The changes in recent months within the SUPSI administration have led to a review of the organization of the Directorates, particularly those Research development and Knowledge Transfer (RSTC) and Continuing Education (FC).
Taking into account the current context and strategic potential, and after consulting with the parties directly involved and evaluating opportunities and potential challenges, General Director Franco Gervasoni proposed merging the two directorates effective May 1.
At its meeting on April 14, 2026, the SUPSI Council approved the reorganization and appointed Prof. Alberto Piatti as Director of Research, Continuing Education, Development, and Knowledge Transfer for the upcoming four-year term from 2026 to 2029.
This decision aims to build on the work carried out by predecessors Nadia Bregoli and Emanuele Carpanzano, strengthen synergies and mutual benefits between the two institutional mandates, foster internal collaboration, and further consolidate the impact of SUPSI’s activities within its region of influence.
Leveraging unique strengths, harnessing synergies
The activities of RSTC and FC are aimed at fostering innovation in companies, organizations, and institutions, and at updating the skills of professionals.
The new organization aims to further stimulate the transfer of research project results into continuing education and to offer courses that are always in step with technical and scientific developments. Conversely, the dense and diverse network of relationships that continuing education maintains with the socio-economic fabric represents an opportunity to establish new collaborations and carry out high-impact applied research projects in response to the region’s innovation needs.
The Director of Research, Continuing Education, Development, and Knowledge Transfer will serve as a strategic guide and facilitator in the creation of joint initiatives between the two mandates, ensuring their distinctiveness and leveraging their complementarities, to the benefit of the numerous shared stakeholders.
The reorganization of the mandate-based departments will also entail a reduction in the costs of the SUPSI administration, consistent with the cross-cutting commitment to resource optimization currently underway to address cuts in public funding.
The call for applications to replace Prof. Daniela Willi Piezzi
On April 15, the call for applications for a new Director Undergraduate and Graduate Studies at SUPSI will open. The application period closes on May 29. The SUPSI Council’s decision is expected this summer.