Over the past decade, Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program in Italy, proudly known as “Digitaliani,” has transformed lives, empowered communities, and fostered innovation that puts people first. This builds on the legacy of Cisco Networking Academy in the region, which has reached over 500,000 students. 

Beyond business metrics, the true success of this journey lies in the stories of the students, patients, and citizens whose lives have been enriched through digital skills, inclusive technology, and collaborative innovation. To date, we have successfully delivered more than 450 CDA projects across the nation.  

To celebrate 10 years of impact, below are some of the most meaningful projects across Italy. 

 

Security: Building resilience for a digital society

As Italy’s digital footprint grows, so does the need for a “security-first” mindset. Europe’s first Cybersecurity Co-Innovation Center in Milan serves as a collaborative hub where government, industry, and academia work together to protect our critical infrastructure.  

We are also democratizing safety. By partnering with TIM to launch “TIM Safe Web“, we provide simplified, cloud-based protection against phishing and ransomware. Cisco Umbrella enables TIM Safe Web to keep around one million business customers safe, supplying Telecom Italia with both a competitive advantage and an incremental revenue opportunity. 

This focus on cybersecurity also applies to skilling. At the Digital Transformation Lab (DTLAB) in Naples, we’ve helped bridge the local skills gap by combining Cisco Networking Academy training with customer projects. By fostering co-innovation between academia and industry, this scalable model empowers local talent, driving economic growth and inclusive innovation in Southern Italy.  

Powering critical infrastructure in Italy 

Through Digitaliani, we’re working alongside Italy’s energy leaders to help modernize power grids and gas infrastructure. By bringing together Cisco IoT, AI, and Routed Optical Networks (RON) solutions, these efforts are supporting energy efficiency at Snam and strengthening grid resilience at Enel and Terna — helping build a more secure, reliable, and sustainable energy system. 

In addition, we are helping to support more innovative agriculture. Planet Farms, a start-up based near Milan, is revolutionizing vertical farming using AI by blending Italian agronomy with Cisco’s Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul (URWB). By providing the ultra-low latency required for real-time robotic control and 3D imaging, we are helping Planet Farms advance more sustainable agriculture. 

Protecting the Future: Healthcare Innovation 

At the Santobono Pausilipon Hospital in Naples, we are helping to safeguard the future of pediatric care. By implementing Cisco’s Extended Detection and Response (XDR) and virtual patching, we have secured sensitive patient data and life-saving medical devices.  

Through this work, we’re helping to ensure that the hospital of the future — automated, digitized, and robotic — remains a place of safety, trust, and care for the most vulnerable. 

Mobility: Moving People, Empowering Communities 

Our work in mobility has been driven by the desire to turn safety into a service, including: 

• AIDA Project: In partnership with Politecnico di Milano, we have transitioned autonomous driving from an academic challenge into a concrete reality. Initiatives like “Sharing for Caring” provide autonomous shuttle services for the elderly and vulnerable, granting independence to those in small communities where public transport is limited.  
• Treno Sicuro: Promoted by Ente Autonomo Volturno, this project leverages URWB technology to develop a “smart train” that maintains seamless connectivity, even in tunnels. 

Enhancing industrial secure network and automation 

Cisco’s industrial solutions have made a tangible difference in Italy’s manufacturing sectors, including: 

• E80 Group: Secures its Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) with Cisco Industrial Cyber Vision and URWB, enabling real-time monitoring that enhances worker safety and operational efficiency. 
• Cable Cars: Cisco is transforming ropeway infrastructure into secure, sustainable, and reliable public transport. By leveraging URWB, LTE/5G, and automated monitoring, we deliver a robust network for cable cars in Cortina (Faloria) and Buisson Chamois.
• Dallara: Cisco has been the strategic partner behind Dallara’s innovation, integrating advanced network infrastructure, Webex collaboration, and IoT connectivity in to Dallara’s production, logistics, and training environments. This human-centric digital transformation empowers Dallara’s team to work faster, smarter, and more securely. 

The journey continues 

The last decade of Cisco’s Digitaliani program in Italy is a testament to the power of technology when combined with Purpose. By focusing on people, empowering learners, and fostering sustainable growth, Cisco has helped build a more resilient and connected society. 

Looking forward, we are poised to embrace emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing, further expanding our impact on digital inclusion. Together with our partners, communities, and citizens, we see a future where technology continues to bridge divides and unlock potential.