 23 November 2025 at Otsuma Women’s University in Tokyo and featured the participation of RAISE Spoke 1 with two research contributions dedicated to educational innovation.

The event brought together an international community of researchers and education experts to explore the theme “AI-Powered Learning: Transforming Education in the Digital Age”, offering three days of discussion on the opportunities opened by artificial intelligence and digital technologies in contemporary learning.

RAISE Spoke 1 was represented by Giulia Pusceddu and Lorenzo Landolfi from the Italian Institute of Technology, who presented the results of two studies developed within the programme. Their contributions highlighted the multidisciplinary approach of the spoke, focused on designing tools and methodologies that support more accessible, inclusive and effective education.

The first contribution, “Text vs. 3D Models: Comparing Traditional and 3D-Printed Learning Materials in Primary Science Education”, presented by Giulia Pusceddu, examined the use of 3D-printed models as support materials for science teaching in primary schools. The study compared traditional text-based resources with tangible objects created through 3D printing, with the aim of understanding how physical manipulation can strengthen spatial representation, promote active exploration of content and enhance the engagement of pupils. The work underscored the value of accessible and diversified learning tools that can support complementary learning styles.

Ricerca e inclusione alla ICEEL 2025

The second contribution, “A Memory Game to Foster Empathy in the Classroom: Preliminary Assessment by School Teachers”, presented by Lorenzo Landolfi, introduced an educational game designed to promote empathy and collaboration among primary school pupils. The research illustrated the structure of the game and collected feedback from teachers who tested it in real classroom settings. Their observations highlighted how well-designed playful activities can support participation, strengthen relational skills and contribute to socio-emotional development, fostering classroom environments based on cooperation and mutual respect.

Ricerca e inclusione alla ICEEL 2025

Both articles have been accepted for publication in the conference proceedings, confirming the contribution of RAISE Spoke 1 to international research on technology-supported educational methods. The presence of the two researchers at ICEEL 2025 offered an opportunity to share results, engage with the global scientific community and reinforce the spoke’s role in developing accessible, reliable and inclusion-oriented solutions.

Participation in ICEEL 2025 also strengthened dialogue with academic and institutional partners committed to the digital transformation of education. The studies presented in Tokyo demonstrated how the integration of scientific research and educational practice can generate tools that support student well-being, enhance diverse competencies and improve the overall quality of the learning experience.

STAG2025: RAISE presents results and new technologies

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The international conference STAG2025 – Smart Tools and Applications in Computer Graphics brought together in Genoa, on 27–28 November 2025, researchers and professionals engaged in the development of advanced tools for digital modelling, virtual reality, and the analysis of urban forms. The event, organized by the Italian Chapter of Eurographics, offered a lively environment filled with scientific exchanges and presentations of innovative projects.

RAISE took part with a broad and dynamic presence, showcasing contributions that highlighted the maturity of the project and the vitality of its research community. The works presented covered multiple application areas and demonstrated tangible results in inclusive virtual museums, urban digital twins, and geospatial modelling.

The first contribution focused on the poster “Integrating Multi-Modal Solutions for Personalized and Accessible VR Museum Experiences”, presented by Brigida Bonino (CNR-IMATI, Spoke 1) as lead author. Bonino introduced a VR application designed for a virtual museum with enhanced sensory accessibility features. The system demonstrated how immersive technologies can create more inclusive and customizable cultural experiences, addressing diverse needs and strengthening engagement with museum content.

The second contribution shifted the attention to human perception within urban space. With the poster “Metrics and Tools for Geometry-Based Analysis of Urban Scenes from a Human Perception Perspective”, Michela Mortara (CNR-IMATI, Spoke 3) presented tools developed to quantify the visual impact of urban form. Cutruzzulà illustrated an approach that combines geometric analysis, 3D modelling, and principles of perception, offering new opportunities for assessing urban appearance and its implications for people experiencing the city.

STAG2025: RAISE presenta risultati e nuove tecnologie

The third work involved a multidisciplinary team with expertise in digital city modelling. The paper “LiD2LOD: Generating LOD1 Urban Models from Airborne LiDAR”, authored by Tommaso Sorgente, Chiara Romanengo, and Elia Moscoso Thompson (CNR-IMATI, Spoke 1), presented a tool for generating LOD1 urban models from airborne LiDAR data. The contribution marked the first step in a series of tools aimed at building urban digital twins, with a strong focus on geometric quality and reproducible modelling processes.

The fourth contribution addressed geospatial modelling. The paper “A Lightweight Open-Source Tool for Meshing within Geosciences”, developed by Daniela Cabiddu and Simone Pittalunga (Spoke 3), introduced an open-source tool for generating 2D and 3D meshes for geoscientific applications. The system offered a set of features designed to integrate heterogeneous territorial data and produce geospatial models suitable for numerical analyses and simulations.

Beyond the scientific contributions, RAISE supported one of the conference’s keynote lectures thanks to the work of Michela Spagnuolo, who chaired one of the sessions and facilitated the participation of Prof. Mathieu Brédif. His keynote enriched the programme with an advanced perspective on geometric modelling and the use of spatial data within digital infrastructures.

RAISE’s presence at STAG2025 highlighted an active and collaborative project capable of bringing solid scientific content to international venues. The four contributions underscored the breadth of expertise involved and the commitment to developing technologies that support accessible museums, intelligent cities, and reliable digital tools.

Inclusive urban technologies for the city of the future

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Spoke 1 of RAISE took part in the 2025 edition of Genova Smart Week, an event promoted by the Genova Smart City Association and the Municipality of Genoa, with technical support from Clickutility Team.

The initiative gathered experts, institutions and researchers for a national and international discussion on the evolution of smart and sustainable cities. The programme highlighted good practices, ideas and solutions designed to support an urban environment attentive to well-being and quality of life.

On Thursday 20 November, from 14:30 to 17:00, the Salone di Rappresentanza of Palazzo Tursi hosted the workshop “Urban Technologies for Inclusive Engagement”, organised by CNR – IMATI Genoa.

The meeting presented the activities of Spoke 1, which designs and develops technologies, devices and services that promote inclusive access to urban spaces. Spoke 1 proposed a Smart City vision centred on real needs, aiming to enhance everyday life and generate widespread well-being.

Moderator Roberto Malvezzi (CNR – IMATI) opened the session and introduced the speakers. During the workshop, Fabrizio Malfanti and Elia Moscoso-Thomson (CNR – IMATI) illustrated the results achieved in the development of urban technologies and the perspectives guiding their evolution. Their contribution described the principles behind the design of services that respond to the context of use and adapt to the dynamic conditions of urban life.

Alice De Luca (IIT) explored the role of the interactive technological components integrated into the RAISE demonstrators. She showed how these elements interact with the digital twins of individuals and the city, creating personalised experiences. She illustrated the solutions developed for the UrbanTech and SchoolTech demonstrators and explained their impact on mobility and learning in complex environments.

Gualtiero Volpe and Eleonora Ceccaldi (University of Genoa) presented the development and evaluation processes of the demonstrators, highlighting how the teams designed tools capable of integrating into real-life contexts. They shared the results of experiments conducted with citizens, students and educational communities, emphasising the value of a participatory and interdisciplinary approach.

Mauro Migliavacca (University of Genoa) reflected on the impact of these technologies on the territory and on the perspectives that may emerge in the coming years. His contribution underscored the importance of integrating digital innovation with social dynamics to build urban policies that foster inclusion and sustainable development.

Paola Renata Dameri (University of Genoa) concluded with the Seagul case study, an urban dashboard designed to support municipal decision-making. She illustrated how the dashboard collects and analyses data related to quality of life at the district and neighbourhood levels, highlighting differences and critical issues across micro-areas. This approach supports public policies aimed at more targeted and effective interventions centred on people.

The workshop closed with a set of shared reflections from the speakers, who summarised the experience and the perspectives that emerge from the work carried out in recent years.

Roberto Malvezzi described the meeting as a key milestone: “This edition of Smart Week offered an important moment to present the results of Spoke 1 to the city. We completed a three-year journey and shared our work with a community attentive to urban development. Smart Week has accompanied the evolution of the project since the first year, and today we presented a complete vision that opens a new phase dedicated to enhancing results and building future collaborations.”

Alice De Luca also retraced the path taken, focusing on the technologies developed for the RAISE demonstrators: “During Smart Week we presented the technologies created for the RAISE demonstrators. These solutions interact with the digital twins of individuals and the city, offering personalised experiences while navigating the urban environment. We showcased the results achieved in the fields of mobility and education.”

Finally, Paola Renata Dameri emphasised the importance of directing innovation toward people: “We illustrated how technologies and artificial intelligence can support local policies and guide decisions oriented toward citizens’ well-being. The urban dashboard we presented adopts a people-centred approach based on their living conditions. This change in perspective enables the development of a Smart City truly focused on community needs.”

The workshop offered a comprehensive overview of Spoke 1’s contribution to the evolution of future cities. The discussion demonstrated how robotics, artificial intelligence and digital systems already support the design of inclusive urban services. The initiative formed part of a broader programme that, in the 2025 edition, brought together institutions, schools, universities, enterprises and start-ups, fostering an exchange of ideas and in-depth reflection on key themes related to the digital and sustainable transition of cities.

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Puglia Mobility Game brought together research and participation

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The Puglia Mobility Game (PMG) project has completed a pilot phase that involved citizens, public administrations, and researchers in designing new models of sustainable mobility for the Apulia region. Funded through a Cascade Call of RAISE Spoke 1, the initiative combined scientific research, technological innovation, and urban policy, creating a collaborative laboratory connecting universities and local communities.

The project, coordinated by the Laboratory of Applied Economics (LEA) at the University of Bari “Aldo Moro” and led by Professor Angela Stefania Bergantino, engaged the municipalities of Monopoli, Fasano, and Polignano a Mare.

In these three cities – each with a strong tourist vocation and a combined population of over one hundred thousand residents – the activities enabled the testing of new forms of civic participation through gamification.

Developed in collaboration with Pin Bike, a company specializing in smart mobility services, the platform transformed everyday travel behaviors into valuable data for urban planning. Participants took part in a game organized in three modes – inclusive, competitive, and solidarity-based – which rewarded sustainable journeys made by bicycle or by public transport. The points collected translated into individual prizes or donations to non-profit organizations, promoting a mobility model that blends personal well-being, social impact, and environmental respect.

The experimentation phase produced significant results. The data collected described citizens’ mobility habits and provided local administrations with concrete insights to improve their Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans. The experience demonstrated how personal motivation and a sense of community can foster more responsible travel choices and help reduce urban traffic pressure.

The project also involved ISFORT (Institute for Training and Research in Transport), which collaborated in drafting the Operational Guidelines intended for local authorities. By integrating PMG findings with national mobility data, ISFORT contributed to the development of Policy Guidelines designed to inform future territorial strategies. The joint work was shared across several public events, culminating in a final meeting in Bari, attended by institutional representatives, scholars, and sector stakeholders.

he Puglia Mobility Game confirmed the ability of research to generate practical tools for local communities. The University of Bari strengthened its dialogue with policymakers and the urban fabric, offering an example of how data and experimentation can lead to evidence-based public policies.

The participating municipalities expressed their intention to continue the activities that have started with the project and to apply PMG’s results to new sustainable mobility projects. The Guidelines developed will serve as a reference point for other administrations interested in replicating the experience, demonstrating that the collaboration between research, innovation, and civic engagement represents an effective path toward building more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable cities.

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RAISE’s inclusive technologies took the spotlight at Ecomondo 2025

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From November 4 to 7, 2025, the Rimini Expo Centre hosted the 28th edition of Ecomondo – The Green Technology Expo, Europe’s leading event dedicated to ecological transition and the circular economy.

In this context, Lorenzo Landolfi, senior researcher at the Unit for Visually Impaired People (UVIP) of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), represented RAISE Spoke 1 during the “Enabling Technologies” session, part of the Smart Circular Cities conference – Intelligent technologies to address the challenges of circular transition in urban environments.

Landolfi’s talk highlighted UVIP’s contribution to RAISE Spoke 1, focusing on digital and inclusive solutions for the cities of the future. He presented the results of the research carried out within RAISE, introducing an innovative vision of the smart city – one where each citizen interacts with their own digital twin and with that of the city, creating a network of information capable of enhancing the accessibility and usability of urban spaces. This approach positions technology as a means to redesign urban experiences, making them more inclusive, adaptive, and centered on individual needs.

RAISE’s participation in Ecomondo offered a valuable opportunity to engage with the international scientific and industrial community committed to ecological transition. The event fostered dialogue among key players in green innovation, encouraging the creation of new synergies and the exchange of experiences on crucial issues such as sustainable mobility, resource management, circular economy, and social inclusion.

Within the Smart Circular Cities conference, the session on enabling technologies demonstrated how the integration of scientific research and technological innovation can transform cities into dynamic and sustainable ecosystems. Ecomondo 2025 reaffirmed its position as a benchmark for the green economy and for research applied to sustainability.

With more than twenty-eight years of history, Ecomondo has established itself as an international platform for collaboration among companies, start-ups, research centers, and policymakers united by a shared vision: building a future founded on knowledge, cooperation, and responsible innovation.

The participation of Spoke 1 at Ecomondo 2025 emphasized the central role of technology as a driver of inclusion and sustainable urban transformation, placing people at the heart of innovation. A tangible contribution to the creation of smarter, more accessible, and more sustainable cities, where diversity becomes a key resource for collective growth.

RAISE Spoke 1 awarded at the Smart Cities General Assembly

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On October 20–21, 2025, the Altinate San Gaetano Cultural Center in Padua hosted the sixth edition of the Smart Cities General Assembly, Italy’s leading event dedicated to digital innovation, urban transition, and technologies for quality of life.

Within this framework, RAISE – Robotics and AI for Socio-economic Empowerment took part as an official partner, presenting to the public the research results and future perspectives of Spoke 1, focused on applying robotics and artificial intelligence to promote the inclusive engagement of citizens in urban and regional contexts.

The event, promoted by the City Vision community and organized by Blum!, brought together over a thousand representatives from institutions, academia, and industry to discuss key topics such as urban data governance, citizens’ health, smart mobility, environmental sustainability, and participatory planning.

Over the two days, the RAISE team participated in two thematic round tables – organized in collaboration with CNR and the University of Genoa – and presented two public pitches in the Agorà space of the Innovation District, during the session “New Cities and New Citizens.”

The first pitch illustrated the research pathway of Spoke 1, while the second focused on Seagul, the tool developed by the University of Genoa within Spoke 1 to support urban planning through integrated analyses and interpretative models of the city.

The first presentation highlighted Spoke 1’s distinctive approach: connecting the socio-economic progress of cities with their ability to consider the needs and specific characteristics of all citizens, with the goal of developing services and policies that genuinely enhance everyone’s quality of life.

Within the Innovation District, the RAISE stand served as a meeting point for public administrations, companies, researchers, and citizens interested in learning more about the project’s activities. Numerous one-to-one exchanges fostered new collaborations and the sharing of sustainable innovation practices.

A particularly meaningful acknowledgment crowned RAISE’s participation: the City Vision 2025 “Good Practices Award” committee granted Spoke 1 a Special Mention as a “Good Practice.”

Lo Spoke 1 di RAISE premiato alle Città Intelligenti

The project was recognized as an exemplary initiative to be shared among public administrations and enterprises committed to the intelligent transformation of territories. With this award, Spoke 1 joined the national selection of outstanding experiences that City Vision promotes through its platform and communication channels.

During the award ceremony, Michela Spagnuolo, Leader of Spoke 1, stated: “Receiving this award has been an emotional moment, one that honors the tremendous effort made by the RAISE consortium throughout the project. It also confirms the growing interest in the results achieved by Spoke 1 within the City Vision community, today perhaps the most important space in Italy for fostering smart innovation in both large and small cities.”

The presence of RAISE at the Smart Cities General Assembly, together with this recognition, reaffirmed the project’s role as a true laboratory of innovation and collaboration among research, institutions, and industry – a further step toward smarter, more inclusive, and sustainable cities, where technology serves the collective well-being.

With the ARTECOM project, within Spoke 1, young people become co-creators of an interactive artwork

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Throughout the day of September 26, at the Parco del Castello in L’Aquila, the project ARTECOM – ARt, TEchnology and COMmunity: digital installations for the inclusive enjoyment of the city’s cultural heritage was presented through a practical demonstration and a theoretical illustration of its results.

The event was part of the “Pop-up della Ricerca” (“Research Pop-ups”), in which the University of L’Aquila, together with the “A. Casella” Conservatory and the University of Teramo, as partners and collaborators, showcased-through tools, images, and interactive demonstrations—the products and activities of various research groups. The initiative spans a wide range of scientific and cultural disciplines, addressing both adults and children.

ARTECOM aims to serve as an inclusive bridge between art, memory, generations, identity, territory, and innovation. The project was conceived with the goal of making art accessible to everyone, freely and inclusively, using it as an educational and formative tool, particularly for young people. It is set within the broader context of the urban and cultural reconstruction of L’Aquila, offering young generations a creative space where cultural heritage interacts with digital languages.

At the heart of the initiative lies an interactive technological demonstrator that combines art, music, and artificial intelligence to create an immersive and personalized experience.

The installation employs sensors, images, sounds, and projections that transform in real time based on the visitor’s characteristics, resulting in a dynamic and participatory artistic environment.

The composers from the “A. Casella” Conservatory created five soundscapes, based on environmental recordings from L’Aquila and inspired by different personality traits. Through direct interaction, young participants become co-creators of the artistic work. Each gesture, sound, or movement contributes to building a collective narrative, in which art becomes a means of expression, growth, and inclusion.

The process culminated in a public collective performance, where the entire community took part in a shared artistic experience. In this way, ARTECOM, within the framework of Spoke 1 of RAISE, fully achieves its mission as a bridge between past and future, between individuals and the community, enhancing cultural heritage through technological innovation and creative expression.

The ARTECOM project is led by the University of L’Aquila (UNIVAQ), with partners: the “A. Casella” Conservatory of L’Aquila and the University of Teramo, and collaborations with CUEIM – University Consortium for Industrial and Managerial Economics, and Cykel – Web Agency & ICT Consulting.

ARTECOM – ARt, TEchnology and COMmunity: digital installations for the inclusive enjoyment of the city’s cultural heritage is funded under the “Public Call for the Selection of Project Proposals Submitted by Public Universities and Research Institutions Located in the Southern Regions for Research, Development, and Experimentation Activities in the Fields of Interest of the RAISE Ecosystem – Robotics and AI for Socioeconomic Empowerment”, issued by Spoke 1 as part of the objectives of the RAISE Innovation Ecosystem Research Program, funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU, under PNRR MUR – M4C2 – Investment 1.5.

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Author: ARTECOM
Credits: ARTECOM and RAISE

Finaziato dall'Unione Europea Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca Italia Domani Raise