Frontier research. Tradition and new technologies for the construction site of tomorrow

Architecture, in search of the future of the past. The Robotomy project wins “the EIC Pathfinder”  

It is the first time for Poliba. The development of robotics applied to stereotomy is worth a European grant of 3.3 million euros for three years, 2026-2029. The research group coordinated by Giuseppe Fallacara crowns more than twenty years of research and experimentation on stone materials at the Polytechnic. “Winning a Pathfinder,” says Fallacara, “is equivalent to winning a sort of Oscar of Industrial Research.” Start of activities: September 2026

Bari, 23 July 2026 – DNA, the essence of Puglia, is written in stone. Hard as compact limestone, accommodating as Baroque, ready to take on forms, figures, proportions, and colors that tell of expressions of life, religion, characters, and lost identities. Stone for building, representing, marking, for recognizing oneself or rediscovering oneself in tradition. Stone, in its sum, that shapes the Apulian landscape in a somewhat naïve way. And here are the symbols: trulli, low and high dry-stone walls, lamie, pagliari, villages that mark out outposts, borders, the reverberating moods of the seasons. Stone in architecture, the subject of research and study at the Polytechnic University of Bari for over twenty years, has found important European recognition in the future-oriented project, “Robotomy” (ROBOtic stereoTOMY, from the Greek, ΣTEPEO, solid and TOMH, cut). It is a reasoned, measured, aligned, and above all successful bet on the manifesto of the European EIC Pathfinder Programme of the European Innovation Council, funded by the European Union under the framework programme Horizon Europe. A programme dedicated to supporting high-level frontier research that encourages the development of highly innovative technologies capable of generating scientific and industrial breakthroughs able to create new markets or transform existing ones. On average, only 4.5% of submitted projects are approved and funded by the EU. In short, winning a Pathfinder is equivalent to winning a sort of Oscar of European Industrial Research! 

The project, “Robotomy”, concerns the application of robotics to stone architecture. 

In particular, it will investigate the role of robotic collaboration and automation in rethinking stereotomic construction. Developed by Professor Giuseppe Fallacara, Full Professor of Architectural Composition at the Polytechnic University of Bari, and his research team, it aims to project a millennia-old tradition directly into the era of advanced automation and ecological transition. At the same time, “Robotomy” will address one of the most dramatic challenges of our time: the risk of losing the historical memory of craft trades. Today, manual work related to stone is attracting fewer and fewer young people, threatening to make an immense body of technical and artisanal knowledge disappear. The response to this crisis, however, does not lie in regretting the past, but in embracing digital technologies and automation.

The project, “Robotomy”, funded with 3.3 million euros under Horizon Europe, EIC-2025 for the period September 2026 - September 2029, will be carried out by a dedicated consortium led by Poliba, composed as follows in terms of roles: Polytechnic University of Bari, Italy, Project Coordinator; System 3E, Poland, Industrial serial fabrication of modular blocks; ETH Zürich, Switzerland, Large-scale 3D printing of complex components; CommonSense Robotics, Belgium, Software development for the robotic fleet; Flanders Make, Belgium, Positioning systems, development of robotic grippers; Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy, Robotic prototyping and physical testing; Day One, Italy, Regulatory analysis, commercial exploitation planning, communication. 

The Strategic objectives to be pursued by the Project consortium are three. 

Design for Robotic Assembly: Design and optimize modular stereotomic pavilions specifically adapted to the Mediterranean environment, minimizing unique block geometries (below 25%) to facilitate industrial mass production.

Materials and Innovative Fabrication: Redesign the patented construction system by integrating it with complex elements produced through large-scale 3D printing from recycled stone powders (developed by ETH Zurich).

Automation and Artificial Intelligence: Develop and validate the Task Execution Software (TES), an AI core capable of coordinating a multi-robot fleet for the assembly of prefabricated elements, reducing manual intervention and eliminating tolerance errors through real-time feedback.

“This important recognition – says Prof. Fallacara, an international expert in stereotomy, the ancient scientific art of stone cutting - it is a sign of strength of our Polytechnic, where I proudly trained, from architecture student to full professor.” And on the project he continues: "In a future evolution, robotics should not be seen as a threat that erases human work, but as the tool that makes it possible once again. The robotic arm learns from and draws upon the knowledge of the master stonemason and the mason, becoming the technological guardian of a tradition. Thanks to the “Robotomy” project, industrial robots will not merely cut or move blocks in a standardized way, but will carry out the assembly of complex and geometrically innovative vaulted systems, replicating the accuracy and static sensitivity of the masters of the past. The union between stereotomy and robotics demonstrates that technological innovation can serve history. Robotics does not eliminate craftsmanship; it evolves it, making it safe, efficient, and sustainable for the architecture of tomorrow, ensuring that stone continues to be the backbone of the Apulian and global landscape”.

The first steps of the project. The so-called kick-off will take place in September 2026 with the entire consortium, in Verona, on the occasion of the Marmomac International Fair. There, all the initial steps will be established: from the selection of the projects (some already presented at Marmomac) to the fine-tuning of the complex process for the full implementation of the project. The work will begin with the assembly of simple arches and progress to the creation of complex vaulted systems in a process of increasing technical difficulty.

The official work locations will be Bari, Lecco, Leuven, Zurich, Warsaw, Verona. 

Press release.

Industry & Academia. Research into innovation in railway infrastructure
 

Tesmec signs a three-year scientific collaboration agreement with Poliba

The agreement strengthens applied research for the creation of specialized skills for the railway infrastructure of the future. The signing took place yesterday afternoon, 21 July at Poliba in the presence of the Rector, Umberto Fratino, and the Group CEO, Caterina Caccia Dominioni. Tesmec Rail Srl, a company of the TESMEC SpA group, has two sites in Puglia: Monopoli and Bitetto, and 156 employees. Among the company’s most important areas of study is high-speed rail. 81% of the graduates working at Tesmec earned their degree at the Polytechnic University of Bari
 

Bari, 22 July 2026– The Tesmec S.p.A., the parent company of a group that is a leader in the market for technologies dedicated to infrastructure (overhead, underground and railway networks, transport of electricity, data and materials, and technologies for quarrying and surface mining), through its subsidiary Tesmec Rail Srl, a strategic hub in the railway sector based in Puglia, in Monopoli and Bitetto, has signed a scientific collaboration agreement with the Polytechnic University of Bari.  

The ceremony took place yesterday afternoon, 21 July, at the Rectorate in the presence of Umberto Fratino, Rector of the Polytechnic University of Bari, and Mariagrazia Dotoli, Professor of Automatic Control, scientific contact person for the agreement. For the Tesmec Group, the participants were Caterina Caccia Dominioni, Group CEO, Numa PelizzoliHR Director Gianfranco Mancini, and Gianluca Fumarola, Group contacts for railway construction, maintenance and diagnostics.

With a three-year term, renewable, the agreement aims to develop engineering projects in the fields of railway innovation, sustainability and infrastructure digitalization.

The signing stems from a shared vision: to strengthen dialogue between academia and industry in order to pool scientific expertise, design capabilities and industrial know-how. The path launched by Tesmec and the Polytechnic University of Bari is intended to be a concrete tool to support applied research and the development of advanced technological solutions, contributing to the growth of an ecosystem capable of generating value for the Apulian region and for the national industrial system.

The agreement provides for collaboration among the parties involved to ensure the monitoring, coordination and control of initiatives to be developed through specific implementing agreements, mainly relating to two specific primary strategic directions: the development of innovative, low-environmental-impact rolling stock for the construction, maintenance and diagnostics of railway infrastructure; and the design of diagnostic systems and data management platforms for infrastructure monitoring. 

Thanks to the Polytechnic University of Bari, Puglia is once again confirmed as a strategic territory for the country’s railway activities. Tesmec’s collaboration with the University within various projects carried out in the region, thanks to the Group’s extensive know-how developed in the Railway division at its strategic hub in Puglia, represents a further strengthening of the link between research and industrial application, fostering the development of high-tech projects closely aligned with the needs of the sector.

Finally, the agreement formalizes the collaboration initiated through Poliba students with internships and degree theses. 65% of the students hosted by the company were studying in the mechanical engineering degree program at Poliba. Approximately 60% of the students who completed an internship at Tesmec were hired. 

Today, 81% of the graduates working at Tesmec earned their degree at the Polytechnic University of Bari. Of these, 44% are graduates in mechanical engineering and 24% in electrical and electronic engineering.

Statements. Caterina Caccia Dominioni, Chief Executive Officer of Tesmec, “The Framework Agreement with the Polytechnic University of Bari represents an important step in strengthening the relationship between industrial innovation, applied research and the territory. Puglia plays a strategic role in our railway activities, and collaboration with a centre of excellence such as the Polytechnic University of Bari enables us to develop an even more structured pathway focused on sustainable and digital technologies for the future of railway infrastructure. The goal is to build, starting from the expertise present in the region and from the experience of our Monopoli and Bitetto sites, a model of collaboration between university and industry capable of generating value also in international markets”.

Umberto Fratino, Rector of the Polytechnic University of Bari. “The agreement signed with Tesmec is significant for us because it is a leading company in innovative key sectors such as railway infrastructure logistics. Tesmec comes from a different regional context, but has chosen to invest here in Puglia to develop new technology in a territorial setting in which the Polytechnic serves as a key pillar. This gives us great satisfaction because it recognises the quality of our graduates and the education they receive. It is no coincidence that over 80% of the engineers at Tesmec Rail Srl, the group’s company in Puglia, come from our university. With this agreement, which seals the beginning of a path already underway, the Polytechnic proudly confirms itself as a beacon also for companies coming from other areas of the country”. 

TESMEC Rail track diagnostics trolley

The interview. Second-level Master’s degree in “Innovation in electrical systems for energy” 

The specialists of the National Electricity Grid 

The challenges raised by the dual transition, energy and digital, are profoundly transforming the electricity sector, making the development of new highly specialized skills. Terna, in collaboration with the Polytechnics of Bari, Milan e Turin has developed the dedicated Master’s program now in its second edition. 

“Poliba Chronicle” interviewed Massimo La Scala, professor at the Polytechnic University of Bari, scientific coordinator of the master’s program 

Bari, 15 July 2026 – On 9 June, the second edition of the Level II Master’s Program in “Innovation in Electrical Systems for Energy” was presented at the Polytechnic University of Bari. This national master’s program, supported and funded by Terna SpA with the participation and academic-scientific support of the three Italian Polytechnics of Bari, Milan and Turin (PoliTechLab), was subsequently presented on 16 June and 2 July at the Polytechnics of Milan and Turin. 

Professor Massimo La Scala is the scientific contact person for the Master’s Program at the Bari Polytechnic campus. “Poliba Chronicle”, the official magazine of Poliba, interviewed him.

Professor the topic of energy is increasingly current and essential. Why are research, training, and updating indispensable?

The energy transition is one of the most important and strategic challenges of our time. The growing demand for energy, the need to accelerate decarbonization, the integration of renewable sources, and the development of increasingly smart and digitalized electric grids are profoundly transforming the energy sector, making new skills and highly qualified professionals indispensable.

In this context, research, training, and continuous updating are fundamental levers for accompanying change and responding to the needs of a constantly evolving market. It is from this awareness that the second edition of the Level II University Master’s Program “Innovation in Electrical Systems for Energy” was created, an advanced training pathway designed to prepare professionals capable of addressing the technological, environmental, and industrial challenges of the future. The Master’s Program is developed by Terna within the network of the three Polytechnics of Bari, Milan and Turin to promote new specialized skills for the energy and digital transition. 

The Master’s Program is an invitation, but also a highly professionalizing opportunity with employment prospects for graduates. Why?

The Master’s Program is aimed at master’s degree graduates who wish to acquire specialized skills that can be immediately applied in the workplace. It is not only an opportunity for academic deepening, but a truly highly professionalizing pathway, capable of combining solid scientific foundations with practical applications. Through lectures, laboratory activities, and interaction with industry experts, participants will develop advanced skills in the design, management, and innovation of electrical systems for energy.

Upon completion of the Master’s programme, participants will receive the Master’s degree jointly awarded by the three Polytechnics and will be able to work in the electricity sector as: Plant Engineer (expert in plants and technologies); Asset Manager (asset management expert); Systems Engineer (expert in the real-time operation of electric power systems); Market Operator (expert in energy markets and energy regulation).

At the time of enrollment, Terna will provide all selected candidates with a letter of commitment to hire them on a permanent contract, to be confirmed at the end of the training program. Employment may take place at various locations across the national territory, including the Bari office.

How will the curriculum of the second edition be characterized? 

The second edition confirms the teaching approach that characterized the success of the first experience, strengthening its distinctive elements and updating the content in light of the rapid evolution of the sector. The training plan will explore the most innovative technologies applied to electrical systems for energy and the most advanced solutions for intelligent energy management. The goal is to offer interdisciplinary training capable of combining research, technological innovation, and operational applications.

Will there be any changes compared to the first edition?

Compared to the first edition, the Master’s programme has been further enhanced by the experience gained and by ongoing engagement with developments in the energy sector. The programme has been updated to address new market needs and to provide participants with increasingly up-to-date tools, strengthening the dialogue between university, research and industry through the involvement of Terna experts and of the professional community represented by lecturers, researchers and experts who work daily in the innovation processes of the energy sector.

Is the candidate’s choice of location purely logistical and geographical?

The decision to structure the Master across three locations also carries significance that goes well beyond the logistical aspect. It is a programme design choice that enriches the educational pathway by integrating scientific expertise, teaching methodologies, laboratories and professional skills. Each location contributes its own specific strengths to the creation of a unified and interdisciplinary educational offering, enabling participants to engage with different approaches to the study and innovation of electrical energy systems.

This organisation promotes a broader and more dynamic learning experience, in which dialogue among lecturers, researchers, professionals and participants becomes an integral part of the programme. The presence of participants from different educational backgrounds in fact encourages the exchange of skills, ongoing comparison and the building of a network of qualified relationships. The networking developed during the Master represents added value that is intended to continue beyond the end of the programme, fostering future professional collaborations. 

The factsheet. The Master will train professionals who will be called upon to build and manage the National Electricity Grid. Potential applicants are those who have obtained, or will obtain by next 31 October, a master’s or specialist degree in: Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Energy and Nuclear Engineering, Automation Engineering, Management Engineering, Computer Engineering or Mechanical Engineering. To participate, candidates must submit their application by 8 September (https://www.polimi.it/index.php?id=1138). Subsequently, on 2 October, they will take a technical and cultural assessment test organised by the Master’s Scientific Committee. The test will take place in person at one of the Polytechnic universities of their choice. This will be followed by an interview conducted by Terna. 45 candidates will be admitted, equally distributed among the three Polytechnic universities (15 for each university). The programme provides for the award of 60 University Educational Credits (CFU), equivalent to 1,500 total hours divided between lectures, exercises and project work. The programme is structured into 10 teaching modules with a final project work. Over the duration of the Master, 1 year, supplementary in-depth seminars and visits to Terna facilities will be organised, with the aim of further enriching the educational experience. The participation costs for the Master, for all admitted candidates, will be entirely covered by Terna. In addition, they will also be awarded scholarships of €19,000, likewise funded by Terna. Finally, Terna will cover the travel and accommodation expenses necessary for the classes held jointly. The Master is scheduled to begin on 24 November 2026.

Press release.

Internationalization. Poliba students in Kotor at the University of Montenegro

Summer School on the blue economy for the “Sustainable development of the leisure boating and cruise industries”

Francesca Orlando, a master's degree candidate at the Polytechnic University, awarded as the best student of the 2026 master's programme. Albanian and Montenegrin students were also in the classroom

Bari, 11 July 2026 – The “Sustainable development of the leisure boating and cruise industries" was the theme of theinternational summer school, held in Montenegro from 29 June to 4 July in Kotor, at the Blue Economy Training Centre of the Institute of Marine Biology of the University of Montenegro.

Organized within the framework of the Interreg IPA South Adriatic project “High-level, market-oriented skills for a blue and digitalized, 'smart and qualified' South Adriatic – Skill”, the Summer School brought together students and young professionals from Montenegro (5), Albania (5) and Italy (8) for an accredited cross-border learning programme. 

The Italian presence was represented by eight Poliba students as follows: Francesca Orlando, Marika Matera, Maria Teresa Manchisi, Andrea Mazzeo (Civil and Environmental Engineering); Gaetano Fioriello, Thomas Francioni, Fabrizio De Leonardis (Mechanical Engineering); GianFranco Baccarella (Computer Engineering).

Poliba’s participation also stood out for the first place achieved by Francesca Orlando in the daily learning assessment tests (70 multiple-choice questions per day) on the seven thematic areas covered. Originally from Taranto and a graduate in Civil Engineering, Francesca, who is about to complete her master's degree, was awarded during the master's closing ceremony. On that occasion, certificates were presented to all participants for successfully meeting the required criteria. 

During their stay in Montenegro, participants attended lectures, seminars, practical exercises, field visits and case-study activities. The Summer School included visits to the mussel farm of Luka Milošević, to Porto Montenegro, to the port of Kotor, to a cruise ship, to the Faculty of Maritime Studies, to the Boka Aquarium and to the laboratories of the Institute of Marine Biology.

During the master's programme, the following speakers took part: Mirko Đlevelsć, Director of the Institute of Marine Biology of the University of Montenegro; Antonio Agrosi, representative of the Joint Secretariat of the Interreg IPA South Adriatic programme; Danilo Nikolić, Director of the Summer School of the Faculty of Maritime Studies of the University of Montenegro; and Ana Pešić , coordinator of the Summer School of the Institute of Marine Biology of the University of Montenegro. The Polytechnic students were coordinated by Prof. Umberto Berardi.

Comunicato Stampa.

Awards. In Brasile, l’International Photoacoustic and Photothermal Association

Award to Prof. Vincenzo Spagnolo for contributions to science in the development of quartz tuning fork photoacoustic spectroscopy Applications: biomedical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, industrial safety. The PolySense laboratory for research and experimentation

Bari, 6 July 2026 – In Brazil, on 2 July, on the occasion of the biennial Conference of the International Photoacoustic and Photothermal Association (IPPA), Prof. Vincenzo Spagnolo, Interuniversity Department of Physics, Poliba-Uniba, received a prestigious award for outstanding contributions to science in the development of quartz tuning fork photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS).

The IPPA Award is a recognition for scientists, engineers and physicians who have made important and impactful contributions in the field of photoacoustic and photothermal sciences and technologies.

Environment, safety, medicine. The research work of Prof. Spagnolo – the citation reads – “has advanced resonant photoacoustic detection and established QEPAS as a highly sensitive technique for trace gas detection in the mid-infrared and terahertz regions. His main innovations in QEPAS design, signal optimization, broadband operation and compact multi-gas detection - continue - have made possible applications in environmental monitoring, industrial safety and biomedical diagnostics”. 

Laboratory. This research has benefited from the joint PolySenSe-THORLABS laboratory, located in the Department of Physics, which ultimately contributed to the commercialization of quartz-based modules, QEPAS and related systems, extending the research to real-world applications in the aforementioned sectors.

Applicazioni e partner. Prof. Spagnolo’s satisfaction is evident. Regarding experiments and applications, he says: “in medicine we have ongoing collaborations with the specialized Center for Gastroenterology, “Saverio de Bellis”- IRCCS, in Castellana Grotte, on colorectal cancer with breath analysis and liquid biopsy with IR spectroscopy. We are starting with the Oncology Institute of Bari and “de Bellis” in Castellana to use a recently acquired quantum cascade microscope, the first of its kind in Italy, for the analysis of biological samples. For the environment, the ‘Optimove’ project has just concluded, linked to air analysis in the Bari urban area with the National Centre for Mobility (MOST). We have completed the measurements and are finalizing the data analysis. There are substances that, following exposure near busy roads, are inhaled and remain in the body for several hours. However, the final data will be available by the end of the month. Finally, on the safety front, we are carrying out a project with the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) whose aim was the development of a sensor for hydrogen sulfide, H2S (typical smell of rotten eggs), capable of monitoring the concentration of this type of gas near fumaroles (Campi Flegrei) and providing data that could in the future be used to predict possible volcanic activity”.

Press release.

“for medicine, we have ongoing collaborations with “de Bellis” (IRCCS Castellana Grotte) on colon cancer, with breath analysis and liquid biopsy using IR spectroscopy. We are beginning, together with the Oncology Institute of Bari and “de Bellis” of Castellana, to use the microscope ??? type? for the analysis of biological samples. 

For the environment, the ‘Optimove’ project has just concluded, linked to air analysis in the Bari urban area with the National Centre for Mobility (MOST). We have completed the measurements and are finalizing the data analysis. There are substances that, following exposure near busy roads, are inhaled and remain in the body for several hours. However, the final data will be available by the end of the month.

Finally, on the safety front, we are carrying out a project with the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV)………

Press release.

“Vincenzo Cotecchia” Award. In Catania during the national conference AIGAA 

The Italian Association of Applied and Environmental Geology awards Prof. Vincenzo Simeone for the best professional contribution in Applied Geology 

“Geological knowledge must play a central role in decision-making phases, actively guiding design choices,” states the Poliba professor  

Bari, 2 July 2026 – The Italian Association of Applied and Environmental Geology (AIGAA) has awarded Professors Vincenzo Simeone, Full Professor of Geoengineering at the Polytechnic University of Bari, and Francesco Guadagno (University of Sannio) the “Vincenzo Cotecchia” award for the best professional contribution in the field of Applied Geology. These are topics for which Prof. Vincenzo Cotecchia, a pioneer and distinguished professor at Poliba, was for years an undisputed reference point both scientifically and professionally at national and international level. The award was presented during the Association’s national conference held in Catania on 29–30 June.

The reasons for the award are linked to the challenges arising from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and the planned works, which led the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to revolutionize the design process. 

In this context, Professors Vincenzo Simeone and Francesco Maria Guadagno have, since 2021, as expert members in Applied Geology of the Special Committee of the Superior Council of Public Works, overseen the review of numerous major works, including: sections of high-speed railway, the Trento bypass; the Salerno–Reggio Calabria motorway; the Port of Trieste; the Campo Lattaro Dam (BN).

Their contributions have demonstrated the strategic importance of geological and applied geology studies in design and in Technical and Economic Feasibility Projects.

Their work has made it possible to highlight within the Higher Council of Public Works that, as they state, “ geological knowledge must play a central role in decision-making phases, actively guiding design choices, becoming true project geology”. 

The main conclusions of their work were condensed in a paper entitled The strategic importance of geological studies in the Technical and Economic Feasibility Project under the new Procurement Code. Published in the journal Geologia Tecnica.

More generally, the prestigious recognition highlights the scientific contribution of the two professors, aimed at demonstrating the engineering and design strategic importance of Applied Geology studies for Technical and Economic Feasibility Projects (PFTE).

The award ceremony was attended by the President of theItalian Association of Applied and Environmental Geology (AIGAA), Monica Papini (PoliMi), and the Vice-President, Pantaleone De Vita (UniNa- Federico II).

Press release.

8th edition. First Prize for the degree thesis of the Italian National Committee for Large Dams

Bradano-Basento, management scenarios for water resource management in Basilicata

The research of the winner, Giulia Acconciaioco: the drinking water sector turns out to be the most penalized. The Camastra dam emerges as the main critical element. The recovery of the capacity of existing reservoirs and the completion of interconnections between basins are configured as strategic interventions to strengthen the overall resilience of the system and reduce its vulnerability to periods of drought

Bari, 22 June 2026 – A new climatic context. Water resource management is now one of the main challenges for Southern Italy. Rising temperatures, irregular rainfall and the increasing frequency of extreme events are putting pressure on supply systems designed in a climatic context profoundly different from the current one. 

Hydrographic basin. When speaking of water supply, one tends to imagine a simple path, from the source to the tap. In reality, the availability of water for cities, agriculture and productive activities depends on extremely complex infrastructure systems. Rainwater falling on the ground naturally flows into the watercourses of the relevant hydrographic basin.

In many cases, this resource is collected and stored in artificial lakes created by dams, so that it can be used during drier periods or when demand increases.

Water schemes. The set of these water collection, transport and distribution works constitutes the so-called water schemes, which are fundamental for resource management in Southern Italy.

La Basilicata. In this context, the Basilicata region plays a strategic role thanks to the presence of important watercourses, including the Bradano, Basento, Agri, Sinni, Cavone and Noce. Combined with favorable geomorphological characteristics, the region hosts one of the most significant water storage systems in Southern Italy.

The resources stored in the reservoirs of Basilicata, in fact, not only meet the needs of Basilicata itself, but are partly transferred to Puglia, where they support drinking water and irrigation supply in the central-northern areas of the region. 

The Bradano-Basento water scheme. Among the most relevant infrastructures is the Bradano-Basento water scheme, an articulated system of reservoirs, weirs and transfer works that plays a fundamental role for drinking, irrigation and industrial uses in the central-eastern area of Basilicata. The scheme includes the reservoirs of Pantano di Pignola, Camastra, Acerenza, Genzano and Serra del Corvo, as well as the weirs (linking infrastructures) of Trivigno and Orto del Tufo on the Basento River. 

Critical issues. Despite its strategic importance, the Bradano-Basento water scheme presents some critical issues linked to the incomplete completion of part of the planned works, the silting up of reservoirs, the aging of infrastructure and the need to modernize monitoring and management systems. These problems, together with the effects of climate change, have helped bring the issue of water security back to the center of attention, as shown, for example, by the crisis that affected the Potenza area in recent years.

This has highlighted the need, alongside infrastructure interventions, to seek advanced analysis and planning tools for such networks in order to improve their ability to respond to crisis situations. 

The research thesis. In this context lies the research work of the degree thesis, “Assessment of water resource management scenarios for the Bradano-Basento system” by Giulia Acconciaioco, 26, from Barletta, now a PhD candidate at Poliba.

1st prize. The thesis won the 8th edition of the ITCOLD 2026 Degree Award, dedicated to the best university theses focused on dams and water resource management. The initiative is promoted by the Italian National Committee for Large Dams, ITCOLD, a scientific association that promotes the study of issues related to dams, their construction, and their operation. The award is part of the activities through which ITCOLD promotes research and innovation in the field of large dams and water infrastructure, highlighting the most innovative scientific contributions in the national landscape.

The thesis (supervisor, Prof. Vito Iacobellis) was developed at the Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building and Chemical Engineering – DICATECh of Poliba. 

Ambiente WEAP. The study was developed through the creation of a model in the WEAP environment (Water Evaluation and Planning System). The model made it possible to represent the operation of reservoirs, transfer works, and the main drinking, irrigation, and industrial demands, providing an overall view of the system’s behavior under realistic management conditions. 

The limitations identified. The results showed that the Bradano-Basento scheme, while overall ensuring the satisfaction of irrigation demands, does not yet fully express its potential due to infrastructural and management constraints. 

Drinking water, Camastra dam. The drinking-water sector is the one most penalized by the current limitations of the supply system. In this context, the Camastra reservoir (Trivigno - PZ) emerges as the main critical element, significantly affecting the security of drinking-water supply, with clear repercussions on the urban areas of the Potenza region. 

Prospects and interventions. The study analyzed several infrastructure enhancement scenarios, assuming the completion of the works originally planned and now partly already funded under the Reservoir Plan 2020-2029. In particular, the simulations assessed the effects of restoring the full storage capacity of the Acerenza and Genzano reservoirs and the full operation of the other infrastructures. The possibility of expanding irrigable areas through more flexible management of water transfers between reservoirs was also analyzed. The simulations showed how these interventions can make the system more flexible and efficient, enabling more rational resource management and greater responsiveness during periods of higher water demand. The analysis was also extended to the effects of climate change. In this scenario, restoring the capacity of existing reservoirs and completing interconnections between basins are strategic interventions to strengthen the overall resilience of the system, reduce its vulnerability to drought periods, and improve the reliability of water supply.

Press release.

Area of interest

Workshop. It has been installed in the PolySense laboratory, Department of Physics, Uniba-Poliba

First in Italy. Presentation of the new Quantum Cascade Laser infrared microscope for biomedical applications

Unlike conventional histological techniques, the new technology makes it possible to obtain images based on the chemical and molecular composition of the sample, without the use of dyes or reagents. Through the analysis of the infrared fingerprint of the biomolecules present in the tissues, it is possible to distinguish healthy and pathological cells, identify metabolic alterations, and provide an automatic classification

The new quantum cascade laser microscope.

Bari, 17 June 2026 – The international Workshop “Infrared Microscopy with Quantum Cascade Laser for Biomedical Applications”, scheduled Friday, 19 June, 10:20 a.m., at the Interuniversity Department of Physics, Uniba-Poliba, will be dedicated to the latest frontiers of infrared microscopy and molecular imaging applied to the life sciences. 

The scientific event, which will bring together experts from the academic, clinical, and industrial sectors, is of particular significance for the official presentation of the new infrared microscope with Quantum Cascade Laser (Quantum Cascade Laser – QCL).

Manufactured by Bruker Corporation 1960, 90 locations worldwide, valued at 450 thousand euros, it is the first system of this type marketed and installed in Italy. The new technology, located at the PolySense Lab of the Polytechnic (scientific lead, Prof. Vincenzo Spagnolo), Department of Physics, places Bari among the leading national centers for research in advanced biochemical imaging.

Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) microscopy is an emerging technology capable of revolutionizing the analysis of biological tissues. Unlike conventional histological techniques, it makes it possible to obtain images based on the chemical and molecular composition of the sample, without the use of dyes or reagents. Through the analysis of the “infrared fingerprint” of the biomolecules present in the tissues, it is possible to distinguish healthy and pathological cells, identify metabolic alterations, and support advanced automatic classification systems based on artificial intelligence algorithms. 

The acquisition of the microscope is the result of a strategic collaboration between the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering (DEI) of the Polytechnic and the Interuniversity Department of Physics, made possible thanks to the activities of the “D³4Health” Foundation and the joint contribution of Spoke 2 – IN²LAB and Spoke 3 – PolySense Lab. This synergy has made it possible to create a research infrastructure unique in the national landscape, intended to support interdisciplinary research activities in the fields of precision medicine, digital pathology, and artificial intelligence applied to health.

Workshop. The program. 10:20 a.m.. Aula A. Department of Physics (university campus). Presentations dedicated to the strategy of the “D³4Health” Foundation for precision medicine, the applications of infrared microscopy on biological samples, risk stratification in prostate cancer through QCL spectroscopy, and the latest developments in intelligent digital pathology. 

Speakers include: Prof. Dougal Ferguson, University of Manchester, Dr. Diego Sali, Bruker Optics, Prof. Vitoantonio Bevilacqua, Polytechnic University of Bari, Prof. Andrea Zifarelli, PolySense Lab, Dr. Lorena Nappa, D³4Health Foundation. 

In the afternoon, participants will have the opportunity to visit the PolySense Lab and attend a practical demonstration of the new QCL microscope, observing directly its acquisition and analysis capabilities on biological samples. 

The initiative confirms Bari’s growing role as an international center of excellence in photonic technologies for health and in the development of advanced infrastructures for interdisciplinary research, with the aim of accelerating the transfer of scientific innovations into concrete clinical applications.

Press release.
 

 

Construction & leases. Tomorrow, 17 June, 9:00 a.m., ARCOD Department main lecture hall

Short-term tourist rentals in cities

Structural dynamics and regulatory initiatives. The draft law of the Apulia Region on the regulation of the short-term rental phenomenon

Bari, 16 June 2026 – An event will be held in Bari tomorrow, 17 June, 9:00 a.m., in the main lecture hall of the Department of Architecture, Construction, Design (ARCOD) of the Polytechnic University (university campus), a study day on short-term tourist rentals in Italian cities will take place. Structural dynamics and regulatory initiatives, with a focus dedicated to the city of Bari. It constitutes the in-depth study of the AIRMAP research.

The initiative follows two previous events devoted to the topic: Turin, 22 May, to provide a detailed overview of the main characteristics of the short-term rental phenomenon—from its spread to its economic performance, from its geographical distribution to the characteristics of those managing the listings, and its evolution over the period 2017–2024—and 25 May, held at the headquarters of the Apulia Region, to present a joint Uniba–Poliba study focusing on the city of Bari.

On the outcomes of this process and of the analytical work on the phenomenon (see https://full.polito.it/airmap/), the national and local research dedicated to the topic will be extensively presented, also in order to stimulate an updated reflection on the forthcoming draft Regional Law on the regulation of the short-term rental phenomenon.

The day, 9:00 a.m., will be introduced by the rectors of Poliba, Umberto Fratino, and of Uniba, Roberto Bellotti. Two sessions will follow. 

At 9:15 a.m. First session. 

The structural dynamics. Chaired by Mariella Annese - Polytechnic University of Bari

Presentation: The framework of Italian cities. Loris Servillo - Polytechnic University of Turin

Talk: The case of Bari. Fabrizio D'Alessandro - Polytechnic University of Bari

Talk: Rental market and student housing. Francesco Prota - University of Bari "Aldo Moro"

11:00 a.m. Second session.

Regulatory initiatives

Chaired by Nicola Martinelli - Polytechnic University of Bari

Presentation: the regulatory framework in Italy. Filippo Celata - Sapienza University of Rome

Talk: Lessons from Barcelona. Giovanna Mangialardi - Polytechnic University of Bari

Talk: The case of Apulia. Angela Barbanente - Polytechnic University of Bari

Talk. Giovanna Iacovone - Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Bari

Conclusions

Gianfranco Viesti - University of Bari Aldo Moro

The initiative is organized by the Polytechnic University of Bari and the University of Bari “Aldo Moro”.

Press release.

Architecture & urban planning. The winners of the Municipality of Bari Scholarship 

A thesis for the city. The modernity of Bari's monumental seafronts

Six young newly graduated architects from Poliba, between history and the present, and a project for the Marisabella port area. The proposal selected for exhibition at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of Venice

Bari, 15 June 2026 – “The Modernity of Bari’s Monumental Seafronts” is the title of the degree thesis in architecture by six young people from Apulia at the Polytechnic University of Bari. In addition to enabling graduation, the work received positive recognition in a specific section of the Municipality of Bari call dedicated to degree theses on the city, academic year 2023-24. 

The thesis, awarded together with others with a scholarship of 1,546.00 euro, was developed in the Department of Architecture, Construction and Design (ArCoD) of Poliba. The work was carried out by Alessia Biagiotti from Taranto; Alessia Camporeale and Tiziana Caravella (Molfetta - BA); Stella Conte (Giuggianello – LE); Nicola Antonio Corallo (Bari); Michele Dell’Olio (Bisceglie – BA); Supervisor, Prof. Matteo Ieva with the contribution of other researchers. 

Traces of the journey. The research thesis spans 263 pages. It is an in-depth survey of the urban and architectural dynamics of the city, supported by documentary research, much of it unpublished. The vicissitudes of a medieval Bari enclosed within the walls of the seaside borough emerge at the end of the 18th century. King Joachim Murat (1767-1815) officially became its interpreter in the first decade of the 19th century. The modern history of an expansion still ongoing begins. After a broad account of the dynamics throughout the century, the study examines and focuses on the architecture of the 1920s and 1930s, set against the backdrop of the two newly created seafront promenades. Even today, a century later, the seafronts, with their complement of public buildings (period: early 1920s to early 1960s), represent the modern city of Bari in the world. In this process of transformation, the role and work of the Apulian architect Saverio Dioguardi emerge, as author and interpreter of the monumentality of modern Bari. The work ultimately looks to the future with the proposal of a new arrangement for the modern port area of Marisabella. 

The contents. The introduction and historical-urban-planning contextualisation of Bari through the city’s expansion plans, up to 1934, provides insight into the dynamics of the period and the debate that emerged during the first half of the twentieth century. Fundamental to the development of the new Bari was Gioacchino Murat’s extramural district of 1813, which evolved from the outlines and expansion plans of 1780–1790 under the reign of Ferdinand IV (1751–1825). This expansion arose from the need for sanitary hygiene, fire safety, ventilation, and to address overcrowding. The grid layout promoted orderly development and improved living conditions and safety. The paving of the new Bari began in 1830. Several public buildings were erected: the Piccini Theatre, 1840; the Church of San Ferdinando, 1844; the Cemetery, 1842. The railway station, the hub of modernity, was built in 1864. At the same time, the city’s population grew: 18 thousand inhabitants in 1790; 30 thousand in 1861, with the unification of Italy; 50 thousand in 1871, thus becoming one of the principal cities of southern Italy. A series of urban-development and regulatory plans became the focus of the city’s debate around 1900, laying the foundations for a new era in the city’s history. Bari began to display a new and flourishing architectural output. 1926 was the turning point. The government of the time envisaged a new project for Bari, as part of the development of southern Italy and the expansion of trade. Within this strategic plan, construction assumed an extremely important role from an economic perspective. That year, Araldo Di Crollalanza (1892–1986) was appointed Bari’s first Podestà. He would become a decisive figure. In accordance with the new directives issued by Rome, he accelerated initiatives to make the Apulian capital a link between the West and the East, the Gateway to the East. For Di Crollalanza, the policy of massively increasing public works represented the main path towards modernisation. In 1930, Di Crollalanza was appointed Minister of Public Works (1930-35). His rise was dominant in the field of public administration. To consolidate the image of a city devoted to the party, he undertook the construction of representative works, including Bari’s two seafront boulevards, Nazario Sauro and Vittorio Veneto, already envisaged in 1918, along which public buildings serving various functions were constructed. The seafront boulevards became a true founding symbol of the new city, an authentic success of Bari with its distinctive character, its backbone and its line of osmosis with the sea, which was transformed from a source of profit into a symbol. 

Architecture assumed a role of primary importance in interpreting and conveying messages of political propaganda, but also of an image of national renewal. In the same period, the road section “Imperatore Augusto” seafront was added to connect the two parts of the seafront and encircle the old town. The project for the new port stood out. The ancient problem of interconnection between the old city and the modern part remained. A project, shown to Mussolini in 1926, proposed the demolition and reconstruction of Bari Vecchia. A Great Gallery dedicated to the Duce was planned. Only the Cathedral, Basilica, and Castle were to be saved. The project was never carried out.

The activism of the Minister, Di Crollanza, in those years encountered one of the most important Apulian architects: Saverio Dioguardi (1888–1961). Dioguardi, at the height of his renown in 1934, was able, more than others, to unite the imagination of the built form with the experience of “doing” proper to the construction site, interpreting and combining materials and construction techniques in their most appropriate use, such as the use of iron and reinforced concrete already from the early 1910s. 

To this bold figure of an architect, the thesis dedicates an extensive description of his professional path, tracing and listing all the projects, both realized and unrealized, many of which came from what would also become his major family construction enterprise.

Dioguardi translated into works the symbols, the principles, the idea of a new “Polis” of a “Great Bari,” envisioned by Di Crollalanza, overlooking the Sea that had been the “Gulf of Venice,” culturally enriched by the newly founded Royal Adriatic University “Benito Mussolini” (1924) and commercially by the Levante Fair (1930).

Unlike the architecture of other dictatorships, uniform, repetitive, and monotonous, that of the twenty-year period stood out for its stylistic variety, the result of freedom of individual expression, without degenerating into anarchy.

Within this context of Bari in the 1930s, Dioguardi emerges as a pivotal figure. Among his works, the thesis carefully analyzes, including research at the State Archives of Bari, two works in which he was the protagonist: the Command Barracks of the Fourth Territorial Air Zone (IV Z.A.T.), now the Command of the A.M. Schools, III Air Region built between 1932 and 1935, Nazario Sauro Seafront, and the Barracks of the Voluntary Militia for National Security, designed in 1933, built between 1934 and 1939, currently known as the Barracks of the “Pinerolo” Mechanized Brigade, Vittorio Veneto Seafront. 

The reading of the monumental features of Dioguardi’s two barracks is central to the entire work, due to the extent of the documentary survey. In particular, for the III Air Region, the didactic component of the survey is added, for a graphic restitution of the current state and the energy analysis. For both, the description of the analysis of the state of conservation for a possible restoration is also included. The reading of these documents and graphic drawings makes it possible to understand the various construction phases of these structures and their significance. 

These buildings and others, erected with the clear intent of asserting themselves along the coastal strip in a direct relationship with the sea, perceived as a single frontage, still continue today to tell their theatricality. This condition applies above all to the Nazario Sauro seafront, not to the Vittorio Veneto seafront, whose function over the years has increasingly shifted toward an industrial character through the construction of structures and warehouses on the sea side. The loss of the sea-facing aspect of this seafront has led to the search for a new interpretation and a new approach so that the city could once again reclaim a sea view. The thesis identifies a portion of the reclaimed land, “Marisabella,” facing the “Pinerolo” Barracks. A series of historical studies, the existing conditions, and mobility considerations led to the identification of a sustainable proposal. 

The use of greenery, as a filter for reclaiming urban quality and enhancing it, the Sea Museum, the headquarters for the Port Authority’s executive offices, and other infrastructures, were intended, according to the proposal, to constitute a monumental “anti-seafront.” The project envisioned by the six recent graduates, in fact, aims to create a transition respectful of the existing fabric, enhancing an area that is currently covered in asphalt because it is used as a parking lot, and seeks to create and offer the city a different way of relating to the sea.

The winning proposal was selected for exhibition at the 19th Venice International Architecture Exhibition. Here is the project video: https://youtu.be/9PMRJM0nRFs 

Press release.

 

The Concerts of the Politecnico. Thursday, 11 June, the final event of the 7th edition 2026

 Visions in Music, the Choir and Cinema

Investigation into the relationship between music and cinematic imagery

Bari, 8 June 2026 – “Visions in Music, the Choir and Cinema” is a project by the “Poliba Chorus” that explores the relationship between music and cinematic imagery. The project examines the role of music as an autonomous narrative element, capable of amplifying emotion, defining identity, and guiding the viewer’s perception. Through a repertoire spanning composers and contemporary authors, the project analyses the soundtrack as a true “character” in the film narrative. An artistic and production journey that enhances the synergy between sound and vision, placing the choir at the centre of contemporary audiovisual language.

The event, scheduled Thursday, 11 June, 6:30 p.m. at the Rectorate headquarters of the Polytechnic University (university campus), will feature the Poliba Chorus with its conductor, Alessandro Fortunato. Free admission, subject to reservation via the following link: https://www.eventbrite.it/e/visioni-in-musica-tickets-1984609939754?aff=oddtdtcreatoruntil all places are filled. Final deadline for registration: 11 June, 12:00 p.m.

The protagonists. Antonio Alessandro Fortunato, born in 1985, graduated in organ and piano. He obtained a master’s degree in music therapy, attending courses in pedagogy and music education at the Orff Institute in Salzburg. Passionate about the voice and choral singing, he attended courses in singing and teaching for functional vocal technique. He studied choral conducting with internationally renowned choir conductors. He is the conductor of theApulia Cantat with which he has taken part in numerous national and international competitions. He is a harpsichordist at the Fondazione Teatro Petruzzelli

The Poliba Chorus was founded in 2021 on the basis of a structured collaboration between the Polytechnic University of Bari and ARCoPu. It is a musical and educational project open to choristers, students, and music enthusiasts. The choral experience is entrusted to the guidance of Maestro Alessandro Fortunato. 

“The Concerts of the Polytechnic University”, 7th edition, is an initiative of the Polytechnic University of Bari and ARCoPu (Regional Association of Apulian Choirs) with the support of the Apulia Region.

Press release.

The Future of the Archeology. Study day, Friday, 5 June, Convent of Santa Chiara 

Preventive and predictive actions for the conservation of archaeological and monumental heritage

The preservation of this heritage cannot disregard the adoption of preventive and predictive approaches, capable of intercepting deterioration phenomena in their initial stages and supporting protection and intervention decisions. In this direction lies the pilot project "Predictive monitoring system for the conservation of archaeological sites and monumental buildings", funded by the Ministry of Culture - MiC

Bari, 3 June 2026 - The archaeological and monumental heritage that characterizes the Italian territory constitutes a testimony of universal value to the history and cultural identity of our country, but at the same time it represents a particularly vulnerable legacy, exposed to the combined effects of material aging, environmental and human stresses, as well as natural risks affecting the Mediterranean Area. 

The preservation of this heritage cannot today disregard the adoption of preventive and predictive approaches, capable of intercepting deterioration phenomena in their initial stages and supporting, on an objective basis, protection and intervention decisions.

In this direction lies the pilot project "Predictive monitoring system for the conservation of archaeological sites and monumental buildings", promoted by the Central Institute for the Digitization of Cultural Heritage – Digital Library of the Ministry of Culture, within which the study day is included "The Future of the Archeology", scheduled for Friday, June 5, at 11:00 a.m., a Bari, old town, at the Chiostro of the Convent of Santa Chiara (at Pier L’Eremita, 25/b).

The study day, organized by the Polytechnic University of Bari (scientific coordinator, Prof. Dora Foti, ARCOD Department), stems from the awareness that the safeguarding of historic buildings requires a paradigm shift, from the traditional model of post-event intervention to data-informed management, based on the integration of in-depth knowledge of the artifact, digital technologies and Structural Health Monitoring systems for the continuous control of its behavior.

The day will be divided into four scientific sessions, with presentations aimed at exploring the most advanced digital methodologies for the preventive safeguarding of archaeological and monumental heritage. Particular attention will be devoted to survey and non-destructive diagnostic techniques, data management and querying tools, as well as structural monitoring strategies aimed at more effective protection of historic architecture.

A dedicated space will be reserved for the presentation of the results of the pilot project "Predictive monitoring system for the conservation of archaeological sites and monumental buildings", funded by the Ministry of Culture, concerning the application of a structural monitoring system to the Female Baths complex in Pompeii, a paradigmatic case study for the complexity of conservation issues. Continuing education credits are предусмотрены for engineers and architects from their respective professional associations.

Programme 

11:00 | Institutional greetings

Superintendent of the Metropolitan City of Bari - Dr. F.R. Paolillo, Director of the Swabian Castle of Bari-Regional Directorate of National Museums of Apulia and Acting Superintendent BAT-FG– Arch. Anita Guarnieri

Rector of the Polytechnic University of Bari - Prof. Ing. U. Fratino 

Director General of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii - Dott. G. Zuchtriegel

Director General for Digitization and Communication, MiC - Dott. A. De Pasquale

President of the Order of Engineers of Bari - Ing. C. Contesi 

President of the Order of Engineers of Naples - Prof. Ing. A. Prota

President of the Order of Architects of Bari - Architect C.D. Mastronardi 

National President of A.I.D.I.A. - Arch. A. Vella

Director of the ArCoD Department - Prof. Arch. F. Defilippis 

12:00 Session I 

Dora Foti – Polytechnic University of Bari - “Identification of the dynamic behavior of non-structural walls in antiquity: the case of Pompeii”. Giuliano Romalli – Central Institute for the Digitization of Cultural Heritage – Digital Library - “Digital Library and the creation of Ecomic. A national ecosystem for the protection, enjoyment and enhancement of cultural heritage”. Francesca Romana Paolillo, Caterina Annese, Elena Dellù –Superintendency of the Metropolitan City of Bari -“The activities of the ABAP Superintendency for the metropolitan city of Bari: multidisciplinary and experimental methodologies for the protection and conservation monitoring of the archaeological heritage of the territory. “Anita Guarnieri, Savino Gallo, Annalinda Iacoviello - Swabian Castle of Bari-Regional Directorate of National Museums of Apulia and Superintendency BAT-FG– “Protection and enhancement: ongoing projects curated by the Swabian Castle of Bari, DRMN Puglia and the ABAP BAT-FG Superintendency“

14:30 | Session II

Luigi Oliva – Central Institute for Restoration, MiC - “Research paths of the ICR in the conservation of archaeological heritage”. Arianna Traviglia – Center for Cultural Heritage Technology – ITT Venice - “From robotics to structural monitoring: new technologies for the protection of archaeological sites”. Alessandra Zambrano – R&I Manager, Archaeological Park of Pompeii, MiC - “R&I for the conservation of archaeological sites: the Pompeii experience”

3:30 p.m. | Session III

Francesca Ceroni – University of Naples “Parthenope” - “Vulnerability to out-of-plane mechanisms of masonry elements in the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.” Lorenza Petrini – Politecnico di Milano - “Towards an integrated approach to diagnostics and structural analysis: the case of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.” Stefano Podestà – University of Genoa - “Roofing systems for archaeological sites: the case study of the archaeological site of Villa Arianna in Castellamare di Stabia – Archaeological Park of Pompeii”

4:30 p.m. | Session IV

Gian Piero Lignola – University of Naples “Federico II” - “Innovative structural solutions in the archaeological area of Pompeii.”. Giacomo Martines – Polytechnic University of Bari -“The preventive safeguarding of Cultural Heritage from conservation theory to the potential offered by predictive technologies”. Michele Antonicelli – Planetek Italia -“Satellite monitoring for the safeguarding of historical and cultural heritage”.

Press release.

Press conference.  Tomorrow, Thursday 4 June, Metropolitan City of Bari Palace 

Music under the metropolitan stars

Presentation of the summer programme of the Symphony Orchestra of the Metropolitan City of Bari. More than 30 concerts are scheduled in numerous municipalities across the metropolitan area

Bari, 3 June 2026 - Tomorrow, Thursday 4 June, at 10:30 a.m., in the Giunta Hall of the Palace of the Metropolitan City of Bari (Lungomare Nazario Sauro, 29), the press conference presenting “Music under the metropolitan stars”, the summer programme of the Symphony Orchestra of the Metropolitan City of Bari, will be held.

The programme includes more than 30 concerts that will take place in numerous municipalities across the metropolitan area, as well as university spaces, hospitals and sports centres, with the aim of bringing symphonic music ever closer to students, lecturers, patients and citizens.

The programme combines culture, education and civic participation, enhancing the role of music as a tool for inclusion and sharing.

The Metropolitan Mayor Vito Leccese, the Rectors of the University of Bari “Aldo Moro” and the Polytechnic University of Bari Roberto Bellotti and Umberto Fratino, the Metropolitan City of Bari Councillor delegated to socio-cultural promotion and tourism, protection and enhancement of archaeological, documentary and library heritage and Metropolitan Orchestra Francesca Bottalico, the General Director of the Bari University Hospital “Policlinico” Antonio Sanguedolce, the President of CUS (University Sports Centre) Bari Antonio Prezioso, the Artistic Director of the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra Vito Clemente, the Director of the Department for the Promotion and Coordination of Economic, Social and Cultural Development Raffaele Nicola Vitto and the Mayors of the municipalities in the metropolitan area will speak.

Press release.

Second-level Master’s degree. Call for applications published. Presentation of the second edition on 9 June at Poliba 

Terna and the Polytechnic University of Bari present the Master’s programme on "Innovation in Electrical Systems for Energy"

At the end of the training programme, participants will obtain the Master’s degree awarded jointly by the Polytechnics of Bari, Milan and Turin. The initiative, fully funded by Terna, is part of PoliTech Lab, the Polytechnic Network of Advanced Expertise. Each Polytechnic will nominate 15 selected students, for a total of 45. Teaching activities will take place at the three universities and at the Terna Academy Campus in Rome. Application deadline: 8 September

Bari, 30 May 2026 - The call for applications for the second edition of the Second-Level Master’s programme in “Innovation in Electrical Systems for Energy”, promoted by Terna with the Polytechnics of Bari, Milan and Turin within PoliTech Lab, the Polytechnic Network of Advanced Expertise. 

In this regard, the 9 June the Polytechnic University of Bari will host the presentation event of the second edition to illustrate to the recent graduates present, or connected via streaming, the educational offer, the details of the planned subjects, the objectives of the initiative and the organisational aspects.

The Master’s programme will train professionals called upon to develop and manage the National Transmission Grid of the coming decades, creating highly specialised profiles such as: plant and technology experts, asset management, power electrical systems​, markets and regulation. At the end of the programme, participants will obtain the Master’s degree jointly awarded by the Polytechnics of Bari, Milan and Turin.

For students holding a master’s degree in Automation, Electrical, Electronic, Energy and Nuclear, Management, Computer and Mechanical Engineering, it will be possible until 8 September to submit the application for admission to the one-year Master’s programme, which will begin in November. The commitment required of the 45 selected students, 15 for each University, is 1,500 hours to obtain 60 credits. The participation costs will be fully covered by Terna, which will award each admitted candidate a scholarship. At the end of the programme, the Master’s participants will be placed within the Terna Group.

The program includes lectures, exercises, laboratory sessions, supplementary seminars, plant visits, and a final practical experience in a company. The training program is delivered in person and in Italian, with a multidisciplinary teaching staff drawn from the research and industry sectors. The teaching activities will take place not only at the three universities but also at the Terna Academy Campus in Rome.

Here is the full call for applications: https://www.polimi.it/formazione/formazione-oltre-la-laurea/master-universitari-e-corsi-post-laurea/dettaglio-master/3297

Press release.

Twenty-eight university internships at the Quirinale and at the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano

During the activities, students will deepen their scientific knowledge, alternating study and research. The internships will have a total duration of 150 hours

Bari, 28 May 2026 – It is online until 16 June 2026 (https://tirocinicrui.app) the call for applications for 28 curricular internships at the Quirinal Palace and the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano. 

For the initiative, promoted by the CRUI Foundation in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, applications may be submitted students from the 45 Italian universities participating in the program (including the Polytechnic University of Bari), who are enrolled in bachelor's degree, master's degree, or single-cycle degree programs.

The 28 internships will be organized as follows, by location and period: the 22 curricular internships at the Quirinal Palace will take place in two cycles: late September–late November 2026 and November 2026–February 2027, while the 6 internships at the Castelporziano Estate will take place in a single period: September–November 2026.

Applicants must have earned at least 120 ECTS credits in the case of three-year and single-cycle degree programmes, or at least 18 ECTS credits for master's degree programmes. They must also demonstrate knowledge of the English language at least at B1 level.

The internships will have a total duration of 150 hours. During the activities, students will deepen their scientific knowledge, alternating study and research, and will also develop communication and scientific outreach skills. 

The internship includes a flat-rate expense reimbursement of 600 euros. 

Here the selection notice: https://www.tirocinicrui.it/al-via-28-tirocini-curriculari-al-quirinale-castelporziano/

The universities involvedBari, Bari LUM G. Degennaro, Polytechnic of Bari, Bergamo, Bologna, Brescia, Cagliari, Calabria, Campania Vanvitelli, Chieti Pescara, Firenze, L'Aquila, Macerata, Messina, Milano, Napoli Federico II, Napoli l'Orientale, Napoli Suor O. Benincasa, Padova, Palermo, Parma, Pavia, Pavia IUSS, Perugia, Perugia Stranieri, Piemonte Orientale, Roma Link Campus, Roma LUISS G. Carli, Roma LUMSA, Roma Sapienza, Roma Tor Vergata, Roma Tre, Salento, Salerno, Scuola Normale Superiore, Siena, Siena Stranieri, Teramo, Torino, Trieste, Tuscia, Udine, Urbino, Venezia Ca' Foscari, Verona.

Press release.

Intelligence. 7th edition of the “A Thesis for National Security” Award

Marco Olivieri, Polytechnic University of Bari, among the seven winners of theses on national security

The awarded study concerns an innovative interception architecture capable of capturing and sharing with the Authorities traffic originating from any point in the 5G network and, at the same time, enabling the traffic intercepted in the network to be decrypted. The research was carried out in the Telematics and iTNT-NS laboratories of the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering of Poliba

Bari, May 19, 2026 – Seven young graduates, seven degree research projects, seven awards for a single common thread: putting university knowledge at the service of national security, with ideas, skills, and tools. 

Among the seven national awardees is also Marco Olivieri. Twenty-five years old, from Matera, with a master's degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Bari in 2025, grade 110/110 with honors (supervisor Prof. Giuseppe Piro), who with his degree thesis, a study on “an innovative architecture for lawful interception in future mobile telecommunications systems” has been awarded, together with six other colleagues, by the selection committee of the 7th edition of the “A Thesis for National Security” Award. Initiative promoted by the Department of Information for Security(DIS), Presidency of the Council of Ministers, with the aim of bringing young people closer to the world of Intelligence and promoting the study of strategic issues for the protection of national interests. Since 2014, the Award has established itself over time as one of the main initiatives of Italian Intelligence for the promotion of security culture. 

The award ceremony took place yesterday, May 18, in Rome, at Palazzo Dante, headquarters of the Italian Intelligence. The winners were awarded by the Director General of DIS Vittorio Rizzi, by the Director of AISE Giovanni Caravelli and by the Director of AISI Bruno Valensise.

“In Europe – the winner Marco Olivieri states - more than 80% of criminal networks threaten strategic assets for socio-economic development through activities such as cybercrime, illicit trafficking in drugs, firearms and explosives, environmental crimes, fraud, counterfeiting, crimes against the person, and organized property crimes. In this context, lawful interceptions represent an investigative tool of enormous strategic value for the Authorities. They make it possible to prevent, identify, and investigate serious crimes and terrorist phenomena, supporting both intelligence activities and the collection of evidence usable in judicial proceedings. The continuous evolution of telecommunications and digital infrastructures – continues - inevitably requires constant updating of interception technologies and methodologies. 

The thesis work carried out in the “Wireless Network Security” course, in collaboration with the research group affiliated with the Telematics and iTNT-NS laboratories of the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering of the Polytechnic University of Bari, has helped provide new concrete and effective solutions. The designed and experimentally validated solution is structured around two distinct aspects. On the one hand, an innovative interception architecture has been defined, capable of capturing and sharing with the competent Authorities traffic originating from any point in the 5G network. On the other hand, the use of advanced cryptographic algorithms, known as key escrow, has been proposed, through which it is possible to ensure the protection of communications and, at the same time, allow authorized Authorities to decrypt intercepted traffic in the network. The proposed solution – concludes with satisfaction - ensures an effective balance between privacy protection and public security requirements.

Congratulations from the Rector, Umberto Fratino, to Marco Olivieri.

For the 7th edition of Award “A thesis for national security” there were 98 applications from 35 Italian universities. The Committee awarded 7 prizes, worth 3,000 euros each, for the best master's theses dedicated to topics of intelligence and national security interest. 

The award-winning works address the challenges currently facing the country’s security: from the vulnerability of artificial intelligence models to competition for critical minerals; from energy and environmental security to anti-satellite warfare; from countering coordinated disinformation to new architectures for lawful interception in 5G; and from nuclear proliferation to the resilience of international strategic balances.

The winners of the 7th edition: Mattia Alfano, University of Milan; Matteo Gioele Collu, University of Padua; Marco Inzerillo, LUISS Guido Carli University of Rome. Luca Mazzini, University of Florence; Elisa Muratore, University of Trento; Marco Olivieri, Polytechnic University of Bari; Camilla Tuan, Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna.

Press release.