Five new European projects at Politecnico di Torino
Politecnico di Torino has once again been recognized as a centre of excellence in international research following the award of five prestigious “Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships” under the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme (call HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF). The projects, led by young researchers, tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing contemporary society: from environmental sustainability to renewable energy, from artificial intelligence to urban transformation.
These grants support the careers of postdoctoral researchers, promoting international mobility and the acquisition of new skills. The programme also encourages collaboration between universities, research centres, businesses and institutions, including through secondments to non-academic organisations, with the aim of enhancing the practical impact of research.
Stopping the noise that threatens marine ecosystems
Over the past few decades, noise generated by human activities in the oceans has increased by more than 30 dB compared to the 1950s, compromising the communication, navigation and survival of many species. The TRITON project (Tunable Resonant & Iridescent Transmission-control for Oceanic Noise) addresses this challenge by developing hyperuniform metamaterials capable of regulating the propagation of acoustic waves.
Drawing inspiration from the geometry of coral reefs, the research explores bio-inspired structures capable of manipulating sounds through resonance, multiple scattering and interference, with the aim of achieving effective attenuation across broad frequency bands, overcoming the limitations of traditional materials.
The two-year project, funded with approximately €218,000, is led by Eric Ballestero under the supervision of Professor Marco Miniaci of the Department of Structural, Civil and Geotechnical Engineering (DISEG). The programme includes an eight-month secondment at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV, Spain), under the supervision of Professor Vicent Romero-García, as well as short research visits to the Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique (LIPhy, France) and the SME Phononic Vibes.
Making wave energy competitive
In the context of the energy transition, wave energy represents a promising resource that remains largely untapped due to costs and technological complexity. The SWELL project (Smart Wave Energy Conversion via Learning and Low-Cost Control) addresses this limitation by improving the performance of Wave Energy Converters (WECs).
The research develops advanced control algorithms based on machine learning and predictive and adaptive control techniques, which can adapt in real time to sea conditions. This makes it possible to maximise energy output whilst reducing structural loads and extending the lifespan of the devices, with solutions designed to be computationally efficient as well.
The three-year project, funded with approximately €332,000, is led by Simone Pirrera under the supervision of Professor Diego Regruto Tomalino of the Department of Automation and Computer Science (DAUIN). The programme involves a two-year research period at the University of Western Australia (UWA), within the Oceans Institute, under the supervision of Professor Hugh Wolgamot, and a secondment to Imperial College London (ICL), under the supervision of Professor David Angeli.
Bringing artificial intelligence out of the cloud
The widespread adoption of generative artificial intelligence models is posing growing challenges in terms of energy consumption, latency and data protection. The EDGELM project (Efficient and Privacy-Preserving Edge Deployment of Multimodal Large Models) addresses these challenges by enabling models to be run directly on local devices.
The research develops model compression techniques – such as pruning, quantisation and distillation – and strategies for efficient resource management, to adapt complex models to environments with limited computational capacity. This approach reduces reliance on the cloud, enhances privacy and makes AI more sustainable, particularly in sensitive sectors such as healthcare.
The two-year project, funded with about €193,000, is being led by Li Haiyuan under the supervision of Professor Carla Fabiana Chiasserini of the Department of Electronics and Telecommunications (DET), and also benefits from the industrial expertise of Nextworks and the clinical input of healthcare partners.
Understanding the hidden side of urban economies
Cities that derive their appeal from tourism and entertainment are driven by dynamics that are often invisible and rarely analysed. The GLOWS project (When the Lights Go Out: Sex Work(ers) in the Decay of Urban Entertainment) explores the role of sex work in these urban contexts.
With an approach combining qualitative research and socio-spatial analysis, the study employs interviews, field observation and an analysis of urban policies to understand how these activities contribute to the appeal of cities and how they are redefined in the context of economic decline, gentrification and urban regeneration. The case studies – Las Vegas and the Romagna coast – provide an opportunity to analyse the so-called ‘economies of desire’.
The three-year project, funded with approximately €396,000, is led by Daniela Morpurgo under the supervision of Professor Michele Lancione of the Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning - DIST, and includes a two-year research period at Stanford University.
Rethinking the relationship between ports and cities
African port cities are strategic hubs in global trade networks and key nodes in development corridors linking Asia and Europe, but they are also places where tensions arise between infrastructure development and urban needs. The TIDAL (Territories of Infrastructure, Development and Logistics) project analyses these dynamics through the concept of the Port-Urban Interface (PUI).
The research uses spatial analysis tools and studies of global logistics networks to examine cases such as Mombasa and Djibouti, with the aim of understanding how infrastructure influences the organisation of urban space, economic dynamics and social inequalities, thereby contributing to the development of more inclusive and sustainable models.
The two-year project, funded with approximately €209,000, is being carried out by Zhengli Huang under the supervision of Professor Francesca Governa of the Inter-University Department of Territorial Sciences, Planning and Policy (DIST), with fieldwork supported by the British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA).
An investment in talent and the future
These five projects demonstrate the essential role played by Politecnico di Torino in European and international research, highlighting the contribution of the next generation of researchers. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowships are, indeed, a key tool for promoting innovation, collaboration and social impact, helping to build a more sustainable, inclusive and technologically advanced future.