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ALMA: Driving Digital Innovation with Support from the Emilia-Romagna Regional Grant Programme

The Emilia-Romagna 2021–2027 European Regional Development Fund Programme

The Emilia-Romagna 2021–2027 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme is the strategic planning framework that defines how European, national, and regional funding resources (totalling more than €1 billion) are allocated to support a more sustainable, innovative, and inclusive regional economy. The Programme focuses on the following strategic priorities:

  • Research and Innovation: fostering competitiveness and creating high-quality employment by supporting research, technological development, and innovation.
  • Sustainability, Decarbonisation and Resilience: protecting the environment and biodiversity, preventing hydrogeological risks, and promoting nature-based solutions.
  • Sustainable Mobility: reducing emissions and improving air quality.
  • Territorial Attractiveness, Cohesion and Development: encouraging social, economic, and environmental development while enhancing cultural and natural heritage.
  • Strategic Technologies: strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of the productive system in the fields of digital technologies, clean technologies, and biotechnology.

The Programme supports projects through dedicated funding calls aimed at businesses, local authorities, universities, research centres, third-sector organisations, and other institutions.

Within this framework, ALMA has received funding to partially support a number of digital transformation projects designed to improve both its services for students and stakeholders and its internal business processes.

Among the initiatives currently under development is the launch of a new website, scheduled to go live during the second quarter of the year, featuring:

  • state-of-the-art technologies and programming languages;
  • integration with the School's existing IT systems, CRM, and digital repositories;
  • a more modern, intuitive, and user-friendly interface designed to enhance the overall user experience;
  • compliance with the latest European digital accessibility requirements;
  • an information architecture, navigation structure, and SEO/GEO optimisation strategy designed to improve visibility on both traditional search engines and AI-powered search platforms.

These initiatives aim to:

  • attract more qualified website traffic;
  • present ALMA's educational offering in a clearer and more comprehensive way;
  • provide a smoother and more intuitive browsing experience;
  • ensure consistent visibility across the digital platforms and search tools most commonly used by prospective students and stakeholders

In addition, with the support of the Emilia-Romagna 2021–2027 European Regional Development Fund Programme, ALMA is developing an immersive Virtual Tour of its classrooms, teaching facilities, and learning spaces.

The project has been designed to:

  • make the School accessible remotely;
  • provide a realistic and interactive exploration experience;
  • support prospective students and their families during the orientation and decision-making process;
  • showcase ALMA's learning environments, laboratories, and technological infrastructure.

Through an intuitive digital experience, visitors will be able to explore ALMA's professional kitchens, laboratories, and educational spaces virtually, gaining a realistic preview of what it means to study at ALMA.

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