The new “Smart Cities Control Room” workshop is coming

Its Academy for Energy, Environment and Sustainability has inaugurated the new “Smart Cities Control Room” at Estra’s headquarters in Prato: a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to training in the monitoring, analysis and control of smart cities and complex energy systems.

The infrastructure, funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) with an investment of €883,729.49, is the latest addition to the network of decentralised laboratories that ITS Academy Energia is setting up directly within its partner companies, moving away from the traditional school model towards a training approach designed to better understand the needs of businesses.

The laboratory has been designed as a fully-fledged training control room, capable of accommodating a class of around 30 students, who will be able to collect, visualise and analyse data from urban mobility systems and energy infrastructure in real time, with the aim of acquiring skills that can be immediately applied in the utilities sector, public administrations and technology companies.

Using professional tools and cloud infrastructure, students will be able to simulate the activities of Smart City operations centres, from monitoring consumption and infrastructure to analysing mobility and identifying anomalies. The aim is to train technicians capable of using data to make urban services more efficient, safe and sustainable. As part of its collaboration with ITS Academy, Estra will also consider setting up work placements, internships, apprenticeship schemes and potential employment opportunities for students trained through the laboratory.

‘The network of workshops represents the most complete embodiment of our approach to training, as they enable students to gain experience and knowledge directly within companies, in close contact with the technologies and the professionals who manage them on a daily basis. This is the full realisation of ‘learning by doing’, a principle that has always guided the ITS model. Within this vision, Estra is a key partner in sharing the skills and tools needed to train the professionals who will lead the country’s energy and digital transition. This synergy strengthens both the Foundation’s mission and Estra’s commitment to its local community,” said Francesco Macrì, president of ITS and president of Estra.