ABOUT MYSELF
I graduated in Electronic Engineering in 1991 and got the PhD in 1995, both at the University of Bologna. I dedicated more than thirthy years of academic/research career to wireless communications. Since 2010 I also apply my interests and studies to the field of soft skills.
I am Full Professor of Telecommunications at the University of Bologna since 2001, when I founded a research group named Radio Networks (RN) performing scientific/industrial research in the field of the Internet of Things, and Mobile Radio Networks.
Since then, I have been involved in / responsible for / coordinator of thirteen international projects funded by the European Commission (among them, four Networks of Excellence, four COST Actions). I have also been responsible for many contracts with industries (Huawei, Telecom Italia Mobile, Nokia, NEC, Microsoft, Sadel, Cefla, Smail, GD/Coesia and others).
In 2020 I was co-founder of WiLab, the National Laboratory of Wireless Communications of CNIT; since then, I am WiLab Director. In October 2020 we established the WiLab – Huawei Joint Innovation Center on “Intelligent IoT for 6G”, which I am co-directing with Dr. Tong Wen of Huawei.
I teach Mobile Radio Networks and Internet of Things within the international Master Degree in Telecommunications Engineering. I also offer a course on Project Management and Soft Skills (PMSS) to students of all Schools of the University of Bologna; PMSS has originated the SoftSkills4Success project.
Since 2022, I am Scientific Director of the IoT Academy organised by CNIT/WiLab with TIM.
The courses offered by the Radio Networks group form a cluster addressing all main aspects of the IoT – you may find here the phylosophy behind the path we propose.
I was co-founder and Chairperson for the triennium 2019-2021 of the European Association EURACON.
RADIO NETWORKS
Why radio, not wireless? Because I am interested mostly in networks where radio is the essence; the radio channel with all its features (distortion, interference, fading, shadowing, mobility), makes networks challenging to control and interesting to study.
The evolution from GSM (2G) towards 6G makes clear evidence of why these systems are called Mobile Radio (not Wireless) Networks, as the radio channel plays a fundamental role in the design and performance of the entire system.
INTERNET OF THINGS
The IoT is much more than just connecting things to the Internet through radio links. It is about the opportunity to control things through the Internet without the need for human intervention, or for the sake of human-to-thing interaction.
The IoT is a complex paradigm comprising several processes: Sensing, Transmission, Storage, Processing, Decision and Action. It includes components like Things (often, embedded devices), Networks, Cloud, Big Data Analytics, Applications and Services.
You can not study the IoT without selecting an application/business area. Those of larger interest to us are Smart Cities and Buildings, Industry 4.0, Precision Agriculture, Environmental Monitoring.
SOFT SKILLS
Please visit www.softskills4success.org.