From Ahmedabad to Bergamo: A Partnership Between Two Heritage Cities and Their Universities

Two universities, coincidentally named after the heritage cities they call home, have come together to build a partnership that goes beyond the formalities of an MoU. Ahmedabad University and the University of Bergamo share a vision to foster interdisciplinary education, nurture entrepreneurship and family business, and celebrate the cultural and intellectual heritage that defines their cities.

Both Ahmedabad and Bergamo hold a special place on the UNESCO map. Ahmedabad is India’s first World Heritage City, celebrated for its living architectural and cultural traditions. Bergamo’s historic upper town (Città Alta), encircled by its magnificent Venetian Walls, is part of a transnational UNESCO World Heritage Site, while the city itself is recognised as a UNESCO Creative City. This shared legacy of preservation, innovation, and creativity forms a meaningful foundation for a partnership that looks beyond classrooms and campuses.

Anchored in a ten-point, time-bound agenda, the collaboration envisions joint research, advanced manufacturing, faculty and student exchanges, and academic programmes spanning entrepreneurship, sustainability, and heritage management. The engagement also seeks to extend to the city level, with plans to bring together the Mayors of Ahmedabad and Bergamo to deepen civic, cultural, and educational ties. A key component of this collaboration is the creation of an SME corridor that will connect small and medium enterprises from both cities through the two universities, strengthening the bridge between academia and industry.