“To create a smart PA you need skills, but attracting talent is difficult”

“Our goal is to make Veneto more attractive for businesses and citizens, more sustainable and more inclusive”. Luca De Pietro, Director of ICT Strategy, Digital Agenda and Communication Systems of the Veneto Regionwas among the speakers who animated the debate at the Altinate San Gaetano Cultural Center from Padua for the second edition of States General of smart cities. The central theme of his speech was about data, which was talked about a lot throughout the day as an indispensable resource for the intelligent transition of cities. “Data are fundamental and the Veneto Region used them well during the pandemic period. The first resolution of the council on open data dates back to 2011 and we were among the first to embrace the open government approach that came from the United States”.

Tuesday 25 October was therefore a day dedicated to in-depth study, on the one hand on trendon the other on technologies already employed by administrations in Italy. In addition to the numerous advances, the data crux has brought up unresolved issues. “We must face the so-called data strategy – underlined De Pietro – to understand what rules to set before sharing data. But, in the end, I believe that sharing them is a value for everyone”. The director then recalled the mission that inspired the foundation of theDigital agenda. “Four years ago we wanted to create a smart region, to bring together the information of all the cities of the Veneto. One
system for data on a regional scale “.

To continue building such an infrastructure, technologies are needed, but research and selection of skills are configured as priorities repeatedly reiterated during the States General of the smart cities in Padua. “Digital is a means, not the end. It is impossible to make a leap as a territory if we do not invest in skills, even if it is difficult to attract talent given the competition in the market”. On the other hand, it is the professionalism that the PA and administrations will increasingly need to translate their ideas into reality, especially in light of the funds made available by the Pnrr.

During the annual appointment of City VisionL’University of Padua presented data collected by interviewing over 80 mayors and councilors on the state of the art of smart city in Italy: digitalization of public services (81%), data management (51%), dematerialisation (48%), waste management (46%) and energy communities (43%) are the project lines on which Italian municipalities are most active for make municipalities more and more intelligent. “I believe that digital is the other side of sustainability, because it helps to manage and make efficient all systems – he concluded De Pietro – If we talk about smart regions, I prefer to focus on the second word: smart cities deal with phenomena that are not limited to the urban perimeter “.