In this edition of our Partner in the Spotlight series, we are pleased to feature the University of Calabria (UniCal), one of Italy’s leading public universities and a recognised centre of excellence in intelligent transport systems, logistics optimisation, digital twins, artificial intelligence and smart mobility.
The ERTICO team had the pleasure of meeting representatives from the University of Calabria during their visit to our Brussels office this June, offering a valuable opportunity to discuss shared priorities, exchange expertise and explore future collaboration in intelligent mobility.
Ranked first among large Italian state universities in the Censis University Ranking 2025/2026, UniCal combines world-class research with a strong commitment to innovation, technology transfer and international collaboration. Through its extensive network of research laboratories and industrial partnerships, the University develops advanced solutions that support the transition towards smarter, greener and more resilient transport and logistics systems across Europe.
In this interview, Professor Demetrio Laganà, Associate Professor at the University of Calabria, discusses the transformative potential of AI-driven transport optimisation, green logistics and digital twins, and explains how UniCal translates cutting-edge research into real-world applications through dedicated laboratories, spin-off companies and industry collaborations. He also shares his perspective on the importance of cross-sector cooperation and the role of the ERTICO Partnership in accelerating the deployment of innovative and sustainable mobility solutions across Europe.
Could you provide a short introduction to your organisation and its mission?
The University of Calabria (UniCal) is a top-tier Italian public institution, recently ranked 1st among large Italian state universities in the prestigious Censis University Ranking 2025/2026. Based on a vibrant residential campus, UniCal features 14 departments, 10 PhD schools, and a powerful network of over 200 research laboratories.
Our mission is to drive scientific excellence, foster internationalization - welcoming students from over 83 countries - and pioneer socio-economic growth through advanced research and technology transfer. In the domain of mobility, our mission translates into developing cutting-edge mathematical optimization, simulation, and Industry 4.0/5.0 technologies to engineer smarter, greener, and more resilient transport and logistics infrastructure for Europe.
The University of Calabria is involved in a wide range of research activities spanning intelligent transport systems, logistics optimisation, digital twins, AI, and smart mobility. Which areas do you see as having the greatest potential to transform the future of sustainable mobility in Europe?
Looking at the European transport landscape, we see three interconnected domains from our research portfolio holding the highest transformative potential:
• AI-Driven Multimodal Transport Optimization: Seamlessly integrating ship-train-truck intermodality and managing dynamic vehicle routing minimizes transit times, eliminates empty mileage, and massively reduces carbon footprints.
• Green Ports and Maritime Logistics: Optimizing tactical berth allocations, quay crane schedules, and yard operations (as we do for the major hub at the Port of Gioia Tauro) drastically reduces vessel turnaround times and port-side emissions.
• Next-Generation Last-Mile & Smart Urban Delivery: Leveraging dynamic delivery systems, tactical locker management under behavioral uncertainty, and zero-emission alternatives - such as our PNRR-funded CRAWFORD drone transport ecosystem for medical supplies - will reshape urban environments into liveable, clean spaces.
Through laboratories such as TESEO, MSC-LES, and USS Lab, the University is developing innovative solutions in multimodal transport, last-mile logistics, connected mobility, and Industry 4.0/5.0 technologies. How do you ensure that your research translates into practical, real-world applications and impact?
At UniCal we have developed a unique ecosystem that successfully bridges the gap between academic theory and market deployment. This ecosystem is designed with meticulous attention to detail and comprises multiple tiers, ensuring a systematic and effective approach to our work:
• Dedicated R&D Laboratories: Specialized units like TESEO (Operations Research, Transportation and Logistics), OPTLOG-LAB (Optimization and Logistics), MSC-LES (Modeling & Simulation), and USS Lab (Human-Systems Symbiosis) build validated, high-fidelity prototypes.
• Commercial Spin-Off Companies: We actively bridge the gap to industrial commercialization through established spin-offs like ITACA Srl and CAL-TEK Srl. CAL-TEK specifically allows our research groups to elevate technologies all the way to TRL 9, bringing real-world solutions directly to the market.
• Market-Ready Industrial Products: Our research directly fuels commercial systems currently in use, such as the Knowledge Box for smart industrial operations, Human Robot Collaboration project to leverage advanced simulation tools to design systems where robots and human workers can perform tasks in unison, and the RINA-certified C-Bridge Sim solutions for maritime bridge crew training installed worldwide.
The University of Calabria has built strong expertise in modelling and simulation, digital twins, and AI-driven optimisation for transport and logistics systems. How important is collaboration between academia, industry, and public authorities in accelerating innovation and deployment in these fields?
Accelerating innovation in Digital Twins and AI optimization is entirely dependent on a triple-helix collaboration model. This intersection is crucial because:
• Academia contributes complex methodological expertise (e.g., stochastic programming, non-convex optimization, and advanced simulation frameworks).
• Industry provides real-world constraints, data, and commercial scaling opportunities, seen in our deep partnerships with entities like Baker Hughes or the Port of Gioia Tauro.
• Public Authorities align these innovations with societal needs and provide vital funding mechanisms - exemplified by our projects funded via regional calls (POR Calabria), national ministries (MUR, PON-PNRR), and European programs (FP7, Horizon Europe).
Without this tight-knit loop, algorithms lack real-world validation, and industry lacks the disruptive tools necessary to hit net-zero targets.
As an ERTICO Partner, what value do you see in being part of a cross-sector ecosystem that brings together research institutions, public authorities, technology providers, and mobility stakeholders from across Europe?
Being an ERTICO Partner embeds the University of Calabria into the vanguard of European smart mobility. The value is multifold:
• Synergetic Project Consortiums: It facilitates active matchmaking and collaborative proposals within Horizon Europe, directly mapping to R&I orientations like achieving zero-emission road transport and enabling multimodal freight logistics.
• Interoperability and Standard Harmonization: Engaging with technology providers and public authorities ensures our AI models and digital twins are designed to be fully interoperable across European borders.
• Knowledge and Tech Transfer: It creates a direct channel to scale up our localized successes—such as our sharing mobility tools, traffic management simulators, and smart operator frameworks - into macro-level European applications.
If you could describe the ERTICO partnership in one word or sentence, what would it be and why?
"A vital collaborative catalyst that bridges the gap between disruptive academic research and systemic, zero-emission European mobility deployment."
Why? Because sustainable mobility cannot be achieved in a vacuum. While UniCal can engineer world-class optimization algorithms, predictive models, and simulation digital twins, ERTICO provides the scaled, multi-stakeholder network required to turn those innovations into standardized, real-world European infrastructure.
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Curious about our European foothold and initiatives? As ERTICO celebrates 35 years of collaboration and innovation in intelligent mobility this year, take a closer look at the ERTICO Partnership video and download our Partnership Brochure to learn more about the opportunities, offers and benefits of being part of the Partnership.