Educational District for Innovation (D.E.D.I.) - Genoa focuses on young people: the new project has been approved

The Genoa City Council has approved the new programme agreement for the construction of the Educational District of Innovation (D.E.D.I.) in Piazza Facchini, Rivarolo, marking a significant step forward in the urban regeneration of the Valpolcevera area and in the creation of an integrated ecosystem combining education, research and business.

The project will cover an area of approximately 30,000 square metres, currently occupied by the former locomotive depot, and involves a total investment of 30 million euros for the creation of an innovative educational campus set to become a centre of excellence for the development of human capital and innovation in the region.
 

The project will focus on a new high school offering an experimental technological curriculum, designed to offer advanced educational programmes in the digital and scientific sectors and to foster a direct link between the education system, the world of research and the local economy. The project will involve leading partners such as the University of Genoa, the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), the National Research Council (CNR), the Ansaldo Foundation and numerous local businesses.

In addition, the campus will also include a crèche, a nursery school and a lower secondary school, all set within a 12,600 square metre urban park featuring areas dedicated to sport, socialising and outdoor activities.

The initiative represents an innovative model of urban development, which combines urban regeneration, the development of advanced skills and the attraction of new opportunities for businesses and investment. The District aims to create an environment favouring the growth of technology clusters and innovation, thereby strengthening the competitiveness of the Genoa metropolitan area.

The construction of the campus will be entrusted to a successful bidder following an international design competition. The next step will be the signing of the implementation agreement, which will set out the financial contributions from the various parties involved, including the Municipality of Genoa, the Liguria Region, the Metropolitan City, the relevant ministries, Trenitalia, the ALPIM Foundation and the Order of Architects.

The new secondary school is scheduled to begin its pilot phase in the 2027/2028 academic year. Once completed, the D.E.D.I. will contribute to the transformation of the Facchini area into a new hub dedicated to education, research and innovation, with a positive impact on the entire Valpolcevera valley and the economic system of the Genoa region.


Edited by Davide Barbero and Rebeca Burgos