- What is Torino City Lab?
- Torino City Lab is an initiative of the City of Torino carried out in partnership with local key actors (See Partner Section of the Website) to allow testing of innovative solutions in real conditions within Torino territory.
- Who can participate?
- Companies, located in Italy or abroad willing to test at their own expenditure innovative solutions on the ground.
- Can a University or a Not for profit association submit a proposal?
- A Research body or Not For profit association can participate only in partnership with a company. Only a company can participate as coordinator, even alone.
- What kind of facilitation can a tester receive from Torino City Lab?
- The City of Torino can facilitate the choice and access to the public assets where to test innovative solutions. For instance: streets, squares, buildings. The City can involve its sectoral department for reinforced cooperation which is retained useful for testing (es. Education, Safety & security, Green Infrastructures, etc.). This kind of assistance is made for free.
- Furthermore, the City Administration will cut or reduce costs of local taxes related to the occupation of soil and the installation of publicity tools on the ground. The City will facilitate visibility of testing operations, supporting communication via online and offline means.
- Through its system of partners, the City will facilitate the access to assets and data managed by local service companies (so called “Utilities”) like: public lighting, heating&cooling network, water network, local transport, traffic management systems, even airports and train stations. The type of facility, accompanying measures and (possible) costs will be identified and communicated case by case. Accompanying measures will be tailor made.
- May an organization receive funding?
- In general, no. Support is conceived in terms of facilitation to access to testing. Funding can be made available only in case of specific “Call for solutions” issued by the City or by its partner and duly publicized on the website.
- What kind of support will main industry partner offer to testers within Torino City Lab?
- Main partner will have the possibility to observe the experimentations and offer their support in terms of: Technologies; sectoral data and market knowledge; research infrastructures; networking; access to finance, etc. The type of facility, accompanying measures and (possible) costs will be identified and communicated case by case. Accompanying measures will be taylor made.
- How will Research and other Partner organization support Torino City Lab?
- Research & Innovation partner organization will offer support in terms of: Networking; access to research infrastructures and networks; link with the regional system of funding for research&innovation; validation of testing; etc. The type of facility, accompanying measures will be identified and communicated case by case. Accompanying measures will be tailor made.
- Are testing proposal object of a competitive selection process?
- Yes, proposal will be selected according to a set of evaluation criteria, which are made explicit within the “Rule of participation” and namely: Innovativeness; Technical feasibility; Economic and financial sustainability; Consistency; Expected Impact. Proposal will have to be ranked at least 60 out 100 points (max 20 per each criteria).The City reserve itself the possibility not to admit ant proposal which do not retain coherent or feasible within the context of Torino City Lab.
- How long does it take the evaluation timeframe?
- Proposals will be analyzed continuously from the opening of the initiative onwards. Within 60 days from the proposal submission an internal commission will communicate the admission to testing. The terms of conditions of the testing will be agreed between the parties with the so-called “Experimentation Contracts”. In case of need of further administrative authorization, the City administration or its utilities will take up to further 45 days to give the necessary permits. In case of very complex testing activities which need deregulation or relationship with other Governing Bodies, the City will open targeted coordination activities and in this case the timeframe for testing could change. The aforementioned timeline could be reframed in case of force majeur situations as well as for reasons not depending by the City of Torino.
- Has the City of Torino identified specific challenges?
- Torino City Lab is open for testing of any solution of public interest for the urban territory and society. As a reference, it has been adopted the sectoral areas of the “Smart City” taxonomy, reinterpreted in line with “UN Sustainable Development Goals” with a focus on SDG 11 “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable” (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg11). Furthermore, the City has underlined some technology trends of interests for the first period of Torino City Lab and in particular:
- Autonomous and connected vehicles;
- Artificial Intelligence and Robotics;
- Internet of Things/Internet of Data (including 5G)
- Drones for smart city applications;
- Innovative communication means.
This list is only indicative and can be updated periodically. Furthermore, the City of Torino and/or its partners can launch specific “Call for solutions” in response to targeted challenges. This opportunity will be underlined onto the website.
- Is it possible to showcase innovative market products already commercialized?
- In general no. Torino City Lab is not conceived as a “showroom” but aims to offer conditions to develop and test solutions at the pre-commercial phase. For technology innovations, the so called Technology Readiness Level may vary from TRL 4 to TRL 9 and should be well justified. Innovativeness can also consist into service or organizational or process or social innovations and should be well described against the current state of the art at least of the Italian and European Market.
- What is the maximum duration of testing?
- Up to maximum 12 months. Further testing period could be agreed among parties in case of duly justified needs.
- Does Torino City Lab provide the direct purchase of tested solutions?
- Not at all. Any forthcoming purchases will be in any case regulated according to the procurement Law.
