1st Capacity Building Bootcamp (22-24/11/2023, Treviso, IT)
The Veneto Region, spearheaded by the Territorial Planning Directorate office, is leading SATSDIFACTION (Satellite data and Spatial Data Infrastructures for an evidence-based regional governance), a groundbreaking project that spans six European countries (Podkarpackie Region (PL), Regional Government of the Azores (PT), Sviluppo Basilicata SPA (IT), ISSeP – Institut Scientifique de Service Public (BE), Riga City Council (LV) and Occitanie Region (FR)) and involves eight partners. This initiative aims to foster integration between satellite data and Territorial Data Infrastructures, a strategic innovation poised to significantly enhance decision-making processes at both regional and local levels.
Now, the project hosted a comprehensive Bootcamp in Treviso on 22, 23 and 24 November with 27 participants, featuring training sessions and operational workshops. The focus was on equipping participants with the skills to create, manage, and leverage shared methodologies and systemic innovation processes. The overarching goal was to promote the effective use of satellite data by European local and regional administrations.
Stefania De Zorzi, president of the European Institute for Technological Development of Venice, in charge of organizing and managing the meetings, says: “We have a crucial task because the objective of this project is to lead participants to define policies and create innovative tools based on real evidence and data from the European Copernicus sensor and satellite network. Thanks to these invaluable resources, policy makers and technicians will be able to better integrate the needs of local communities into the 2030 agenda for sustainable development."
During the first two days, participants engaged in practical workshops centered around good practices and improvement roadmaps. These sessions aimed to enhance both individual and organizational competencies. Co-designing good practice criteria emerged as a pivotal theme, with the introduction of improvement roadmap templates. Keynote addresses and practical exercises further enriched participants' understanding of these critical aspects.
Project coordinator Mirko Mazzarolo, an official from the Brussels headquarters of the Veneto Region, declares that “the project impacts strategic European policies, such as the Green Deal, the digital and energy transition. The objectives that the project partners set themselves are important, with positive effects on a social and economic level. To achieve them, shared and innovative methodologies are needed. In the Bootcamp we decide together how to work in the coming months to achieve concrete results."
On the third day of the bootcamp conducted at the Santa Caterina Library in Treviso, the Deputy Mayor Alessandro Manera emphasized that "For Treviso the challenge of climate change and the use of technological tools innovative, in coordination with the Veneto Region, is an operational policy that sees the municipal administration and its technicians engaged on a daily basis. The comparison with other European countries accelerates this growth path".
Veneto region summarized the day's outcomes, underscoring the importance of co-designed good practice criteria in achieving project objectives. NEREUS, as an advisory partner, highlighted the significance of transferring and promoting the practices at the EU level. The overall conclusion showcased the project's potential to contribute to the advancement of regional decision-making through the seamless integration of satellite data and Territorial Data Infrastructures.
The hosting region arranged a study visit to the historical center of Treviso and the Santa Caterina museum complex. Furthermore, a project dinner and lunch/coffee breaks were incorporated into the bootcamp, enhancing opportunities for discussions and networking.
The integration of satellite data with Territorial Data Infrastructures represents a transformative step forward in advancing regional policies and decision-making processes. The commitment of all partners involved, coupled with the strategic funding support from the INTERREG programme, sets the stage for a paradigm shift in leveraging technology for regional development.