On October 30th, 2025, Bologna successfully hosted the Cities for Talent Meeting 2025, a major European event that brought together over 50 representatives from more than 30 cities and organizations to discuss shared strategies for attracting and retaining talent.

Co-organized by the Metropolitan City of Bologna, the Municipality of Bologna and ART-ER, in collaboration with the Emilia-Romagna Region, the meeting further consolidated Bologna’s and the region’s position as a European reference point for innovation and skills development.

Launch of the International Talent Network

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the official launch of the International Talent Network, a collaboration among European cities that host an international house and/or one-stop shop for talent support.

Participating cities have voluntarily joined forces to develop shared projects and policies for the welcoming, integration, and empowerment of international talents.
This initiative highlights the Emilia-Romagna Region’s leadership in European network building, supported by the 2023 Regional Law on Talent Attraction.

ART-ER’s contribution to talent attraction and retention

The success of the meeting also underscores the effectiveness of regional policies on talent attraction and retention, in which ART-ER plays a key role through several strategic actions:

• Coordination of local initiatives: ART-ER coordinates the activities implemented by municipalities, the Metropolitan City, universities, and AFAM (Higher Artistic, Musical and Core Training Institutions), following the enactment of the regional law on talent attraction.

• Management of the it-ER International Talents Emilia-Romagna program: This initiative provides tailored services for international professionals and Italian talents returning from abroad — including their families — ensuring personalized support for settlement and full integration into the regional ecosystem.

• Strengthening the innovation ecosystem: ART-ER fosters connections between business, research, and education, making Emilia-Romagna a structurally competitive environment capable of attracting, retaining, and fully valuing talent.

• International engagement: By participating in networks such as the International Talent Network, ART-ER promotes the exchange of best practices and enhances the global visibility of the Emilia-Romagna system as a model for effective talent attraction and retention.

Towards sustainable and inclusive growth

The commitment of ART-ER and the co-organizing institutions will continue in the coming months, aiming to strengthen cooperation among European cities on key issues such as welcoming services, service quality, and support for new entrepreneurship.

Through these joint efforts, Bologna and Emilia-Romagna reaffirm their goal of achieving sustainable, long-term territorial growth, consolidating their status as a European leader in talent attraction and innovation.