Breakfast with Policy Makers – Lucca’s Vision for a Human-Animal Smart City

Breakfast with Policy Makers – Lucca’s Vision for a Human-Animal Smart City

The IN-HABIT initiative marked a significant milestone with the first “Breakfast with Policy Makers” event, focused on the project activities carried out in Lucca. Gathering researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders, the event celebrated the city’s innovative transformation into Europe’s first Human-Animal Smart City while fostering meaningful dialogue on replicating its successful models in other cities.

Key Highlights from the Event

Setting the Stage: María Mar Delgado-Serrano

María Mar Delgado-Serrano, the Coordinator of IN-HABIT and Professor at the University of Cordoba, opened the discussion by underlining the project’s mission to address health and well-being inequalities in small and medium-sized cities. She emphasized the co-creation methodology at the heart of IN-HABIT, which integrates participatory design and behavioral approaches to transform marginalized areas.

“We prioritize small and medium-sized cities, addressing the specific needs of vulnerable populations. In Lucca, we focus on the human-animal bond to create public spaces that support inclusion and well-being” she explained.

Lucca’s Transformative Journey: Francesco Di Iacovo

Professor Francesco Di Iacovo from the University of Pisa and Director of the Department of Excellence in Veterinary Sciences, detailed the innovative human-animal solutions being implemented in Lucca. Highlights included:

• Animal Lines: 15 kilometers of paths designed for human-animal interactions, promoting exercise, social inclusion, and environmental awareness.
• Relational Areas: Designated spaces for elders to interact with pets, which have been shown to enhance mental health and foster social connections.
• Gamified Engagement: Initiatives with our partner Lucca Crea to incorporate playful learning into the city’s public spaces.

Di Iacovo underscored the importance of mindset change in viewing animals as contributors to urban well-being, not just private companions.

The Role of Standardized Guidelines: Laura Contalbrigo

A key contributor to the discussion, Laura Contalbrigo, Veterinary Officer at the National Reference Center for Animal-Assisted Interventions (IZSVe), highlighted the critical role of standardized guidelines and policies in ensuring the success and replicability of Lucca’s human-animal innovations. Indeed, Italy is the only country in Europe th

at has regulated the field of animal-assisted interventions. 

“This model appears to work very well in Lucca, but we know that in Italy there are significant regional differences in terms of social, economic, and cultural factors. What I would truly appreciate is for you to provide clear guidelines to the institutions, especially municipalities, outlining specific steps they can follow to replicate the model. These guidelines should help them assess their own needs and take actionable steps for improvement.” Laura emphasized.

Insights from Tuscany’s Regional Council: Francesco Sangermano

It was an honor to welcome Francesco Sangermano, Chief of Staff to the President of the Regional Council of Tuscany, to the discussion. His vision for ex

panding Lucca’s success regionally and beyond resonated strongly with IN-HABIT’s mission. Sangermano emphasized Tuscany’s dedication to human-animal innovation and presented several forward-thinking ideas for further development:

• Hospital-Based Programs: Tuscany has piloted initiatives where patients in hospitals can receive visits from their pets, revolutionizing patient care and recovery experiences.
• Tourism Integration: Sangermano proposed creating pet-friendly tourism itineraries in Tuscany, allowing visitors to travel with their animals while enjoying the region’s unique offerings.
• AI for Urban Innovation: He introduced the idea of leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance urban experiences, ensuring that both residents and visitors have access to tailored services for living and traveling with pets.

“We’d like to propose a model so that people

can come to Tuscany and know that they can have all the services and opportunities they need to stay as better as they can here in Tuscany. We would really like to build this model, maybe we can contribute together. I think it’s something important for our region and maybe for Italy. For the whole of Italy.” Sangermano stated.

Scaling Success Across Regions

Participants, including representatives from Lucca’s municipality and regional stakeholders, explored how to replicate the city’s achievements in other areas. They discussed the importance of:

• Creating clear guidelines: as noted by Laura Contalbrigo (Veterinary Officer at the National Reference Center for Animal-Assisted Interventions, IZSVe), standardized policies and procedures are vital for adapting Lucca’s model to other regions, given the diversity in cultural, economic, and social contexts across Italy.
• Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships: collaboration among governments, private investors, and local communities was highlighted as a critical factor for sustainability.

A Model for the Future

This first Breakfast with Policy Makers underscored the power of collaboration in addressing urban challenges. As IN-HABIT prepares to expand its focus to Cordoba, Riga, and Nitra, the lessons learned in Lucca will serve as a blueprint for fostering inclusive, innovative, and sustainable urban living across Europe.

Stay tuned as we continue this transformative journey!