From University to Industry: The "Brilliant Ideas" of Young Researchers for the Ecological Transition.

The University of Milan-Bicocca hosted a true stage for innovation for “Stand up Science. Brilliant Ideas for a Bright Future” the final event of the MUSA Spoke 1 program. It was a dynamic format that gave a voice to eighteen selected young researchers engaged in projects addressing the major themes of the ecological transition: sustainable mobility, renewable energy sources, urban regeneration, circular economy, and biodiversity.

The initiative’s well-achieved objective was twofold: to return the results of public research to the local area and to create a bridge between academia, businesses, and institutions. In just 5 minutes each, the researchers illustrated the state-of-the-art of their activities, but above all, their next steps: patents in progress, embryonic startups, industrial collaborations, and international outreach. These were not just scientific presentations, but strategic visions for making research a real factor in social, environmental, and economic transformation.

The speeches were evaluated by a multidisciplinary jury composed of leading figures from the institutional and industrial world:

  • Armando De Crinito, General Director 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, Forum for Sustainable Finance
  • Tiziana De Giorgio, journalist for La Repubblica

The ideas presented on stage were evaluated according to the criteria of innovation, feasibility, potential impact, sustainability, and scientific rigor, and five of them were awarded prizes at the end of the day.

Jacopo Perego, a researcher in industrial chemistry, won the first prize with a speech titled “Nano-sponges for Selective Capture: From Molecular Design to Industrial Reality” In second place was Riccardo Milanesi, a technologist from the Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, with “Beauty and the Beast, the Story of Waste Turned into Raw Material for the Cosmetic Industry“. Silvia Mostoni, a researcher in general and inorganic chemistry, ranked third, speaking about “Carbon Dioxide: Problem or Possibility?” Finally, the surprising tie for fourth place was won by Giorgio Tseberlidis, a researcher in physical chemistry, with a talk on “Integrated Flexible Photovoltaics for a Sustainable Future” and Emiliano Pioltelli, a research fellow in botany, with “Science to Startup: from monitoring to market”

During the afternoon, the audience listened to the representatives of the winning projects from the Spoke 1 cascading calls, demonstrating the widespread impact that the MUSA program is generating within the fabric of Italian research.

The day concluded with a roundtable among stakeholders, featuring speeches from Vittorio Biondi, Programme Manager of MUSA scarl, Armando De Crinito, General Director for Economic Development of the Lombardy Region, and Silvia Botti, architect and Director of One Works Foundation. The debate, moderated by Spoke leader Massimo Labra, focused on the viable paths to promote an increasingly innovative future where young people with brilliant ideas can find an audience and support, as well as on proposing concrete strategies for implementing their projects.

“Stand up Science” demonstrated that research can—and must—leave the laboratories to influence the real world. An event that not only talks about science but imagines how to transform it into concrete value. In an era where environmental and economic challenges require rapid responses, the future could truly be in the hands of these young scientists. And, apparently, the future is in good hands.