Expo 2015 in a click. A joint agreement with businesses has been finalised to create a virtual space and make Milan a modern Smart City

The digital platform will be created by Expo 2015 SpA, together with its partners and CEFRIEL-Milan Polytechnic, to enable all the new Smart City services to be integrated so they respond efficiently to tourists’ requirements

“A massive digital highway for local businesses with junctions that can be accessed from all over the world, even after 2015”. The words chosen by Confcommercio president Carlo Sangalli to describe the Expo Milano 2015 ICT Project on 16th April were perfectly clear. The virtual space created by Expo 2015 SpA and the business world will enable companies to present their products and services to the over 20 million visitors expected in 2015, “will be one of the most important legacies left by the Milan Expo”.

The digital platform will be created by Expo 2015 SpA, together with its partners and CEFRIEL-Milan Polytechnic, to enable all the new Smart City services to be integrated so they respond efficiently to tourists’ requirements. For example, they can check a display to find out the traffic situation on the capital’s ringroads or the times of trains heading to Milan whilst they are waiting for their luggage to arrive at Malpensa airport; an application by ATM will give information about railway links and passengers on the Malpensa Express will have real-time information about which check-in to go to.

This strategic project is based on the firm belief that the success of Expo Milano 2015 will very much depend on the standard of services offered to visitors and exhibitors during their stay in Milan and Italy. This ranges from the choice of transport available (airplane, train, underground, tram, etc.), hospitality in hotels and restaurants and entertainment (events, cultural shows, sports, etc.) to events specially organised to celebrate all the excellent things Italy has to offer: the entire network of businesses must help to offer people the very best imaginable. This is why technological infrastructures and IT networks can become a key factor in ensuring that such an important event is successful. The platform that Expo 2015 SpA plans to build already offers an early trial of the integrated services available for transport and travel information thanks to ATM, Infoblu from the Autostrade per l’Italia Group, SEA, Serravalle, Trenitalia and Trenord.

The agreement to go ahead with the Expo Milano 2015 ICT Project was signed by Giuseppe Sala, the Chief Executive Officer of Expo 2015 SpA; Diana Bracco, the president of the Confindustria Special R&I Project and Expo 2015; Carlo Sangalli, the president of the Milan Chamber of Commerce; Alberto Meomartini, the president of Assolombarda; Giorgio Rapari, the chairman of the Confcommercio Expo 2015 Committee, and Adalberto Corsi, the deputy vice-president of the Confcommercio Union of Milan.

“The aim of team agreement between Expo and businesses that we have signed today is to create a virtual space that can be used to present and promote services to Expo visitors, whether they visit in person or virtually.” Diana Bracco, the president of Expo 2015 SpA, explained. “It will be a “digital Expo extra” where people can find a wide range of different information.”

Giuseppe Sala, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, underlined the fundamental role played by technologies in the development of the country, “When faced with Italian data on internet services you either become despondent or launch new initiatives: Expo 2015 has chosen to taken the second path. We aim to enable the visitor to envision a visit around Expo and also around the entire country: we decided to create an ecosystem that makes life easier for the different players in specific sectors. This is because we need to create something that lives on after Expo.”

Alberto Meomartini agreed with CEO Giuseppe Sala and went on to talk about how the Expo-business platform offers the opportunity to “reflect on how this method can be implemented to also resolve more general problems affecting the country.” Adalberto Corsi said that the ICT project is “a step forward in quality and efficiency.”