Polis Project

Within the framework of the “National Plan for Complementary Investments” (Law Decree no. 59 of 6 May 2021, converted, with amendments, into Law no. 101 of 1 July 2021) of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), with the aim of promoting the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the country and overcoming the digital divide in small towns and inland areas, the Polis Project – Home of Digital Services was approved.

Poste Italiane is taking an active part in the mission to boost training, the efficiency of the Public Administration, and the competitiveness of the Italian production system, thanks to a specific line of action called "Polis Project", financed with €800 million from PNRR funds and a further €400 million from the Poste Italiane Group, which will involve almost 7,000 Post Offices. The Project, aimed at promoting the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the country and overcoming the digital divide in small towns and internal areas, constitutes a major social inclusion programme and comprises two lines of action: One-stop shop and Spaces for Italy.           

The Polis Project covers an area where approximately 40 million people reside, or 65% of the Italian population. In this regard, Poste Italiane has estimated that in the first six years of operation, the Polis Project will generate a positive impact as follows.

The two lines of intervention

• Sportello Unico (One-stop shop): makes provision for the digital renovation and upgrading by 2026 of 6,933 Post Offices to enable Italians resident in municipalities with fewer than 15,000 inhabitants, equipped with at least one Post Office, to easily use the services of the Public Administration. The Post Office will be transformed into a hub for physical and digital services, through the introduction of new technologies and tools to enable complete, fast, easy and digital use of services 24 hours a day.
• Spaces for Italy: envisages the creation of a national network of co-working* and training spaces with a widespread presence in Italy. Workstations, meeting spaces, shared services, event and training areas will be open to private individuals, companies and public administration, universities and research centres.

2023 Initiatives

• One-stop shop: in the course of 2023, real estate and technological upgrades were launched in post offices at 1,739 sites (a total of 1,766 works started since the beginning of the project) and works were completed at 941 post offices (a total of 1,190 works completed since the beginning of the project until the end of February 2024). 
• Spaces for Italy: during 2023, renovation work continued on the buildings owned by the Company, and at 29 February 2024 a total of 55 building works on the project sites had been started and 31 had been completed.

Sustainable Development Goals

With the Polis Project, Poste Italiane intends to play a leading role in the country’s recovery for the benefit of citizens and their participation in public life by adopting a responsible approach in order to reduce its environmental footprint and contribute to the low-carbon transition of the economy and the entire country. The initiative is consistent with Poste Italiane’s broader strategy of sustainable, digital and inclusive development.

The Polis Project generates significant impacts throughout the territory, also with a view to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

The Polis Project generates significant impacts throughout the territory, also with a view to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Gender equality (SDG No. 5); Clean and affordable energy (SDG No. 7); Decent work and economic growth (SDG No. 8); Enterprise, innovation and infrastructure (SDG No. 9); Sustainable cities and communities (SDG No. 11); Combating climate change (SDG No. 13); Life on earth (SDG No. 15); Peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG No. 16).

For more information on the project, please refer to Progetto Polis (italian version).

* Working concept consisting of a workspace shared by several companies or independent professionals. In this environment, people can work together, share ideas and resources and develop professional relationships.