At Politecnico technology and society become increasingly intertwined
Technology plays an increasingly crucial role in social development and impacts all areas of human life, including education, work, the environment, and health. Politecnico is therefore expanding and enhancing the Biennale Tecnologia experience - a major biennial event that the University has been successfully producing and promoting since 2019. The initiative aims to enrich the cultural content available to the public and deepen the understanding of the relationship between technology and society. As part of its commitment to strengthening Politecnico’s Public Engagement strategy, a new platform for producing cultural content has been launched: Prometeo - Tech Cultures.
Prometeo will enrich the activities of Biennale Tecnologia, ensuring continuity between its editions. It will serve as a cultural platform for various activities, including the conception and production of theatrical performances, short films, non-fiction books, educational publications, podcasts, videos, lectures for school and university students, entertainment events, expert dialogues, exhibitions, and social media content, among other things.
To achieve the goal of producing high-quality and impactful work, Prometeo will rely on a dedicated team as well as the ideas, skills, and creativity of a team daily involved at PoliTO. Additionally, it will actively promote collaboration with relevant cultural institutions at local, national, and international levels.
The first initiative launched under the Prometeo program will be a series of in-person and online lectures aimed at secondary schools across Italy, running from November 2024 to April 2025. These events will enhance and broaden the activities of Biennale Tecnologia per le Scuole: during the lectures, faculty members from Politecnico will engage with school students, sharing insights and findings from the latest innovative research. Topics will cover a range of fields, including energy, technologies for innovation, artificial intelligence, mobility, mathematics and computer science, healthcare technologies, new construction techniques, and sustainable materials. There will also be an emphasis on technology designed for youth, serving as a training ground for democracy. Registration procedures for schools will start on November 20.
All Prometeo initiatives aim to enhance Politecnico's production of cultural content. In recent years, Biennale Tecnologia allowed Politecnico to establish a nationally and internationally renowned path in this field, which will now be further strengthened. Biennale Tecnologia is then launching an expression of interest, both in Italy and abroad, to select guest curatorial projects for the upcoming 2026 edition.
The expression of interest invites both academic and non-academic experts, whether based in Italy or abroad, to submit proposals – individually or team-focused – for cultural projects for the next edition of Biennale Tecnologia. After reviewing the submissions, the selected projects will be involved in a second evaluation phase. The winning project proposals will be chosen based on a clear interpretive theme, to organize at least 15 events curated by Politecnico. Guest curators will closely collaborate with the University, particularly with the Biennale Tecnologia’s governance team, which includes Rector Corgnati, Vice-Rector Sacchi, and Curator Saracco.
Prometeo and Biennale Tecnologia are essential components of Politecnico's new public engagement strategy, which will be outlined during the launch of the University's strategic plan for Rector Corgnati's mandate. In addition to focusing on dissemination and outreach, Politecnico will introduce significant innovations in its mission to serve society. This will emphasize the relationship between technology, governance, and public policy, centered around PoliTO Theseus Center for Technology, Society, and Humanity.
"Biennale Tecnologia, in its new format, aims to be a widespread event in both time and place, featuring ongoing activities throughout the year and establishing strong connections with the city and its surroundings," stated Politecnico’s Rector Stefano Corgnati. "This new approach enhances Politecnico di Torino’s role as a key player in the public dialogue, in accordance with the goals of its third mission: community engagement and knowledge transfer to society. The event will continuously encourage crucial reflections needed to provide concrete solutions for the future of society. It will do so collaboratively, involving our PoliTO community, together with citizens, institutions, and the business sector, while also broadening our perspective on an international scale."
"The launch of Prometeo is a milestone for Politecnico’s public engagement strategy, reinforcing its cultural outreach dimension," adds the Vice Rector for Society and Public Engagement, Community, and Rector's Program Implementation, Stefano Sacchi, "A strategy that emphasizes the importance of reflecting on the role and significance of technology in our time, while considering its impact on humanity and the environment. Discussions about technology must consider the diverse forms of life on our planet and the survival of democracy, which is often threatened by the inequalities that technology can either exacerbate or help alleviate. This approach involves focusing our public engagement activities on analyzing the governance of technologies and their effects. These analyses will be integrated into Politecnico’s strategic plan by developing initiatives with an international perspective. An international focus which is increasingly reflected in Politecnico’s main event, Biennale Tecnologia, which, starting with the next edition, will feature the curatorship of specific projects by experts selected through an international call for proposals."
"I am about to take on the curatorship of Biennale Tecnologia and Prometeo cultural production platform with the enthusiasm and motivation that are essential for the ambitious goals set by Politecnico di Torino in these initiatives," continues Curator Guido Saracco. "I am encouraged by Rector Corgnati’s determination to strengthen the University’s commitment to public engagement, and I thank him for his trust in this initiative. I am particularly impressed by the capital of ideas, skills, and creativity that the entire staff has consistently demonstrated. I am confident that Biennale Tecnologia and Prometeo will serve as excellent partners to the cultural institutions in our region and across Italy. Together, we can undertake collaborative actions that effectively engage citizens, convincing them that science and technology, when led by ethical principles, will play a crucial role in tackling the significant challenges facing humanity."
"The Prometeo platform represents a turning point not only for the cultural offerings of our University, but also for its very identity," concludes Vice Rector for PoliTO Communication and Promotion Silvia Barbero. "By enhancing our experiences and guided by a clear political vision, we are making significant progress that will help us establish a unique and prestigious presence both nationally and internationally. This momentum is leading to the development of a strong and distinctive visual and communicative identity. Our University is embarking on a transformative journey that will turn our often-overlooked strengths into crucial assets. A promising future lies ahead, in which Politecnico will make bold choices and solidify its identity as a recognized and respected institution."
