DSICity

[photo G. Lupinacci]]

Digitally-enabled Social Innovation in the City. Implications for urban spaces, societies and governance

DSI in the City is a project funded by MUR-PRIN 2022 led by Chiara Certomà (PI, University of Rome Sapienza) and Venere Sanna (University of Siena), project code 2022KTEZPX – CUP D53D23011260006.

[photo G. Lupinacci/Raw-News]

One of the main challenges for contemporary society is to understand and govern the digital revolution and its sociopolitical consequences. It is important to step beyond the a-critical technology and optimism of digital capitalism and ponder the spatial, sociocultural, and political/economic impacts of the pervasive infiltration of digital technologies. These impacts are particularly felt in cities, which serve as hotbeds for the flourishing of digitally-enabled Social Innovation Initiatives (DSIs). DSI encompasses heterogeneous collaborative innovation practices (such as ‘fab-labs’, open software (co)creators, ‘citizen scientists’) in which communities of innovators – whose intentions range from strengthening, reforming or even subverting the neoliberal institutions – adopt digital technologies and internet connectivity to advance knowledge and solutions for a wide range of social needs. From enabling citizen participation, through providing services, to harnessing people’s creativity, DSI initiatives are proliferating and transforming the structural and the operational space of contemporary cities. However, geographical research has devoted limited attention to the relationship between DSI initiatives and urban space, thus preventing us from appreciating the deep sociopolitical implications of the ‘Digital Turn’, including threats for social justice and sustainability.

[photo G. Lupinacci/Raw-News]

The overall aim of the project is to establish a dedicated theoretical and analytical framework for a critical examination of DSI space and spatialities, to advance critical urban geography research. To this end, after (1) reviewing the existing research on DSI, the project (2) systematically maps existing processes in two selected cases (Turin and Rome) that allow a quantitative and qualitative investigation of the interaction between DSI practices and the city itself; (3) analyses the practices of innovators’ communities in their making, with regard to the social, political, environmental, and cultural space of performance, above and beyond the generated characteristics of these spaces; and (4) identifies and deconstructs the principal issues determined by the digitalisation of urban reproduction processes, notably via the diffusion of DSI practices. To achieve a breakthrough on the above-described objectives, the project proposes a novel mixed-method approach which entails a combination of online and offline data collection techniques (e.g. web-mining, participant observation, and fieldwork), data analysis techniques (e.g. discourse analysis, multi-criteria analysis), and critical interpretation of the evidence generated. In terms of scientific impacts, the project delivers an entirely novel perspective on the nature, characteristics, and dynamics of DSI as a social technology that is shaping contemporary urban space and society; and contributes to the challenge of understanding and governing the vanguard of socio-technical innovation in contemporary cities.

[photo G. Lupinacci/Raw-News]

Project activities diary

  • 22.09.2023 Internal project meeting, UniTo/UniSi
  • 10.10.2023 Call for paper AAG2024
  • 13/14.11.2023 DSI COST Action Meeting, University of Turin
    The core team of the PRIN Project “DSInnovators,” including Chiara Certomà, Venere Sanna, Samantha Cenere, Cristina Viano, and Pouya Sepehr, participated in the highly anticipated Digital Social Innovation (DSI) COST Action Proposal Workshop. This significant event took place on the 13th and 14th of November, 2024, hosted by the esteemed School of Management and Economics at the University of Turin. The workshop brought together leading minds in the field of digital social innovation from across Europe, aiming to foster collaboration, exchange innovative ideas, and lay the groundwork for future projects under the COST Action framework. Our team was honored to contribute our insights and learn from fellow innovators dedicated to making a positive impact through technology. Key Highlights: Collaborative Sessions: Chiara, Venere, Samantha, Cristina, and Pouya engaged in productive discussions, exploring the potential for new partnerships and projects that align with our mission to drive sustainable innovation; Expert Panels: Members of our team participated in panels, sharing their experiences and strategies for overcoming challenges in the digital social innovation landscape; Networking Opportunities: The event provided a unique platform for our team to connect with researchers, practitioners, and policymakers passionate about using digital solutions to address societal challenges. This participation not only signifies our ongoing commitment to contributing to the global conversation on digital social innovation but also sets the stage for exciting developments in our projects. The insights gained and the connections made during the workshop will undoubtedly enrich our initiatives and help us in our mission to support sustainable digital transformation.
  • 19.01.2024 Research management and orientation meeting (online). Participants: Chiara Certomà, Venere Sanna, Samantha Cenere, Cristina Viano, Pouya Sepher. Discussion and definition of the preparation of a COST Action proposal as a product of the PRIN.
  • 4-5.12.2023 Interviews with Digital Social Innovators in Turin

  • 24th and 25th of January, 2024 We are thrilled to host a series of exclusive interviews with the trailblazers who are reshaping our world through DSInnovators in Rome. Engage with the minds behind Officine Zero, Repair Café, Fondazione Mondo Digitale as they discuss their groundbreaking work and vision for a sustainable future.

  • 15.02.2024 PRIN project coordination shifted from the University of Turin Dep. ESOMAS to the University of Rome La Sapienza Dep. Memotef (due to the PI change of institutional affiliation). Modification of Research Units: University of Rome La Sapienza research unit includes Chiara Certomà and Massimo Battaglia; the University of Siena team includes Venere Sanna and Cristina Capineri.
  • 05.02.2024 The new PRIN DSICity webpage is online hosted by UniSi portal. All news, communication and documentary material are available from now on at: https://dsicity.unisi.it/

[photo G. Lupinacci/Raw-News]

  • Apr 2024 The book “Digital Technologies for Sustainable Futures Promises and Pitfalls” (eds. Certomà, Iapaolo, Martellozzo) has been published by Routledge, London – more info here
  • Jun 2024 The teaser trailer of the research-based professional video reportage titled “Unlocking the Urban Code. Digital Social Innovation and City Spaces” ideated by Chiara Certomà, scripted/directed and shot by Raw-News is now out! Check it out the news:

The full version of the video reportage is available on Zenodo https://zenodo.org/records/12789715 and youtube:

poster makerfaire 2024 Social & Responsible Innovation 2Download

DSICity promotional material:

Unlocking the Urban Code_catalogueDownload
  • 05.12.2024 We attended the meeting, held at the Istituto Comprensivo Statale Via Cassia 1694 in Rome, between the school’s students and the sailor Matteo Miceli, who together discussed topics related to the use of innovative technologies for sustainable development. The team also took video footage of the meeting.
  • 15 Jan-15 Feb 2025 PRIN project DSICity presented in a photographic exhibition at Sapienza -Memotef Dep.
locandina evento dipartimento.pptxDownload
  • 21-21 feb 2025 “Hackaton dell’Innovazione Sociale”, Sapienza Univerisity of Rome, Latina
  • 27-28 Mar 2024 Data Walking @UniSi
  • 15 apr 2025 Interview Matteo Miceli, Italian sailor that built and tested ECO40 fully sustainable boat on the solo Rome Ocean World tour, pioneering social innovation for sustainability in extreme contexts.
  • 07 may 2025 Video of the Data Walking @UniSi now out (trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVCaBAqkMCA complete video: https://youtu.be/VKW3kKPCaN4)
  • 04 july 2025 Chiara Certomà is presentating “L’intelligenza dell’artificiale:politicizzare le tecnologie digitali” at “Urban Intelligences. Tecnologie Agentiche e partecipazione civiche” conference, Fondazione Mondo Digitale, Rome
Agenda Seminario – Urban Intelligences – 4 luglio 2025 – Draft (1)Download
  • jun 2025 Now available set DSI photo 1 “Digital Social Innovation in Turin”, cases Orto della SME, Hackability and FabLabTorino, curated by Chiara Certomà, University of Turin and Federico Fornaro, Raw-News ( Photo: G. Lupinacci /Raw-News full reportage on project website).
  • jun 2025 Now available set DSI photo 2 “Digital Social Innovation in Rome” cases MondoDigitale, OfficineZero, RepairCafè , curated by Chiara Certomà, University of Turin and Federico Fornaro, Raw-News ( Photo: G. Lupinacci /Raw-News full reportage on project website).
  • jun 2025 Now available set DSI photo 3 “DSI and Self-Sufficient Sailing Around the World”, curated by Chiara Certomà, Sapienza University of Rome and Federico Fornaro, Raw-News ( Photo: G. Lupinacci /Raw-News full reportage on project website).
  • Jun 2025 welcome to Marcello Data who joined the Sapienza DSICity research team !
  • Aug 2025 “Community Economies in place. Reading for difference Digital Social Innovation in augmented cities for imagining diverse economies” RGS AC2025, University of Birmingham
  • Sep 2025 Online the interactive map to visualize DSI initiatives in Rome and Turin (here)
  • Oct 2025 Finalised the results of the qualitative analysis of DSI initiatives in Turin and Rome

DSICity researchers conducted an in-depth qualitative analysis of DSI initiatives in Turin and Rome, grounded in the European context. The online and off-line data collection process was performed via the following steps (in italian):

DSICity interviewed the following digital social innovators:

Open interviews design is based on a Rapid Appraisal Approach with open questions, these allow gaining qualitative information in a fast and succinct way and generate quasi-ethnographic data to compare what social actors practically do with their motivations. Interviews provide key-actors perspectives on DSI socio-political and cultural implications in the selected cities (full interviews – restricted access).

Dato, M., & Certoma’, C. (2025). DSI Interview_DSICity project. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17989732

Audio-visual material that is produced internally or externally to a DSI initiative, created with participants or recordings of them, created to be shared publicly or privately, recordings of natural or staged events, and used as a communication/dissemination tool or as data. Collected materials are intended for communication and outreach initiatives (see section Publication).

  • Oct 2025 Finalised the results of the comparative analysis on the urban-social dimensions of DSI initiatives in Rome and Turin (here)

Discourse analysis of written or spoken statements generates information about the interplay of narratives, visions, imaginaries of DSI communities that crystallize into practices. It makes it possible to identify the structuration and institutionalisation of narratives, to detect affinities between discourse and the emerging coalitions (van den Brink, Metze  2006). This process allows us to adopt a critical, reflexive and deconstructive approach to the analysis of DSI (most notably by involving digital activists, hackers and critical social entrepreneurs in the conversation) (full comparative analysis-restricted access).

  • Nov 2025 Finalised the results of the Literature Analysis & Fieldwork Synthesis. This reading aligns with literature that treats DSI through socio-technical/urban imaginaries materialised in concrete places via governance and in-presence social relationships. The analysis includes the following sub-sections: 1. Urban Space: place-based innovation, neighbourhood scale, augmented place-making; 2. Social Factor: access, learning, participation; technology as instrument; 3. Social Fabric: commons, reciprocity, governance; ecosystem thinking & multi-level commons support; 4. State of the field (2025): hubs, fragments, and weaving together. Available here (restricted access). [below: example of VosViewer bibliometry and via Carrots2]

Dato, M., & Certoma’, C. (2025). DSI Literature Analysis_Project DSICity . Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17989854

Project publications, conferences and outputs

Audio-visual material that is produced internally or externally to a DSI initiative, created with participants or recordings of them, created to be shared publicly or privately, recordings of natural or staged events, and used as a communication/dissemination tool or as data. Collected materials are intended for communication and outreach initiatives (see section Publication).

“Digitally-enabled Social Innovation in the city: implications for urban spaces, societies and governance” (DSICity) is a PRIN 2022 Research Project of National Relevance funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) (2022KTEZPX). Financed by the European Union – Next Generation EU.

With the external collaboration of:

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