ASSOCIAZIONE URBAN LAB

Their core work

Urban Lab is a Turin-based association focused on urban regeneration, spatial planning, and the intersection of cultural heritage with sustainable city development. They bring expertise in co-design processes, participatory planning, and translating research into actionable urban policy — acting as a bridge between academic research and local government implementation. Their work spans from revitalizing historic city centres through nature-based solutions to planning for new mobility services including autonomous vehicles and drones in metropolitan areas.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Urban Lab's early H2020 work (2016–2018) centred on cultural heritage, historic city regeneration, and creative knowledge cities — rooted in their Turin identity as a city with rich architectural heritage. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted markedly toward transport planning, smart mobility, and nature-based solutions, reflecting a broadening from built heritage toward environmental sustainability and future urban mobility. This evolution shows a consistent thread: making cities more liveable — first through culture, then through green infrastructure and transport innovation.

Urban Lab is moving toward green urban transitions — combining nature-based solutions with smart mobility planning — making them a relevant partner for future projects on climate-resilient cities.

How they like to work

Urban Lab has never coordinated an H2020 project, participating as a full partner in two projects and as a third party in two others. Their involvement in consortia averaging 25+ partners across 24 countries suggests they are comfortable operating within large, complex European partnerships. Their third-party roles indicate they are often brought in for specific local expertise — likely contributing Turin as a pilot city or living lab site rather than leading work packages.

Despite their small project portfolio, Urban Lab has connected with 102 unique consortium partners across 24 countries — a remarkably wide network gained through participation in large-scale collaborative projects. Their geographic reach is distinctly pan-European, with no apparent concentration beyond their Italian base.

What sets them apart

Urban Lab occupies a distinctive niche as a civic association that bridges urban policy, cultural heritage, and participatory planning in Turin — one of Italy's key post-industrial cities undergoing major transformation. Unlike universities or consultancies, they bring embedded local knowledge and direct connections to city governance and citizen engagement processes. For consortium builders, they offer a credible Italian pilot city partner with hands-on experience in co-design, urban regeneration, and green transition implementation.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ROCK
  Addressed regeneration of historic city centres through creative and knowledge economy approaches — directly tied to Urban Lab's core mission in Turin.
• HARMONY
  A significant pivot into transport and spatial planning tools for metropolitan areas, including autonomous vehicles and drones — signalling strategic expansion beyond heritage.