The conclusion of Paolo Lugli's two terms as rector of unibz was symbolically marked by the inauguration of the new Faculty of Engineering building at the NOI Techpark, that took place on 19 September. It was the final act of a long process on which he has worked hard for years. We talked to him about it.

Prof. Lugli, the recent inauguration of the new Faculty of Engineering at NOI Techpark is the culmination of an ambitious project, of which you were a key architect. At the same time, it represents a new starting point for the university, and for the entire region—its society and economy. How did the idea of establishing a faculty at the technology park come about?

Prof. Paolo Lugli: Before coming to South Tyrol, I was the Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology at the Technical University of Munich. When I arrived in Bolzano, I was the only professor in electronics. At the time, engineering at unibz was part of the Faculty of Science and Technology, and focused primarily on two large disciplines— energy and industrial/logistics engineering. Since I was expected, as I also had wished, to carry out teaching and research in addition to my duties as rector, I set out to secure funding to build new labs and hire researchers. As we expanded our offer in electronics and autonomation, talented colleagues like Prof. Luisa Petti and Prof. Angelika Peer, whom I had known from Munich, joined us. Thus, a core group of information engineering specialists was formed.

However, in those early days, engineering seemed somewhat overshadowed, being housed within a Faculty of Science and Technology.

Yes, it wasn’t widely recognized that unibz actually offered engineering degrees, just as it wasn’t clear that agricultural sciences were part of the curriculum of the Faculty. One of our aims was to give both fields the visibility they deserved. Additionally, information engineering wasn’t as developed in nearby universities like those in Trento or Innsbruck, so we had an opportunity to lead in this sector. Before I assumed the role of rector, I was frequently travelling between Germany and South Tyrol, and it was during that period that the idea of the university contributing to the development of the NOI Techpark was introduced to me. I later joined the NOI board, and from the outset, it was clear to me that the university could and should be pivotal to NOI’s development. I was determined not to repeat the common mistake — seen both in Italy and elsewhere — of building centers for technological and economic development too far from the university. The Faculty of Engineering was ideally positioned to serve as the bridge between the university and the tech park, and I must say, we had strong political support, particularly from the Landeshauptmann, who understood that integrating the university into the NOI would change the landscape of both the park and the region.

Who helped shape the strategic vision for the new Faculty?

Before establishing the Faculty as we know it today, President Tappeiner created a commission of high-level experts, including for instance Erich Clementi, Vice President of IBM Global, and Prof. Marco Gilli, Rector of the University of Turin, among others, to help deciding the format and structure of the new Faculty. The commission met with various external stakeholders and with representatives of the existing Faculties. The result was a proposal to merge Computer Science with the engineering disciplines from the Faculty of Science and Technology to form a single, cohesive Faculty. Personally, I would have preferred creating three distinct faculties—Computer Science, Information, and Energy/Industrial Engineering—based on the TUM model, but the associated operational costs would have been too high for our student numbers.

Was the merger the right approach?

Bringing together areas that hadn’t previously collaborated extensively, and adding new fields to the mix, is not without its challenges. It's an ongoing process that requires time and effort, but there are also advantages. One benefit is that it avoids duplication of similar topics across different faculties, which can sometimes happen, as I’ve seen at TUM for robotics. By consolidating, we reduce competition between departments and foster collaboration.

What were the main challenges in realizing this project?

In Munich, I had just overseen the construction of the first building Faculty of Information Engineering in Garching, an experience that proved invaluable for what we were building here in Bolzano. Together with architect Davide Olivieri, who designed the new building, we visited Munich to review the designs and examine the layout of the Informatics and Mechanical Engineering buildings. The pandemic certainly added complications, delaying the delivery of raw materials, but we adapted and even enhanced the initial plans by adding more laboratory space.

How will the new building enhance teaching and research within the Faculty?

First and foremost, it allows us to consolidate our activities in a single location, which encourages interaction and collaboration. We've also been able to establish cutting-edge teaching labs that many larger universities can’t offer due to their size. For example, while in Munich a class may have 200 students, here we have only 30 to 40, allowing for more hands-on, experiential learning—something that's critical for engineering education. The new building also facilitates the integration of different disciplines towards interdisciplinary approaches and opens up opportunities for industry collaboration, as well as outreach to local high schools, giving students a glimpse into university-level research and education before they choose their path.

As with many large public projects, there has been some criticism regarding the investment. What added value will the Faculty’s future development bring to the region?

Critics are either nostalgic for a past that is long gone or unaware of how essential innovation is—not just for the industries of South Tyrol, but for their own future. If local industries aren’t supported by cutting-edge research, they won’t be able to grow, and that will affect everyone living here. Attracting talent to this region is already challenging, given the linguistic landscape, the lack of student apartments and cost of living. The Faculty aims to provide highly skilled professionals for local industries, helping drive both the economy and society forward. For me, that’s the primary motivation. And if we consider the 75 million euros invested, it's not an enormous sum in the Province’s overall budget. It enables us to conduct top-tier research and become a global reference point for innovation, shifting the region’s image from a traditional, rural area to a hub of technological advancement. Bavaria is famous for its Oktoberfest and agriculture, but it's also one of Europe's leading innovation hubs, home to startups and wealth creation. We have the opportunity to do the same here—so why not?

What is needed to make that vision a reality?

The main hurdle is the high cost of living. For our Faculty, it's a major issue if students can’t afford to live here. And while trilingualism is a hallmark of unibz, I believe we could be more flexible in its application. We’re unlikely to attract German students to Bolzano to study engineering if they’re required to learn Italian. I would prefer a more flexible system that allows students the option to learn three languages, but doesn’t make it a strict requirement.

Shifting to your time as rector, apart from the new Engineering building, is there a decision or accomplishment you’re particularly proud of?

I’m proud that unibz has made a significant contribution to NOI Techpark, and that, as a member of the board, I’ve been able to help shape that development. During my tenure, the amount of competitive third-party funding—where we have to compete for resources—has quadrupled. This was an immense effort, placing strain on our administration, but it was essential, as public funding alone could no longer sustain our growth. We’ve also secured external funding to cover the salaries of professors funded by industry and banks, easing the financial burden on the university’s budget. And, of course, I take pride (together with all colleagues carrying out excellent research and teaching, in unibz’s continued rise in international rankings.

As you near the end of your term, how do you view unibz’s future?

I believe the university is well-positioned. We’ve experienced some challenges, such as the departure of several professors who lately were offered competitive positions elsewhere, partly due to South Tyrol's high cost of living. However, our state-of-the-art laboratories will help us attract new top talents, both from abroad and within Italy.

At the end of September, you will step down as rector. What are your plans for the next two years?

I will teach a course in the coming semester and then I’ll be on sabbatical for about a year and a half. I plan to embark on a long journey, retracing my academic and professional career, visiting and doing research at universities in Phoenix, Munich, Rome, and Modena. It seems like a nice, and hopefully successful, path fitting to close this chapter of my career before I retire.