Milan-Bicocca hosts the grand finale of Spoke 1: 20 emerging voices present their projects on ecological transition, energy, and mobility to stakeholders and institutions.

Research, innovation, and a sustainable future will meet on Thursday, October 9, at the University of Milano-Bicocca. From 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM, in Aula Martini (U6-04, Piazza dell’Ateneo Nuovo, Milan), “Stand up Science. Brilliant ideas for a bright future” will take place. This is the concluding event for the MUSA Spoke 1 program. The event aims to highlight the work of young researchers and return the fruits of their research to the community through concrete applications in the environmental, economic, and social fields. The goal is to strengthen the dialogue among researchers, institutions, and businesses, creating the conditions to transform ideas into startups, patents, and international, multidisciplinary collaborations.

The event is inspired by the TED Talk and stand-up formats, with quick and impactful presentations: each researcher will have five minutes to talk about their project. The stage will feature twenty young people—including doctoral students, research fellows, and researchers—who will present ideas and solutions on key urban regeneration topics, including urban biodiversity, renewable energy sources, sustainable mobility, biodiversity credits, ESG, and circularity.

Joining them will be the professors responsible for the project, who will provide an overall picture of Spoke 1’s activities, and representatives of the winners of the cascade calls, who are invited to talk about the parallel projects developed within the MUSA ecosystem.

A qualified jury will listen to the researchers’ scientific stories, with the goal of identifying the most innovative proposals and providing suggestions for their enhancement. The jurors include:

  • Elena Grandi, Councilor for the Environment and Urban Greenery, Municipality of Milan
  • Armando De Crinito, Director General for Economic Development, Lombardy Region
  • Marina Canovaro, Head of technology network & ecosystem development, Eni
  • Danilo Porro, National Representative in the Horizon Europe Cluster 6 Program Committee
  • Stefano Porro, Head of Future Mobility, Pirelli
  • Isabel Reuss, Senior Climate and Social Advisor of the Forum for Sustainable Finance

The schedule includes moments of discussion, presentations, and talks that will foster dialogue between research and the business world:

  • 9:30 AM – Institutional greetings
  • 10:00 AM – MUSA today: professors illustrate the state of the art of activities on urban regeneration, circularity, energy, mobility, geothermal energy, and space
  • 11:00 AM – Coffee break
  • 11:30 AM – Brilliant ideas for the future: young researchers present the developments of their projects, from patents to possible spin-offs
  • 1:30 PM – Light lunch
  • 2:30 PM – Presentation of projects that won the cascade calls
  • 3:00 PM – Round table: A word from the stakeholders: how MUSA ideas can be transformed into development opportunities

  • 3:30 PM – Awarding of the most brilliant ideas and final feedback from the jury