Italian cities launch university‑led urban regeneration plans

The Italian Minister of Universities and Research, Annamaria Bernini, visited Reggio Calabria to announce the demolition of the long‑standing “ecomostri” housing blocks and the rollout of a new Master Plan for the University Mediterranea. The plan, backed by roughly €220 million in funding since 2022, aims to link the university’s growth with the city’s redevelopment, promote international student attraction and position Reggio Calabria as a Mediterranean gateway.

In the central Italian city of Terni, the municipal council approved a strategic framework with the University of Perugia to convert former industrial sites into an integrated university campus. The initiative includes establishing a new department, launching AI‑focused degree programmes, and repurposing the ex‑Officine Bosco as an innovation hub, while refurbishing historic buildings such as the former Foresteria to revitalize the city centre.