Italy academic development

Three historical epochs are considered from antiquity until the birth of Italy as a nation in 1860 from 1860 until 1950, when Italy became an industrial society in the modem sense and from 1950 up to the present time. A concise survey of chemical technology and of engineering education is given for the first period, while parallel sections are dedicated to industrial and academic development for the next two. The historical account reveals the very strong interference of industrial and academic developments, with closely parallel times of growth and stagnation. Political and cultural influences are discussed. 

Another way in which academic chemists keep in touch with industry is through consulting. During the years I consulted at different times for Exxon, Chevron, Cyanamid, ENICHEM (Italy), and Pechiney-Kuhlman (Erance, when a friend, Lucien Sobel, was a research director). I enjoyed these contacts, because they kept me aware of current industrial developments and interests. At the same time, it was also rewarding to be able to suggest to my industrial friends new approaches and directions that on occasion were useful and resulted in practical applications. 

With this book, I have tried to collect reviews of several aspect of the chemistry and catalytic properties of ceria and related materials which in my opinion are relevant in the future development of the field. Catalysis by ceria and related materials enjoyed contributions from industrial, academic and government laboratories from around the world (Austria, Denmark, England, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, the Netherland, U.S.A.) involved in the study of characterization and catalytic properties of ceria and Ce02-containing materials. 

Antonio Ballada, PhD, received degrees in industrial chemistry from Milano University and in business administration from Bocconi University, both in Milano, Italy. He has held many top positions in the chemical and pharmaceutical business in Italy, USA, Taiwan, and China. He was CEO of Antibioticos SpA, and he was also responsible for the Catalyst and Additives Business Division at Basell, Inc., where he developed important relationships with the academic world involved in related R D. He is Executive Vice President of FasTech SrL, a technology company active in the elastomers and plastics industries. He is a member of the board of China Catalyst Ltd in Hong Kong and a member of the board of the Consultants Professional Association (APCO). 

A. Guanini, Higher education and the engineering profession in Italy The Scuole of Milan and Turin, 1859-1914 , Minerva, 26 (1988), 512-548 and ibid, Academic qualifications and professional functions in the development of the Italian engineering schools, 1859-1914 , in R. Fox and A. Guanini eds.. Education, Technology and Industrial Performance in Europe, 1850-1939 (Cambridge, 1993), pp. 171-195. 

The last step of the initial development of the UNITECH network started on September 1, 2000 when the UNITECH International Society was founded at Como in Italy. The event was embedded in the so-called "start-up" week of the first academic year and it thus included the first UNTTECH students. The list of participants, comprising several rectors and deans as well as a large number of corporate senior executives, was a clear sign of the importance attached to this network by the partners. 

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