Develop Biosystems Engineering study programs towards bio-fuels, bio-materials and quality of products: current situation and perspectives in Italy

Nowadays in Italy specific modules-specialisations in the area of bio-fuels, biomaterials and quality of products are offered by the Faculties of Engineering of the Universities of Bologna, Milan Polytechnic, Padua, Pisa, Rome “La Sapienza” and Rome “Tor Vergata”. Specific courses in bio-fuels, bio-materials and quality of products are offered by the Italian Faculties of Agriculture of the Universities of Bari, Bologna, Florence, Milan, Campobasso, Padua and Teramo. Because most of the above study programs were established in the last year, according to the D.M. (Law of the Ministry of Education, University and Research) n. 270 of the 22nd October 2004 and, above all, offered only from the current academic year 2008-2009, the number of the corresponding enrolled students is at present unknown. All over Italy there are several education and research infrastructures that may be used to support a further improvement and expansion of studies in the emerging subjects of bio-fuels and bio-materials. In the Faculties of Engineering and Agriculture there are research groups active in the area of bio-fuels, bio-materials and quality of products, involving also students and Ph.D students. The current situation and the perspectives in the market of bio-fuels were recently presented at the conference “Biofuels - Market and Sustainability”, held in Milan on the 8th of July 2008.