On 10 June 2025, the impressive setting of Villa Fabris in Thiene, in the Province of Vicenza, hosted the event entitled “Open Data Serving the Territory: Towards Effective Local Governance.”
Digitalisation and administrative transparency are becoming increasingly important for the development of local communities.
The event was organised and promoted by the Province of Vicenza in close cooperation with IUAV University of Venice and ALDA+. The initiative formed part of the core activities of the European EnCLOD project — Enhancing Governance Capacities of Local Authorities using Open Data — a strategic initiative funded under the Interreg Central Europe transnational cooperation programme.
The main objective of the event was to strengthen the digital and planning capacities of local stakeholders, while promoting a broader open-data culture within strategic territorial governance.
European Project Consulting — EPC S.r.l. — which actively supports the Province of Vicenza in the overall management and coordination of the project, took part in the event. In particular, EPC Project Manager Francesca Borga participated as a speaker, providing the audience with a comprehensive introduction to the main operational activities and long-term objectives of the EnCLOD project.
Morning Session: Experts Discuss the Value of Open Data
During the extensive morning session, participants had the opportunity to hear presentations and analyses from leading experts in the field of public data management.
The main contributions included:
- Vincenzo Patruno — ISTAT: presented an in-depth reflection on the strategic use of open data as a key resource for enabling a more efficient and modern Public Administration that responds more effectively to citizens’ actual needs.
- Idelfo Borgo — Veneto Region: provided a detailed overview of the current status, dissemination and regulation of open data within the Veneto Region.
- Nicola Piva — Municipality of Bologna: contributed to the discussion by presenting practical experience and a successful example of good practice implemented in the city of Bologna.
- Francesco Bruzzone — IUAV University of Venice: concluded the first part of the event by officially presenting the planned EnCLOD pilot actions, which focus on developing and promoting more accessible and sustainable road and urban mobility throughout the Province of Vicenza.
Afternoon Workshop: Practical Training for Urban and Territorial Planning
In the afternoon, the programme continued with an invitation-only technical training session led and coordinated by Francesco Bruzzone from IUAV University of Venice.
The practical workshop was entirely dedicated to the analytical use of open data in relation to key topics for the future of cities and territories, including:
- local climate change and its impacts;
- new models of sustainable and intermodal mobility;
- ongoing and rapidly evolving territorial transformations.
The training focused primarily on how these information flows can be effectively integrated into modern urban-planning processes.
The initiative attracted a high level of participation from both technical and political representatives of municipalities across the Province of Vicenza, as well as numerous professionals, urban planners and local stakeholders.
Participants benefited from an important opportunity to update their knowledge and explore key issues that are essential for developing modern, data-driven and genuinely inclusive territorial public policies.
For further information, access to official documents and regular updates on the progress of the European EnCLOD project, please visit the dedicated sections of the project’s official communication channels.
