Unicamp and the Polytechnic of Turin, an institution founded in 1859 and considered one of the best and most respected universities in Italy, is expanding an academic and scientific partnership that will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2026. Alongside its European counterpart, which excels in courses such as Engineering, Architecture, and Industrial Design, the University aims to strengthen joint research projects, student and researcher exchanges, infrastructure sharing, innovation, and technology transfer.
The new phase of cooperation was discussed at a meeting on Tuesday morning (1), which brought together representatives from universities and authorities from Campinas and Turin. Among the areas with potential for expansion are technology, transport, mobility and sustainability. Among those present were the mayor of Turin, Stefano Lo Russo – who is also a geologist and professor in the Department of Environmental, Territorial and Infrastructure Engineering at the Politecnico di Torino – and the rector of the institution, Stefano Corgnati.
The expansion of the relationship between the institutions was celebrated by the rector of Unicamp, Paulo Cesar Montagner. “I was very happy to participate in this moment and, more than anything, to strengthen a relationship we already have. It's not enough to preserve this contact, but to build new bridges from it,” added the rector.
Montagner highlighted that the participation of municipal administrations also contributes to broadening the scope of international cooperation and bringing universities closer to communities. Furthermore, the rector cited the historical ties between Brazil and Italy and the presence of descendants of Italians in the university community. “The importance of having the municipality with us was very great. The visit of the mayor of Turin was important so that we can contribute to our communities, which is the role of the university,” he said.
Cooperation
The Vice-Rector for Research, Ana Frattini, emphasized that Unicamp seeks to expand international cooperation with the Politecnico di Torino through new research initiatives and academic mobility. The partnership, considered strategic for the University's internationalization policy, foresees the joint funding of projects between research groups from both institutions.
“As part of the initiative, a Faepex (Fund for Support of Teaching, Research and Extension) call for proposals was opened, with applications open until October, to support research developed in partnership. Each university will invest 10 euros per project, totaling 20 euros in resources for each selected proposal. The expectation is that the cooperation will have a greater impact initially in the areas of technology and exact sciences, due to the profile of the Politecnico di Torino.”
"Technological projects linked to the health sector may also be considered," informed the vice-rector.
The selected projects are expected to begin in the first half of 2027. "In addition to funding research, the initiative aims to stimulate the exchange of researchers and students between the two universities, create new partnerships, and strengthen existing cooperation projects," added Frattini.
Sustainability
Strengthening ties and expanding cooperation in areas such as mobility, transportation, research, and sustainability is also a goal for the Vice-Rector for Graduate Studies at Unicamp, Cláudia Morelli. The idea is to increase the number of Italian students coming to Unicamp, strengthening the so-called "internationalization at home" and enriching graduate activities.
“As the rector of the Polytechnic University of Turin himself said, we have already had more than 20 years of collaborative work. Now, it's about strengthening ties and expanding our work to other areas. We have a lot to share.”, commented Morelli.
Roberto Donato da Silva Junior, Executive Director of Sustainability at Unicamp and coordinator of HIDS Unicamp, reinforced that the University has been expanding its internationalization through institutional partnerships. “The cooperation seeks to go beyond academic exchange, focusing on innovation and sustainability. The partnership with the Italian university will allow us to share experiences and develop joint strategies, especially in the creation of innovation and sustainability districts,” he pointed out.
Pillar
In opening the meeting, Stefano Lo Russo, the mayor of Turin, commented that the rapid connection between the university system and the municipality is a pillar of the strategy of the city he represents. “We know very well how important it is to study at a top-level university to create an international network and a good structure for conducting research. We also know how important it is to have a city that works towards an environment suitable for all the other things necessary for academic activity, such as ideal conditions for students, professors, and businesses.”
Stefano Corgnati, rector of the Polytechnic University of Turin, recalled that the first project in partnership with Unicamp dates back to 2001. “We have a solid foundation to begin this new phase of our cooperation. It’s a great opportunity to share research and technology experiences,” he said. “We are working to increase the number of our students here, to give our students the opportunity to have an international experience,” he added.
The mayor of Campinas, Dário Saadi, was represented at the event by the municipal secretary of Management and Control, Alberto Alves da Fonseca.
