Smart Governance: urban regeneration and integration policies in Europe. Turin and Malmö case studies

Integration policies point out not only the objective of social cohesion but also the need to strengthen foreign community leadership, so that they can actively contribute to local socio - economic development. This implies a considerable degree of coordination between the public bodies, the communities, the social and economic operators. Local governments find it more and more difficult to manage the substantial immigration phenomena by efficient integration policies. The topic of integration of the foreign community, though part of Europe 2020 Strategy as concerns an inclusive growth, is not widely treated by smart cities, more inclined to work on smart and sustainable growth. The paper proposes some examples that can provide local authorities insights for the adoption of integration policies within an integrated development process and it illustrates the case studies of “Barriera di Milano” regeneration program in Turin (Italy) and of some neighbourhood regenerations in Malmö (Sweden). In particular, the paper discusses some tools of smart governance applied to urban regeneration interventions, such as community empowerment actions within a strategic planning process and community involvement methods through the practise of living labs and urban farming. The smart aspect of the operations consists of the adoption of integration policies functional not only to promote social cohesion but also to promote local economic development through immigrant community empowerment.