The establishment of the Italian Academy of Engineering and Technology (Itatec) stems from the need to provide a coherent and authoritative voice for excellence in Italian engineering, technology and industry, in the international arena—particularly at the European level.
I. Launch and Establishment of the Consortium (2015–2016)
The initiative began in 2015 following an institutional exchange. Professor Reinhard Huettl, President of the German Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech) and, at the time, President of the European Council of Applied Sciences, Technologies and Engineering (Euro-CASE), contacted Matteo Pardo, then serving as Science Attaché at the Italian Embassy in Berlin. Professor Huettl encouraged Italian involvement in Euro-CASE, noting that Italy—together with Greece—was the only European Union Member State not represented.
In December 2015, a meeting was therefore held in Berlin between Italian stakeholders in the technical sciences and the leadership of acatech. The meeting was organised by the Italian Embassy, in the presence of Ambassador Piero Benassi.
Subsequently, in September 2016, a framework agreement was signed, leading to the establishment of an informal consortium among the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), the National Research Council (CNR), the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the Polytechnic University of Turin. Article 1 of the agreement set out the immediate and long-term objectives of the collaboration:
- To ensure Italy’s participation in Euro-CASE and foster the development of an Italian platform in applied sciences, technologies and engineering, bringing together academic institutions, research organisations and industry.
- To establish an official body, recognised by the Italian Government and capable of representing the interests of Italy’s scientific and technological communities.
II. From the Consortium to a Formal Academy (2017–2022)
The consortium was led by Speranza Falciano (INFN Vice President for Technology Transfer), with Matteo Pardo delegated to liaise with acatech and Euro-CASE. The consortium could not immediately join Euro-CASE, as it did not meet the two formal requirements of an academy: a statute providing for the election of members on the basis of scientific merit, and official governmental recognition.
- 2018 – Accession to Euro-CASE as an observer (without voting rights) from 1 January 2018. The arrangement ensured immediate involvement in the selection of experts supporting advisory activities for the European Commission.
- 2021 – In January 2021, the consortium agreement was renewed and expanded to include the Polytechnic University of Milan, the Gran Sasso Science Institute and the University of Naples Federico II. In the same year, the Accademia dei Lincei expressed interest in the initiative.
- 2022 – In September 2022, the Deed of Incorporation of the Academy of Engineering and Technology (Itatec) was formalised at the Accademia dei Lincei, with 51 founding members, including 10 signatories acting as promoters.
Itatec’s Statute was drafted drawing inspiration from the acatech model and has the following distinguishing features:
- Mixed structure: the Academy is organised into two sections: the Assembly, composed of members elected on the basis of merit, and the College of Counsellors, whose members are representatives appointed by stakeholders (technology companies, leading research organisations and associations). This structure ensures national-level mediation between academic research and industry.
- Governance: both sections elect a President; however, the Assembly holds a two-thirds majority within the Presidential Council.
- Junior members: Itatec is the first academy (at least in Europe) to provide for the election of junior members (under 40 at the time of appointment) with the same rights and duties as ordinary members, albeit for a limited term of five years.
III. Developments and International Positioning (2023–2025)
- In February 2023 the first Presidential Council was elected, composed of: Maria Chiara Carrozza, Speranza Falciano (President), Massimo Morbidelli (Vice President), Franco Ongaro, Giorgio Parisi and Francesca Zarri (Vice President). Matteo Pardo was appointed Secretary General. Their term ended on 15 September 2025.
- The Assembly grew from 51 founding members to 90 in 2024, reaching 122 members in 2025. Engineers represent an absolute majority. Numerous ERC panels are represented (PE2–PE8, PE10–PE11, LS7–LS9, SH).
- The College of Counsellors was established, bringing together 18 technology companies (including ENI, Leonardo, Enel Green Power, SNAM, Saipem, STMicroelectronics, Techint, TIM and Bracco) and the first public institutions (CINECA, ENEA, CNR).
- Institutional dialogue: over the two-year period, Itatec initiated dialogue with the Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR) and, in 2025, with MASE and MIMIT, with a view to formal recognition and funding of the Academy.
- Election of the second Presidential Council in September 2025
- www.itatec.org launched early 2026, thanks to the contribution of CINECA and a group of junior members coordinated by Valentina Zega.
International Activities
- Participation in Euro-CASE has been strengthened, with Italian experts now regularly contributing to working groups and being selected as speakers at annual conferences.
- From its third edition in 2024, Itatec has served as the National Representative Body for the Frontiers Planet Prize, coordinating the selection of the three best Italian papers. Alessandro Astolfi chaired the selection committee for 2024 and 2025.
- November 2024– Itatec contributed to the Euro-CASE position paper on FP10 (the EU’s Tenth Framework Programme) submitted to the European Commission. In particular, it proposed and drafted the fourth recommendation: "Improve the two-way communication flow between the research and innovation community and the media". In the same year, Itatec joined the Working Group on Engineering Diplomacy.
- September 2025 – Matteo Pardo was elected to the Euro-CASE Executive Board.
January 2026 – The Academy established its first four Working Groups (WGs), mirroring the four Euro-CASE working groups on Soil, Energy Transition, PFAS and Innovation. It also assumed the leadership of the Euro-CASE Working Group "PFAS in Europe today and tomorrow"—the first time Itatec has coordinated a Euro-CASE WG.