About us

Welcome!

The Department of Science and Technological Innovation (DISIT) is one of the eight departments comprising the University of Eastern Piedmont (UPO), which was established in 1998 and has been active since the early 1990s.

The Department of Science and Technological Innovation (DISIT) at the University of Eastern Piedmont grew out of the reorganization of the historic Faculty of Mathematical, Physical, and Natural Sciences and its associated departments. Rooted in Alessandria and also offering teaching and research activities in Vercelli, DISIT is today one of the primary scientific hubs in North-West Italy. It brings together faculty and researchers across four disciplinary areas defined by the National University Council (CUN): mathematical and computer sciences, chemical sciences, biological sciences, and physical sciences.

Alessandria Campus Offerings:

• Bachelor's degree programs in Chemistry, Computer Science, and Biological Sciences

• Master's degree programs in Biology, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, and Chemical Sciences

• Ph.D. program in Chemistry and Biology

• Ph.D. program in Computational Sciences and Technological Innovation

• First-level Professional Master's program in "Data Management and Clinical Trials Coordination," in collaboration with the Alessandria University Hospital

• Second-level Professional Master's program in "One Health: Agriculture and Environment"

Vercelli Campus Offerings:

• Bachelor's degree programs in Computer Science, Biological Sciences, and Applied Physics

OUR MISSION

Educating, Researching, and Serving the Community

DISIT’s mission is built around three complementary pillars—education, research, and community engagement—developed in alignment with the University Strategic Plan 2024–2030 and the local vocation of the University of Eastern Piedmont.

To educate means offering high-quality degree programs in scientific disciplines that meet the needs of a constantly evolving labor market and society. The Department is committed to maintaining an updated educational offering focused on multidisciplinarity and innovative teaching methodologies. It also strives to build a seamless transition from education to professional practice through continuous dialogue with businesses, professional associations, research institutions, and local industries.
To research means producing high-quality scientific knowledge, both fundamental and applied, within a multidisciplinary framework that fosters dialogue between biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, and mathematics. DISIT develops research lines in the fields of health, environmental sustainability, energy, artificial intelligence, and particle physics. It consistently participates in competitive national and European calls for proposals and builds collaborations with major enterprises, public bodies, and international research centers.
To serve the community means sharing accumulated scientific expertise back with the region through public outreach, lifelong learning, technology transfer, and public engagement. The Department maintains ongoing collaborations with the Alessandria University Hospital, schools, trade associations, and local and national businesses, contributing to the economic, cultural, and social development of the Alessandria and Vercelli areas.

OUR VISION

An Open, Rooted, and Sustainable Scientific Department

DISIT looks to the future with the goal of consolidating and strengthening its achievements, aiming for a model of a scientific department capable of combining academic rigor, global openness, and deep local roots.

The strategic vision for the 2025–2027 three-year period is founded on the awareness that the sustainability of departmental activities—across teaching, research, and community relations—requires faculty continuity, high-quality facilities, fundraising capacity, and strong stakeholder relationships. Within this framework, the Department intends to enhance its academic offerings to make them more attractive and better aligned with emerging job opportunities, particularly in artificial intelligence, physics applied to new silicon technologies, and nutrition-oriented life sciences.
On the research front, DISIT aims to strengthen its network of relationships with national and international universities, institutions, and research centers, increase participation in European projects, and consolidate collaborations with the local industrial and hospital sectors. The quality of scientific output remains a core objective, alongside expanding opportunities for early-career researchers.
On the community front, the Department intends to structure its "third mission" and social impact activities more systematically, strengthening ties with schools, local institutions, and citizens. This aligns with the University’s vision as an open, inclusive institution that plays an active role in the development of Eastern Piedmont.

DISIT’s path is embedded in the University's overarching vision: to be an institution open to the world, capable of educating conscious and responsible individuals who are ready to face the complexities of the present and build a fairer, more sustainable future.

The Department's annual reports on Research, Teaching, and Third Mission activities are presented below. These reports were discussed and approved during sessions of the Department Board.