society – Progress in Research

MIMO: new multidisciplinary modelling platform

Posted on 06/11/202306/08/2024 by Erik Franco

Kick off meeting of the MIMO project at the Department of Energy, with ten professors and researchers involved.

The MIMO (Multi-sectoral Integrated Modelling platform for planning national energy transition pathways) project aims to develop a new multidisciplinary modelling platform, based on the integration of energy and micro- and macro-economic models. A platform that will make it possible to determine how and where economic resources should be allocated to promote the energy transition, the type of technological evolution to be adopted to ensure a predetermined energy target and whether the necessary technological changes are actually compatible with sustainable growth.

These are innovative interconnected tools responding to the need to assess the technological feasibility of the transition process and quantify the implications in terms of economic, social and environmental sustainability, supporting policy decisions.

MIMO is funded with €350,000, of which €220,000 by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR) as a “Project of Relevant National Interest” (PRIN). In addition to our university, it sees the participation of Università di Macerata, Università degli Studi di Firenze and IRPET, under the coordination of Professor Matteo Vincenzo Rocco of the Department of Energy of the Politecnico di Milano.

Politecnico di Milano joins the EBRAINS research infrastructure

Posted on 28/06/202306/08/2024 by Erik Franco

The Politecnico di Milano joins EBRAINS, the new digital research infrastructure (RI), created by the EU-funded Human Brain Project (HBP), to foster brain-related research and to help translate the latest scientific discoveries into innovation in medicine and industry, for the benefit of patients and society.

The membership will give POLIMI the opportunity to co-design future iterations of EBRAINS’ cutting-edge tools and services. These state-of-the-art capabilities – which cover data sharing, atlasing, modelling, simulation, high-performance computing, and neurorobotics – aim to help European researchers to address major challenges in brain health, benefiting from insights into data science, brain organization, and artificial intelligence gathered from the EU Flagship Human Brain Project. The Human Brain Project (HBP) has been Europe’s largest brain science project, funded by the EU combining neuroscience, computing, and AI to study the brain and its diseases.

Becoming a member of EBRAINS is a strategic move for Politecnico di Milano. It allows us to promote our research on brain microcircuits and simulations, with a focus on learning mechanisms and neurorobotics. EBRAINS provides advanced tools, resources, and collaboration opportunities. It enhances our visibility and impact on an international scale,

says prof. Alessandra Pedrocchi, responsible for EBRAINS at Politecnico di Milano.

We are very pleased to welcome Politecnico di Milano as an associate member at EBRAINS. The university conducts high-level research on brain modelling, simulation, and neurorobotics, among other areas in neuroscience,

says Paweł Świeboda, CEO of EBRAINS.

The website of EBRAINS

Meta chooses Politecnico di Milano to carry out study on metaverse

Posted on 13/12/202206/08/2024 by Erik Franco

Meta has chosen the Politecnico di Milano to carry out an independent academic study on the risks and opportunities of the metaverse, as part of a project that involves Meta investing $2.5 million in Europe. In fact, thanks to the XR Programs and Research Fund, academics from seven European countries, including Italy, will examine how metaverse technologies will interface on issues such as privacy, security, inclusion and the future of work.

It is estimated that the metaverse will lead to the creation of unprecedented assets, skills and professions, with a significant economic impact in global scenarios. However, the founding elements and critical success factors, as well as the tangible implications on the economy and society, are yet to be fully understood.
The study by the Politecnico di Milano wants to analyse the economic weight and social value of the metaverse, framing its emergence in a systemic perspective: its impact on individuals, society and the economy will be mapped using Italy as a practical case study.

Thanks to its immersiveness and spatial character, the metaverse will revolutionize the way people interact with content and with each other, by virtue of the reduction of cognitive loads linked to learning processes and the possibility of making any media experience more engaging. And it is precisely in this perspective that the importance of carrying out a systematic study of its effects to qualify opportunities and threats for industrial and social systems can be deduced; in particular, the scientific community can play a significant role in identifying the fields of application and their impact on the Italian and European economy
Giuliano Noci, scientific director of the study at the Politecnico di Milano together with Lucio Lamberti

says Giuliano Noci, scientific director (together with Lucio Lamberti) of the study at the Politecnico di Milano.

The metaverse will change the way people connect and businesses grow; it will lead to social experiences that bring us closer together than has been possible online to date. However, the technologies that will make up the metaverse will have to be inclusive and people will have to feel safe to be able to use them: since no company will own or manage it independently, collaboration and cooperation will be necessary.

The metaverse will be the result of a collective effort, which is why we believe it is essential to share our thoughts with authoritative third parties who can offer important food for thought. We could not be more proud to collaborate with the Politecnico di Milano, an academic institution that has been leading a privileged observatory on this issue for some time. We hope that their research can offer tangible elements to make the metaverse a social and economic opportunity on a global level
Angelo Mazzetti, Head of Institutional Affairs of Meta in Italy

Equity and quality for childhood. Guidelines for an integrated 0-6 years support system

Posted on 06/06/202206/08/2024 by Erik Franco

EQUI_06 is a multidisciplinary project involving the Departments of Architecture and Urban Studies (DASTU), Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering (DIG) and Design of the Politecnico di Milano. It aims at defining guidelines and general rules for the creation of integrated preschool service hubs in urban areas facing educational poverty.

Following an in-depth pilot study of needs and resources relating to early childhood (0-6 years), the project aims to promote principles of equity and quality.

Defining guidelines and general rules for the creation of integrated preschool service hubs, following an in-depth pilot study of needs and resources relating to early childhood (0-6 years).

THE PROJECT TEAM

Stefania Sabatinelli, Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (principal investigator)
Marta Cordini, Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (project manager)
Carolina Pacchi, Department of Architecture and Urban Studies
Cristina Renzoni, Department of Architecture and Urban Studies
Paola Savoldi, Department of Architecture and Urban Studies
Marta Cannistrà, Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering
Mara Soncin, Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering
Filippo Bolzoni, Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering
Ambra Borin, Department of Design
Luisa Collina, Department of Design
Laura Galluzzo, Department of Design
Claudia Mastrantoni, Department of Design

EQUI_06 is one of the high social impact projects awarded in the 2021 edition of Polisocial Award, dedicated to the theme “Equity and Recovery”: the winning projects are financed by funds from the 5×1000 donations (a fraction of the personal income tax each Italian citizen can donate to support a non-profit organisation).

BUDD-e: Blind-assistive aUtonomous Drive Device

Posted on 20/05/202206/08/2024 by Erik Franco

COVID-19 pandemics and related politics have strongly impacted on people’s life and, even more dramatically, that of people with visual impairment – 4% of the planet population. This is due to the fact that blind and visual impaired (BVI) people need tactile contact with the environment and a guide for moving and orienteering.

The goal of the BUDD-e (Blind-assistive aUtonomous Drive Device) project is to make public spaces and services, such as shopping centers and cultural centers/museums, accessible, functional and usable by BVI persons.

The project will be divided into two sub-objectives:

design and realize a first prototype of the innovative autonomous robotic guide BUDD-e for blind and visually impaired (BVI) persons;
design accessible and inclusive public places and indoor environments where BUDD-e can take the role of a guide for BVI persons and permit the fruition of the offered services.

BUDD-e is one of the 5 high social impact research projects of the Politecnico di Milano selected via the last edition of the Polisocial Award to be financed by funds from the 5×1000 donations (a fraction of the personal income tax each Italian citizen can donate to support a non-profit organisation).

THE PROJECT TEAM
Marcello Farina, Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering (principal investigator)
Emanuele Lettieri, Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering (project manager)
Luca Bascetta, Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering
Matteo Corno, Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering
Manuela Galli, Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering
Giuseppe Andreoni, Department of Design
Paolo Perego, Department of Design
Andrea Rebecchi, Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering

BUDD-e project website

Milan neighbourhood hubs win the Earthshot Prize

Posted on 21/10/202106/08/2024 by Erik Franco

The City of Milan with its Neighbourhood Hubs Food Policy project against food waste is the winner in the “A world without waste” section, of the first edition of the international Earthshot Prize for the best solutions to protect the environment, organized by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

On Sunday October 17th, live on the BBC and Discovery Channel, Prince William unveiled the winners after an international panel of experts selected Milan from 750 candidate initiatives from around the world. In Milan, the BBC arranged a link to London from a terrace overlooking the Duomo, which was attended by Deputy Mayor Anna Scavuzzo, with representatives of all the partners who bring this project to life.

The £1 million prize will be used to further develop the three hubs in the neighbourhoods Isola, Lambrate and Gallaratese, open new ones, ensuring their long-term sustainability, and replicate this excellent practice in the network of cities working with Milan on food policy.

The project was the result of an alliance, in 2017, between the City of Milan, Politecnico di Milano with the research group from the Deaprtment of Management Engineering “Food Sustainability Lab”, of which the Food Sustainability Observatory is part, Assolombarda, Fondazione Cariplo and the QuBì Programme.

The creation of the first Hub then brought in Banco Alimentare della Lombardia and saved over 10 tonnes of food per month, ensuring a stream of 260,000 equivalent meals in one year, reaching 3,800 people, thanks to the contribution of 20 supermarkets, 4 business canteens and 24 Third Sector organisations.

This was followed by the launch of the Hub in Lambrate, immediately after the first lockdown in spring 2020, also managed by Banco Alimentare della Lombardia in a space made available by AVIS Milano and with the support of BCC Milano. The third Hub, at Gallaratese, is managed by Terre des hommes with the support of the Fondazione Milan. Another one, currently in the planning stage, will be the neighbourhood Hub against food waste in Corvetto, managed by the Banco Alimentare della Lombardia and with the support of the Fondazione SNAM; while the Municipality of Milan has recently started the co-design process for the Hub in the city centre with Associazione IBVA and the support of BCC Milano.

The team from the Department of Management Engineering:
Alessandro Perego, Marco Melacini, Giulia Bartezzaghi, Annalaura Silvestro and Andrea Rizzuni from the Food Sustainability research group.

Partners involved:
The project involves major retailers including Lidl Italia, Esselunga, Carrefour, NaturaSi, Erbert, Coop Lombardia, Il Gigante, Bennet, Penny Market with the support of Number1 Logistics Group who provided the vans for the Isola and Lambrate hubs. With Fondazione Cariplo and SogeMi, The Municipality of Milan has also launched the Foody zero waste initiative to replicate the hub model at Ortomercato and recover fresh food together with Banco Alimentare della Lombardia, Recup, Croce rossa sud milanese, Università degli studi di Milano and many other supporting partners.