Pietro Ghirlanda

Hi, I’m Pietro, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Milan and a fellow at the Institute for the Cooperative Digital Economy. My research focuses on the Italian cooperative platform ecosystem, specifically examining the role of municipalities in supporting the growth of the cooperative movement within Italy. I am thrilled to be here to share ideas, exchange best practices, and learn from other outstanding researchers and practitioners. Today, I will present case studies from three Italian cities—Bologna, Milan, where I’m conducting my Ph.D.. These cases highlight platform cooperatives and socially oriented platforms, showcasing how municipalities can employ various strategies to enhance the platform cooperative ecosystem. This discussion is particularly relevant, given the conference’s focus on new municipalism and the pivotal role of municipal service provision in assessing the impact of platform cooperatives. Additionally, this is my first visit to Brazil, and I am thoroughly enjoying my time in the beautiful city of Rio. I’m grateful to ITS and PCC for their exceptional work. Thank you very much.