Mission and Vision
Presentation
The Department of Industrial Engineering (DIEF), established in 2013, was created through the merger of the University of Florence’s two industrial-area departments: the Sergio Stecco Department of Energy Engineering and the Department of Mechanics and Industrial Technologies. DIEF is the University’s reference department for Industrial Engineering, where it carries out research, teaching, and Third Mission activities (technological and cultural transfer). Its expertise spans a wide range of relevant fields, including turbomachinery, positive-displacement machines, renewable energy, aircraft engines, internal combustion engines, wind turbines, machine design and manufacturing, road and railway vehicles, advanced materials and nanotechnologies, bioengineering, machines and fluids for environmentally friendly refrigeration, assistive and rehabilitative robotics, underwater robotics, Industry 4.0 technologies (including 3D printing), technologies for the fashion industry and cultural heritage, operations and supply chain management, innovation and project management, industrial logistics, as well as reliability, safety, and environmental sustainability of industrial products and processes..
Among DIEF’s missions is the commitment to pursuing the United Nations 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), integrating the principles of environmental, economic, and social sustainability into its teaching, research, and collaborations with the business sector. These topics are in fact central to research projects and partnerships with companies and institutions, and they are incorporated into the educational programs of the Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree courses.
The Department therefore makes a concrete contribution to the transition toward sustainable and circular production models through the design, innovation, and management of low-environmental-impact products and production processes; the development of renewable energy; sustainable mobility; logistics optimization; energy efficiency; and waste reduction, enhancing resources throughout the entire life cycle.
Vision
The Department’s development prospects are founded on its strengths: an educational offering aligned with labor market needs, a faculty with a high level of scientific qualification, and a consolidated capacity for scientific and technological project development. These elements define the Department’s identity and reinforce its strategic and active role within the productive and industrial system at the local, national, and international levels. Particular emphasis is placed on applied research, technology transfer, and innovation, along with initiatives that strengthen the connection between education and industry, such as the curricular internships recently introduced in the bachelor’s programs and the creation of new laboratory spaces. Through these actions, the Department reaffirms its commitment to collaborating with the productive sector, fostering innovation, and supporting economic and technological growth within a framework of sustainable, responsible, and long-term development.
Last update
04.12.2025