Barbara Mazzolai joins the Board of Directors of Consorzio Polo Tecnologico Magona

Consorzio Polo Tecnologico Magona is pleased to welcome Professor Barbara Mazzolai, who has joined the Board of Directors as representative of the Municipality of Rosignano Marittimo. Her appointment marks an important milestone for the Consorzio and strengthens the connections between scientific research, innovation, and local development.

Barbara Mazzolai is an internationally renowned scientist, recognized as a pioneer in the field of bioinspired robotics. She currently serves as Associate Director for Robotics at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Genoa, where she also leads the Bioinspired Soft Robotics Laboratory, a cutting-edge center dedicated to developing technologies inspired by principles of the natural world.

Her career is distinguished by a strongly interdisciplinary scientific background. After graduating with honors in Biology from the University of Pisa, she earned a PhD in Microsystems Engineering from the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. In the following years, she directed the Center for Micro-BioRobotics at IIT and served as Deputy Director for the coordination of IIT’s research centers. Her scientific activity has led her to collaborate with leading international institutions such as Imperial College London, the Max Planck Institute, and the Politecnico di Milano, where she currently teaches Soft Robotics.

She has coordinated numerous major European research projects, including the Plantoid project, which created the world’s first plant-inspired robot, and she has authored more than 260 scientific publications in international journals. Alongside her research, she is also active in science communication, having published several books that introduce the potential of bioinspired robotics to a broader audience.

Her scientific vision and ability to combine biology, engineering, and sustainability represent a valuable contribution to the Consorzio. Her presence on the Board of Directors reinforces Polo Tecnologico Magona’s commitment to promoting innovation, technology transfer, and sustainable development, creating new opportunities for the local area and for the companies operating within it.

In the picture: Claudio Marabotti, Mayor of Rosignano Marittimo, Prof. Barbara Mazzolai, and Luciano Dell’Omo, President of CPTM, during a visit to our laboratories.