Digital Point is now online

Starting on 3 September 2025, the pilot phase of the Digital Point inRete project will begin. This inter-municipal initiative aims to provide citizens in participating municipalities with practical, free assistance to develop basic digital skills. The project creates opportunities for individuals who are already familiar with digital technology to support those who need help becoming more independent in using these tools.

Punto digitale inRete is an extension of the original Digital Point project, created by the City of Lugano in 2022. It expands the impact of this initiative on an inter-municipal scale through a model of collaboration between 10 municipalities. The municipalities participating in the pilot phase, in collaboration with the City of Lugano, are: Capriasca, Collina d'Oro, Lamone, Magliaso, Mezzovico-Vira, Morcote, Paradiso, Sorengo and Torricella-Taverne.

The name inRete refers to this inter-municipal dimension, made possible thanks to the coordination of Ente Regionale per lo Sviluppo del Luganese (ERSL), which promoted and supported the creation of the project, facilitating collaboration between municipalities of different sizes and administrative structures.

The initiative was developed in collaboration with the Social Affairs Division of the City of Lugano, Lugano Living Lab and Università della Svizzera italiana (USI). A central role was played by the digital platform of the municipalities of Lugano–inRete, managed by ERSL, which made it possible to disseminate the existing project, evaluate its scope and collect subscriptions for the pilot phase.

Punto digitale inRete will provide individual support on issues related to the use of digital technology (email, e-ID, payments, parental control, etc.) to all citizens of the participating municipalities. The free digital assistance sessions will be held by students enrolled in the Bachelor's degree programme in Communication at USI, coordinated by staff from the City of Lugano, thus also promoting intergenerational exchange. The project involves voluntary participation by USI students, allowing them to earn credits while applying the communication skills they are developing in their studies.

The initiative responds to the challenge – and opportunity – of developing basic digital skills among the population, in line with the vision of the City of Lugano outlined in its 2030 Development Guidelines and the ERSL's commitment to contributing to a more inclusive Lugano. The project is funded by the participating municipalities, the ERSL and cantonal and federal contributions for the promotion of basic skills among adults.

The service

The pilot phase will commence on 3 September 2025 and will continue until 17 June 2026. During this time, residents of the participating municipalities will have access to the service at the existing Digital Point in Pregassona, which will be rebranded as the inRete Digital Point. To accommodate the anticipated increase in demand, the service will extend its opening hours by an additional half day each week compared to previous years and will involve a greater number of student volunteers.

The free Digital Point inRete service is available by appointment. Interested parties can make an appointment by calling 058 866 74 10 or by emailing [email protected].

Appointments will be given according to the following opening hours: Wednesday from 8:30 am to 11:30 am, Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm.

The Digital Point

Digital Point is an experimental project launched in 2022 as a collaboration between the City of Lugano's Social Affairs Division, Lugano Living Lab and Università della Svizzera italiana (USI). The project aims to facilitate access to basic digital skills for the population by offering practical support to address difficulties related to the use of technology in everyday life. Since its launch, Digital Point has involved over 60 students who have provided more than 650 digital assistance appointments. To the website

inRete – the platform for municipalities in the Lugano area

inRete is the digital platform dedicated to municipalities in the Lugano area, promoted and developed by Ente Regionale per lo Sviluppo del Luganese (ERSL) through a participatory process involving the municipalities in the region. The platform seeks to be a premier online forum for municipalities to discuss their local administration's needs and challenges, share success stories, and find solutions to shared problems, thereby fostering dialogue, collaboration, and innovation.

inRete is a collaborative working tool and a platform for fostering projects in the region. It provides municipalities with access to dedicated news, model projects, and templates. Users can also collaborate on institutional dossiers and joint projects. For more information, visit the website.