Rome IX and Campus Bio-Medico, an alliance for sustainability and development

The Municipality of Rome IX and Campus Bio-Medico have renewed their agreement for sustainability and development, signing a new Memorandum of Understanding for the triennium 2026–2029. The pact aims to enhance services and support for local communities through initiatives focused on sustainability, education, health promotion, and social inclusion. The agreement was signed during an event held at the university’s Trigoria campus, marking a continuation of collaboration aimed at improving quality of life for residents. The renewed partnership will focus on launching new programs promoting healthy lifestyles, preventive healthcare, scientific outreach, STEM education, volunteerism, solidarity, awareness of research activities at Campus Bio-Medico, environmental protection, sports and wellness, and sustainable mobility projects. The goal is to foster initiatives aligned with human ecology and integral sustainability, social inclusion, environmental conservation, intergenerational dialogue, and public-private cooperation. A key element of this strategy is listening to community voices to guide institutional decisions, as highlighted in the 2025 social report Trigoria and the Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, which was presented to the Municipality IX. Trigoria, a neighborhood known for its potential and active community, has expressed a need for more services, social spaces, and better infrastructure connecting it to the city center. According to the report, the collaboration between the Municipality IX and Campus Bio-Medico represents a tangible opportunity for local development. Recent efforts by Campus Bio-Medico include the opening of the Campus Pharmacy in 2024, located within the Policlinic square. This initiative launched the Social Card project in partnership with the Municipality IX, supporting vulnerable citizens and families facing economic hardship. The program, operational since March 2025, involves issuing vouchers to eligible individuals and families, facilitated by the Municipality’s Office of Social Services and Health Care Access. In 2026, Campus Bio-Medico further expanded its impact with the inauguration of the Agri Research and Teaching Center, a 2,000-square-meter facility dedicated to agricultural innovation and tech-driven research. The center includes experimental areas for aquaponics, hydroponics, and plant growth chambers, integrating cutting-edge technology into educational and research practices. It offers opportunities for young people and schools in the area to engage in inclusive projects, training, and career guidance. During the signing ceremony, a guided tour of the Simulation Center at Campus Bio-Medico took place. Located within the Cubo building used for teaching, the center spans over 400 square meters and features adaptable environments tailored to different educational needs. It includes a resuscitation room, surgical suite, patient care unit, immersive multisensory space, and advanced simulators, human models used for clinical training and device evaluation. The facility incorporates robotics and artificial intelligence technologies, making it one of the most modern simulation centers in Italy. The renewal of the agreement also served as a platform to discuss urban peripheries' future, a topic central to the recent hearing of the Campus Bio-Medico. Discussions emphasized the importance of investing in peripheral areas to ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities. The Municipality IX and Campus Bio-Medico plan to continue working together to address local challenges while leveraging academic and technological expertise for broader societal benefit. The upcoming months will see the implementation of new projects under the Social Green Masterplan, aiming to align local development with global sustainability goals.