MUSA President Giovanna Iannantuoni takes stock of three years of the PNRR project and looks toward the “Beyond MUSA” phase.

Milan has become an urban laboratory for innovation thanks to MUSA – Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action, the project funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) which, in three years, has transformed the relationship between research, institutions, and the territory. This is reported by Wired, which, on the occasion of the project’s final days on December 3rd and 4th, interviewed Giovanna Iannantuoni, President of MUSA, to provide a comprehensive overview of the experience.

“The results are overwhelmingly positive,” states Iannantuoni in the interview with Wired. “In three and a half years, MUSA has allowed more than a thousand researchers, coming from universities, businesses, public bodies, and the third sector, to work together, building a true scientific and civil community.” This achievement goes beyond individual projects and has deeply influenced the way applied research and urban innovation are conducted in Lombardy.

As emerges from the Wired article, MUSA positioned itself from the start as an engine for restart, capable of combining technological and social innovation. Thanks to a PNRR investment of approximately 110 million euros, the project has produced results ranging from urban regeneration to deep tech, and from artificial intelligence to social sustainability initiatives. “The most surprising result was the construction of an interdisciplinary community,” emphasizes the President of MUSA. “Researchers worked together, overcoming disciplinary and organizational barriers. Not only that: 53% of them are women. It was not a given that such diverse worlds would engage in continuous dialogue using a language accessible to everyone.”

The MUSA experience, as told by Wired, involved a broad ecosystem of actors: Milanese universities – University of Milano-Bicocca, Statale, Bocconi, and Politecnico, later joined by Cattolica and Liuc – alongside public bodies, businesses, and local communities. This system gave life to concrete interventions on the territory, new digital services, and technological and social solutions developed with a participatory approach.

Among the most emblematic results mentioned in the interview, Real SynCol represents an example of how university research can translate into economic and social value. Born within MUSA and soon to become a startup, the entity testifies to the effectiveness of the technology transfer promoted by the project.

Another central area highlighted by Wired is cybersecurity, particularly in support of Municipalities. MUSA highlighted the digital vulnerabilities of local authorities and provided operational tools to strengthen their resilience. “We helped Municipalities not to face digital challenges alone,” explains Iannantuoni, “providing a detailed analysis of vulnerabilities, operational support, and direct collaboration between researchers and administrations. This way, local authorities finally have a clear picture of the risks and shared skills to manage them effectively.”

Alongside digital security, Wired also discusses the strategic role of the cloud-edge continuum, an infrastructure that allows data to be processed close to the territory and makes public services more efficient. “It allows for data processing near the area, making public services faster, safer, and more personalized – from smart mobility to digital health to energy management – and demonstrates that Italy can develop innovative and competitive solutions,” observes the President of MUSA.

With the conclusion of the PNRR funding, the project now enters a new phase. As explained in the interview with Wired, the goal is to consolidate what has been built and transform MUSA into a stable model. “The PNRR funding allowed us to start projects, create networks, and develop technologies and communities,” says Iannantuoni. “The ‘Beyond MUSA’ phase now aims to build a permanent model that continues even without extraordinary funds, thanks to the strength of the partnerships created and the value recognized by the territory.”

In fact, many of the projects started will continue to produce concrete effects in the coming months, especially those aimed at Municipalities and local services, because they were born from real needs that emerged during the process. Looking to the future, the President of MUSA identifies trust as the most precious capital to preserve: “The greatest challenge is to keep alive the trust built between universities, businesses, institutions, and citizens. We need stable governance and the ability to attract new partners. The complexity of cities can become value if managed together.”

The future of MUSA, as told by Wired, therefore looks toward a new season of experimentation and participation. “More experimentation, more citizen participation, and a greater ability to transform innovation into concrete benefits for the community. This is the direction of a future MUSA 2.0,” concludes Giovanna Iannantuoni.