Francesco Manfredi, Ph.D., is Full Professor of Public Governance & Management, Vice Rector for Postgraduate Managerial Training and Dean of the School of Management at LUM University. Former Director of the PhD Program in "Economics and Management of Natural Resources", he is also a faculty member of the International PhD Program in "Economics and Management of Innovation and Sustainability". Further, he is the Scientific Director of the second level University Masters "Management & E-Governance of the Public Administration" and "Change Management & Social Innovation". Scientific Director of several research projects at national and international levels, his research has been focusing on issues of public management, local governance and public policies. He is the author of numerous international publications, including the books "Community Governance Comunità in azione" and "Smart Community Comunità sostenibili e resilienti", published by Cacucci editore in 2013 and2015, respectively.

Dario Costi, Arch. PhD, is Full Professor in Architectural and Urban Design in the Department of Engineering and Architecture at the University of Parma. He is the Director of the interdisciplinary teaching and research project "Smart City 4.0 Sustainable LAB", which is promoted by the University of Parma in cooperation with the Emilia-Romagna regional government and the public digital infrastructure Lepida, and involves the Universities of Ferrara, Bologna, Modena and Reggio-Emila, Piacenza as well as local Authorities and stakeholders. He is member of the PhD Program in Civil Engineering and Architecture at the University of Parma and at the Faculties of Architecture of the University of Palermo and Sapienza University of Rome. He is active both as a professional and as a researcher in the architectural and urban design field. He is the co-owner of the MC2 Architecture Studio in Parma. Since 2007 he is serving as President of Parma Urban Center, ofwhich he is also the co-founder. Involved in numerous national projects for fostering education in architecture and urban design, Professor Costi is the author of many Italian publications, and Editor of two Italian book series published by MUP Editore, Parma. Since 2020, he is the editor of the international book series "The City Project - Strategies for Smart and Wise Sustainable Urban Design", published by Springer. He is also serving as a lecturer for the Program Master Housing at Roma Tre University, in Rome, and for other Master Programs at the University of Parma, Trani, Lecce and Matera. Since 2018 he is serving as Scientific Director of the Higher Education Courses in Urban Strategic Design at the LUM School of Management in Bari. Since 2021, as part of this collaboration, he has been developing the guidelines for the urban regeneration of Italian cities for the SNA - National School of Administration