FIT Consulting moderates the Open Innovation Day of the Bologna Living Lab, showcasing groundbreaking solutions for mobility in the city’s restricted traffic zone.
The Open Innovation Day of the Bologna Living Lab was a key event showcasing the effectiveness of innovative solutions for urban freight distribution within the city’s restricted traffic zone. The event involved citizens, stakeholders, and key players from the logistics sector.
Moderated by Paola Cossu, CEO of FIT Consulting, member of the ALICE Board of Directors, and Innovation Manager of the project, the event underscored the strategic importance of URBANE within the broader framework of European sustainable logistics policies. The project’s vision is clear: reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality, reclaiming public spaces for the community, and advancing smarter mobility solutions.
URBANE is reshaping last-mile logistics in Bologna through a collaborative model that actively involves multiple stakeholders in the supply chain. The objective? A 20% reduction in CO₂ emissions, achieved through scalable and replicable solutions inspired by the Physical Internet and powered by cutting-edge technologies like Digital Twin and Blockchain. These tools enable real-time coordination between all actors in the delivery process—from transport operators to end recipients—ensuring greater efficiency, transparency, and seamless communication.
At the heart of this system are automated micro-hubs strategically placed in the city centre. From these hubs, logistics operators retrieve parcels for last-mile delivery via light electric vehicles, reducing congestion and environmental impact. This approach ensures faster, more sustainable deliveries while supporting local businesses and enhancing accessibility for residents.
“By integrating omnichannel solutions, supporting retailers and digital commerce platforms, we can significantly reduce the ecological footprint of individual shipments. Collaboration between sellers, buyers, logistics providers, and regulators is key. URBANE in Bologna embodies this vision—so let’s ‘dispatch our packages’ and scale this groundbreaking experience across Europe together.”
—Paola Cossu
What is URBANE?
Four European cities—Helsinki, Bologna, Valladolid, and Thessaloníki—are pioneering a new era of urban logistics, testing innovative solutions to revolutionize freight distribution. The goal is to develop a green, citizen-centric logistics model that can be replicated across Europe, tackling one of the most complex challenges in urban mobility: last-mile delivery, a major contributor to congestion, pollution, and rising costs.
Funded by the Horizon Europe research and innovation program, URBANE is part of Bologna’s Urban Sustainable Logistics Plan (PULS). The initiative demonstrates that optimizing freight distribution, driving urban regeneration, and creating a modern, inclusive city is not just possible—it’s beneficial.
Thanks to:
Comune di Bologna, ITL – Istituto sui Trasporti e la Logistica, GEL Proximity, TYP, Due Torri Spa, Wib, Città Metropolitana di Bologna, Salerno Trasporti
Participants in the Open Innovation Day of the Bologna Living Lab:
Andrea Bardi – General Director, Fondazione ITL, Luca Bellinato – Head of U.I. Mobility Systems, Sustainable Mobility & Infrastructure Sector, Municipality of Bologna, Lorenzo Maggioni – CEO & Co-founder, GEL Proximity, Stefano Ardizzoni – Transport Planning Coordinator, Due Torri, Paolo Tibiletti – Commercial Director, TYP, Salvatore Francese – Bologna Supervisor, Salerno Trasporti
Video credits: DODICIDI
