From Network Science to Social Impact: Rethinking Smart Cities and the Role of the Italian Third Sector
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13135/2704-9906/12412Keywords:
Third sector, social cooperatives, smart cities, network science, urban ecosystems, social impact, accountability, ItalyAbstract
This article explores the potential to adapt and reinterpret the model of the “eight urban networks” (CEEC), developed in China to promote intelligent and inclusive ecosystems, within the Italian context. Rooted in network science and aimed at fostering equity, efficiency, and social cohesion, the CEEC model is examined through a comparative lens in relation to practices within the Italian Third Sector, particularly the role of Type B social cooperatives and place-based impact platforms.
Through a literature review, an analysis of emerging urban policies, and a qualitative exploration of the Torino Social Impact case, the study highlights value-based and operational convergences, systemic differences, and enabling conditions for building impactful urban networks. A conceptual framework is proposed to integrate the contribution of social enterprises into urban governance processes, offering new perspectives for designing inclusive, sustainable, and civically engaged cities.
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