Matteo Malvani

Summary

As an architect and international projects consultant, I have over 30 years of experience in architectural design, urban planning, and programme and project management within European territorial development and cooperation. I have led international teams of experts and practitioners in designing and implementing complex cross-sector projects involving academia, public institutions, civil society, and the private sector.

An Italian and French citizen based in Vienna, I advise urban and regional authorities, national institutions, and international organizations through both short- and long-term missions across Europe and beyond. My expertise includes project planning and design as well as monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) in multi-stakeholder partnership programmes. I focus particularly on integrated urban regeneration, with an emphasis on heritage, culture and development, and sustainable tourism.

Through my work in interregional cooperation and urban development networks, I have promoted knowledge-sharing and good practices in sustainable urban policies and supported the development of innovative instruments for territorial cooperation. Continuous exchange, learning, and networking in an international context have been a consistent driver of my career, particularly through joint capitalization activities on EU-funded urban projects.

Having worked extensively with interreg programmes, I gained a solid understanding of the ERDF, EU cohesion policy, and the challenges of territorial cooperation. I contributed to initiatives promoting territorial development and cohesion by fostering more effective cooperation management. Since 2009, I have collaborated with URBACT, participating in advisory groups and knowledge exchange activities, while supporting projects that demonstrate innovative and transferable practices in urban and regional development. I also helped develop a project network dedicated to the sustainable and cultural reuse of historic real estate.

My experience includes coordinating cultural heritage and conservation district management projects in the Mediterranean, aimed at stimulating local economies through cultural tourism and improving quality of life in disadvantaged areas. Projects in cultural and creative industries reinforced my conviction that culture and intangible heritage play a key role in job creation, economic development, and social inclusion.

Currently working as a freelance consultant, I prepare, manage, and evaluate international cooperation projects for both private and public clients. I promote best practices and innovative, partnership-based approaches in areas such as territorial and city-to-city cooperation, local development, urban regeneration, historic urban landscapes, participatory governance in cultural heritage, culture in external relations, and innovation and creativity.

Recent assignments have included final reviews for Horizon 2020 coordination and support action projects, project evaluations for the Council of Europe and EIT CC, and consultancy work with government agencies and firms. These engagements involved supporting sustainable tourism reform in Greece, improving the absorption of ESI funds in Slovenian municipalities, Integrated Territorial Investments and CLLD instruments, and advising on capacity-building initiatives.

In 2022, I was appointed by the Italian Region Emilia-Romagna as an expert in built heritage management, construction, and urban planning. I joined a multidisciplinary Task Force established to provide advisory services and capacity building to municipal and regional authorities under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

I look forward to continuing to share my expertise and experience with project networks within the URBACT IV programme.