Lugano/Varese – Institutions from the canton of Ticino and Lombardy in Italy have agreed a cross-border cooperation. In collaboration with the University of Italian Switzerland (USI), the aim is also to develop a knowledge exchange platform.

On Thursday, the GovernaTI-VA cooperation project was presented, within the framework of which the canton of Ticino is planning to work together with the Italian province of Varese. According to a press release, various organizations and authorities are keen on strengthening cross-border governance and creating a platform for the exchange of successful measures and projects between Italy and Switzerland.

This exchange of knowledge is aimed at improving the capacity of public administration bodies to develop joint decision-making processes and to confront challenges together. GovernaTI-VA is a cross-border project within the framework of the Interreg V-A Italy Switzerland 2014-2020 cooperation program. It received approval from the European Commission in December 2015.

In this context, Università della Svizzera italiana USI is working together with the canton of Ticino. The area of public and non-profit management at the USI Institute for Economics (IdEP) supports and promotes this project. To this end, the USI is also bringing to the table its experiences from previous Interreg projects.

USI is in particular aiming to contribute to issues such as mobility and innovation. The focus here will likely be on solutions to improve tourism management and the creation of connections for all inhabitants from both regions. In addition, concepts in relation to smart cities, social regeneration, e-democracy and the digital transformation are to be developed and implemented.

The section for local authorities (SEL) of the Department of Institutions (DI) is tasked with promoting communication with municipalities and their authorities. The Swiss association for public-private partnerships (PPP Switzerland) will enable experiences and partners from German-speaking Switzerland and Romandy (the French-speaking region of Switzerland) to be included in certain project phases. The Institute for Continuous Education (IFC) at the Department for Education, Culture and Sport (DECS) is to support the local authorities in the implementation of new processes.

Related news

Meet with an expansion expert

Our services are free of charge and include:

  • Introduction to key contacts in industry, academia, and government
  • Advice on regulatory framework, taxes, labor, market, and setting up a company
  • Custom-made fact-finding visits, including office and co-working space