Combining the excellence of engineering with that of the social sciences to tackle the most complex transformations of our time: this is the ambition behind the new collaboration between Luiss – Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli and the Politecnico di Torino.

In late November, the two universities signed an agreement that paves the way for a joint journey of research, education, and project development. The goal is to forge new synergies between complementary areas of expertise and bolster the role of Italian universities in technological and social innovation.

The agreement, signed by Rectors Paolo Boccardelli and Stefano Paolo Corgnati, aims to solidify a structured collaboration on key issues for the country’s future: from the digital transition to artificial intelligence, from public policy to cybersecurity, and from innovation models for industry to those for public administration.

This strategic vision leverages the complementary strengths of the two universities: on one hand, Luiss, a center of excellence in the social sciences, management, and public policy; on the other , the Polytechnic University of Turin, an international leader in engineering, technology, and innovation.

Thus, the socio-economic approach of Luiss and the technical-scientific approach of the Politecnico are the two core elements of a partnership aimed at developing integrated skills and fostering high-impact projects.

The three-year agreement between the two universities has been designed and structured around four strategic pillars.

The first focuses on interdisciplinary research into strategic topics: Luiss and Politecnico will pool their expertise to launch projects dedicated to artificial intelligence, the digital transformation of industry, energy, public policy, and information systems security.

The second focus will be on advanced training and capacity building: the two universities will collaborate to design training courses, seminars , and higher education initiatives, bringing together faculty and experts from both institutions. Special focus will be placed on high-tech industry sectors, including aerospace, as a prime area for developing new digital, managerial, and technical-management skills.

The third pillar, on the other hand, focuses on creating laboratories and experimental projects designed to foster interdisciplinary cross-pollination. Through joint labs, prototypes, and pilot initiatives, this synergy aims to foster the development of sustainable, data-driven, and innovation-oriented solutions for decision-making processes in both the industrial and public sectors.

Finally, the agreement fosters strong collaboration in participating in international calls for proposals and programs, thereby promoting the mobility of students, doctoral candidates, and researchers. The goal is to strengthen their joint presence in key national and European competitive programs, thereby creating new opportunities for research and collaboration.

“The collaboration with the Politecnico di Torino stems from a coming together of top-tier academic institutions. Building on their unique strengths, they are choosing to combine diverse skills and perspectives to more consciously address the ongoing technological transformations. Today, innovation not only presents technical challenges but also demands governance skills, strategic vision, and a focus on economic and social impacts. In this regard, the agreement between Luiss and the Polytechnic University of Turin reinforces the role of universities as transformative infrastructures, tasked with developing leaders who can integrate technology, public policy, and execution skills to serve the country,”says Rector Paolo Boccardelli. 

“This partnership strengthens the synergy between two fully complementary Italian academic institutions of excellence. It’s an alliance that represents a concrete step toward a more integrated model of collaboration, combining knowledge and experience, capable of interpreting and guiding the technological, economic, and social transformations that define and drive the contemporary world,” says Stefano Corgnati, Rector of the Politecnico di Torino.