Elisa Franzoni, Ordinary Professor of Materials Science and Technology at the University of Bologna, enrolled in the College of Engineers of the Province of Bologna, is the new Scientific Director of the Ceramic Centre (Consortium Research and Experimentation Centre for the Ceramic Industry ). Its designation was proposed by the University of Bologna, which is a partner of the Consortium, and was approved unanimously by the Board of Directors of the Ceramic Centre.

Elisa Franzoni’s academic path includes a bachelor’s degree in Building Engineering, a PhD in Materials Engineering (the latter with the Coordinator Prof. Palmonari, who was the founder of the Ceramic Centre) and more than 20 years of experience in research, innovation and technology transfer. Expert in building materials and sustainability, she has numerous competitive projects and research projects with companies in Italy and abroad, and a consolidated network of collaborations with universities and international research institutes.

Elisa Franzoni succeeds Maria Chiara Bignozzi, who directed the Ceramic Centre for 10 years, leading, among other things, its reorganisation, with the creation of the new headquarters in Sassuolo and the Joint Laboratory SMILE (Sustainability of Materials) at the Department of Civil Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental and Materials of the University of Bologna. Professor Bignozzi will continue to collaborate with the Ceramic Centre, offering her valuable support in future projects.

“It is an honour for me to have been appointed Scientific Director of this prestigious Consortium, which for almost half a century has been a recognized example of collaboration between Enterprises, Territory and Universities – comments Franzoni -, and I face my new post with enthusiasm and passion. While innovation, sustainability and global competition represent challenging challenges, we have a Centre that is able to provide the world of ceramics with the best scientific and technological expertise, in a variety of areas of interest to the sector.”

The appointment of Elisa Franzoni takes place in the context of a reorganisation in the governance of the Ceramic Centre, for which the former President Roberto Fabbri will also hold the post of General Manager and Consuelo Collu that of Operational Manager of the Consortium.