Program Description
The PhD program in Industrial and Information Engineering complements the master's degree programs in the industrial and information fields. It provides graduate students with the opportunity to acquire high-level skills and scientific qualifications through research training and advanced teaching. This training will enable them to conduct highly qualified research at universities, public institutions, or private entities, including for access to careers in public administration and the integration of highly innovative professional paths.
The program encompasses the strategic sectors of industrial engineering and chemistry, as well as computer and electronic engineering, through a multidisciplinary approach aimed at innovation and the development of new products and processes, with particular emphasis on the challenges posed by the Industry 4.0 paradigm. The PhD program in Industrial and Information Engineering aims to maximize interaction with the manufacturing sector, encouraging the involvement of businesses and corporations in its training and research activities. In this context, the educational objectives of the doctoral project dovetail well with the goals of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan #NextGenerationItaly. On the one hand, they aim to maximize the resources made available by the M4C1 mission: Strengthening the provision of educational services: from nursery schools to universities, specifically in relation to Investment 3.4 "Teaching and advanced university skills" and, in particular, sub-measure T1) "Awarding new three-year doctoral degrees in programs dedicated to digital and environmental transitions", embracing the strategic objectives of digitalization, "culture of innovation," and internationalization. On the other hand, they are perfectly aligned with the objectives of the M4C2 mission "From Research to Business" - Investment 3.3 "Introduction of innovative doctoral degrees that meet the innovation needs of businesses and promote the hiring of researchers by businesses." It is precisely within this context of interaction with businesses that the goals of the Doctorate in Industrial and Information Engineering training program fully align with the objectives of the M1C2 mission: Digitalization, Innovation, and Competitiveness of the Production System. The expertise of the Doctorate's Teaching Staff allows for the promotion of training and research activities to support companies in navigating the digital transition and increasing the innovation rate of the industrial and entrepreneurial fabric within the context of Transition 4.0.
Furthermore, its strong expertise in the industrial sector allows it, in collaboration with the industrial and manufacturing sectors, to make a significant contribution to the needs identified in Measure 2 - Green Revolution and Ecological Transition, developing research and training activities with particular focus on the following areas:
In Component 1, for example, by promoting improved capacity for efficient and sustainable waste management and the advancement of the circular economy paradigm through the implementation of highly innovative flagship projects for strategic supply chains such as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), the paper and cardboard industry, textiles, mechanical recycling, and plastics chemistry; In Component 2, increasing the penetration of renewables through decentralized and utility-scale solutions (including innovative and offshore ones) and strengthening smarter and more resilient networks to accommodate and synchronize new renewable and decentralized flexibility resources, and to decarbonize end-uses in all other sectors, with a particular focus on more sustainable mobility and the decarbonization of certain industrial segments, including the launch of hydrogen-based solutions (in line with the EU Hydrogen Strategy).
The professional profile of the PhD in Industrial and Information Engineering aims to establish international industrial and knowledge leadership in the key sectors of the transition advocated by the PNRR. This will promote the development of competitive supply chains in Italy in the fastest-growing sectors, such as energy, which will reduce dependence on technology imports by strengthening research and development in the most innovative technological areas (photovoltaics, hydrogen, biomass, etc.).
The program and research focus on key enabling technologies, combining theoretical-scientific aspects with more specific design aspects, with particular emphasis on:
a) Advanced materials and technologies for the industrial, environmental, and energy sectors; Development of advanced, knowledge-intensive materials, devices, and processes with improved performance and new potential; Design and development of convergent technologies in the fields of energy saving and environmental control.
b) Advanced experimental methods applied to production systems and processes; Support technologies, such as non-destructive characterization and evaluation, to support the development of advanced and intelligent materials, components, and integrated systems.
c) Numerical modeling and development of numerical models of components, functional devices, or structures; Predictive modeling applied to engineering sciences. Development of IT systems for the IoT (Internet of Things). Edge and Fog Computing algorithms for the IoT.
Course Objectives
The primary objective of the doctoral program is to develop high-level professionals with strong problem-solving skills. Through academic and specialized courses, seminars, schools, and guided research activities, doctoral students are trained to become proactive professionals capable of aligning their skills with the increasingly complex demands of the market, driven by the pursuit of constant and challenging technological innovations. The doctoral program aims to meet the demand for new research and higher education objectives necessary to meet the needs outlined in the System Priorities and the Research and Innovation Areas identified in the 2021-2027 National Research Program (PNR) and in the Missions underlying the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). This refers specifically to Industry 4.0, enabling technologies (advanced robotics, additive manufacturing, augmented reality, horizontal/vertical integration, simulation, the Industrial Internet or Internet of Things applied to industry, etc.), and more generally to the so-called 4.0 paradigm. This refers specifically to the green revolution and ecological transition (circular economy, renewable energy, hydrogen, energy efficiency, etc.) that underpin Mission 2 of the PNRR. Indeed, the doctoral program aims to train highly qualified professionals capable of integrating into the renewed industrial context, both current and future, as well as meeting the technological challenges posed by the transition to Industry 4.0. The overall training program aims to provide adequate knowledge of innovative design methodologies, technical/economic and energy/environmental analysis, management and control of complex and manufacturing systems, and related technologies.
The doctoral program also focuses part of its training and research on Cyber Physical Systems and all related technologies, such as cloud computing, digital security, the Internet of Things, sensors, electronic devices, and communication techniques (at all protocol levels), also focusing on related design, development, and evaluation techniques, both theoretically and practically, so that they provide adequate support for industrial applications and environments as well as for the common user. The goal is to train researchers and experts capable of working at the infrastructure level, as well as in service development, considering smart cities and industrial environments as application areas of interest. Software development. The design approach will closely follow the principles of software engineering, and particular attention will be paid to strengthening interaction with the industrial world. The curriculum is designed to complement the highly qualified training programs of previous levels (Master's Degrees), already active or planned, at the University of Messina, thus completing an exceptionally high-quality and highly distinctive training paradigm. The already extensive interaction with The world of manufacturing activities is destined to be strengthened not only to train up-to-date and highly attractive professionals, but also to create the synergy and interaction essential to ensuring a constantly cutting-edge training path.