Industrial and Information Engineering PhD Programme

Infineon Technologies Austria has a long-standing collaboration with the DPIA and the members of the Ph.D. board. During the years several research contracts between Infineon Technologies and DPIA funded the Ph.D. program, promoting projects involving the Ph.D. students to develop PLL, transceivers and high-speed serial links. Also, projects related to power management, focusing on control strategies and topologies for powering processors and ASICs used in AI applications, as well as monolithic wireless power transfer systems for isolated gate drivers, with applications linked to electric vehicle infrastructure, have been also activated. More recently, the collaboration with Infineon Technologies Austria enriched its portfolio introducing projects on the optimization of Analog-to-Digital converters and the design of software programmable, parallel test chip, able to ease the functional verification in hardware of new conceived mixed-signal IPs.

Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste is a multidisciplinary research center of excellence, open to the international research community, specializing in generating high quality synchrotron and free-electron laser light and applying it in materials and life sciences. Active collaborations between Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste and Ph.D committee members have been established in the years also through collaborative projects funded by the Italian MUR. In particular, two PRIN projects have been granted on the topic of avalanche photodiodes for research on condensed matter physics and medical imaging, with the aim to develop detectors for hard X rays beyond the state of the art.
Furthermore, research activities focused on the characterization of semiconducting materials have been pursued.

Versalis is Eni’s chemical subsidiary, operating internationally in the sectors of basic chemicals, intermediates, plastics, rubber, and renewable source chemistry, with a focus on developing an integrated technological platform aligned with its strategy. Versalis’ research focuses on creating new product types and developing innovative processes, also contributing to the sustainability of its production chain in terms of environmental impact and energy efficiency.

The collaboration between the University of Udine and Versalis focuses on a three-year PhD project aimed at enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of thermoplastic polymer production through artificial intelligence (AI). The research integrates AI techniques to optimize and automate processes in petrochemical plants, with a specific emphasis on reducing energy consumption, production inefficiencies, and waste. The project supports both the green and digital transitions, aligning with Italy’s national recovery plan (PNRR). Key outcomes include predictive maintenance, improved production consistency, and reduced environmental impact.

Thermokey S.p.A. is an Italian company based in Rivignano Teor, Udine, specialising in the design and production of heat exchangers for commercial and industrial use. Founded in 1991, Thermokey has become a leading supplier of heat exchangers to manufacturers of air conditioning, refrigeration, and process cooling systems.

The company’s product range includes dry coolers, gas coolers, radiators, remote condensers, aero evaporators, batteries, and custom-designed solutions.

With a focus on innovation and customer satisfaction, Thermokey continues to invest in research of efficient and reliable products. Thermokey’s R&D interests match well with the expertise of the IIE PhD, especially those regarding curriculum 3: Design of innovative thermo-electro-mechanical systems and development of advanced methods for the assessment of structural damage and reliability for energy saving.

Electrolux Professional has been collaborating with the Industrial and Information Engineering PhD programme for a long time. In particular, with the establishment of The Research Hub programme (https://theresearchhub.electroluxprofessional.com/), Electrolux Professional has established a doctoral research hub in which it has funded doctoral scholarships at many Italian universities, including the University of Udine. In this context, two doctoral fellowships in Industrial and Information Engineering were also activated focusing on the topics of passive and semi-active vibration control for professional washing machines (Dr. Nicola Battistella) and Digital Twin for the dynamic response of professional washing machines (Dr. Gianluca Guernieri). The PhD students’ research activities took place both at the DPIA of the University of Udine and at the Electrolux Professional plants in Vallenoncello in Pordenone and Ljungby in Sweden.

Founded in 2019 and based in Bruasaporto (BG), See Through is dedicated to advancing the daily use of X-ray machines and imaging software through a variety of research and development activities. The company’s mission is to create innovative, high-tech products and services, with a strong focus on designing and prototyping radiological equipment for the medical and dental sectors. The goal is to develop cutting-edge solutions that enhance the quality of care and improve patient outcomes while addressing the evolving needs of healthcare professionals. See Through’s R&D initiatives align closely with the expertise offered by the IIE PhD program, particularly in Curriculum 4: Mechanical Technologies and Electronic Devices for Domotics, Medical Diagnostics, and Safety.

EMC Gems is a University of Udine startup originated by two former Industrial and Information Engineering Ph.D. students that develops highly innovative electromagnetic simulation software. It has contributed to the co-funding of a PhD grant in the area of applications of artificial intelligence to simulation, digital twin model generation and predictive maintenance of electromechanical devices.

EMILab is an accredited testing laboratory in the areas of electromagnetic compatibility, electrical, environmental and mechanical testing. EMILab fully funded a Ph.D. grant in the area of electromagnetic modeling of an anechoic chamber.

Since 2009, DPIA had a scientific collaboration with the Oncological Research Centre (CRO) in Aviano, Italy. The research activity regarded the study of thrombus formation in artificial microchannels for in vitro tests on flowing blood. In particular, it was investigated the kinetics of formation of platelet thrombi; whole blood flowed in a microchannel where thrombus formation was induced by means of a collagen. During the research, it was developed a novel sensor which integrated 2D optical data fusing them with impedance information, measured by microelectrodes; this way, it was possible to measure the time evolution of the thrombus volume: using traditional confocal microscopy, it is not possible to have this information without stopping the experiment. During this scientific collaboration, CRO funded a PhD scholarship in the cycle 31.

LimaCorporate is an Italian company specializing in advanced orthopedic solutions, with a focus on designing and manufacturing joint replacement implants and cutting-edge 3D-printed orthopedic devices. The company is committed to driving innovation in reconstructive and personalized orthopedic care for patients with various conditions.

As part of its commitment to innovation, LimaCorporate partners with the PhD program in Information and Industrial Engineering, co-funding PhD students to foster research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and medical technology. Currently, LimaCorporate is collaborating on research involving the use of artificial intelligence, including Deep Learning for medical image segmentation, to enhance orthopedic surgery planning tools. The research also explores the integration of knowledge management tools and knowledge graphs to streamline data organization, automate workflows between medical software systems, and personalize AI-driven shoulder surgery. Additionally, these technologies aim to improve the efficiency of production and distribution infrastructures, ensuring a seamless flow of knowledge and processes within the company’s operations.

Koala Electronics s.r.l. was founded in 2017 as spin-off company of the University of Udine.

The company aims at enhancing university know-how developed within the PEMD (Power Electronic Converters, Electrical Machines and Drives) laboratory of the University of Udine, completing academic research and development activities through the industrialization and marketing innovative electronic and electromechanical solutions (including power electronics hardware and firmware, and optimized electric motor design) for distributed generation, sustainable mobility, mechatronic systems and energy conversion, which are intended to be customized for different applications and customers.