Research

CIELI undertakes research activities in the field of logistics and transport.

To respond to its mission, CIELI draws on lecturers and researchers (from the Social Sciences and Polytechnic Schools) from Genoa University as well as select high level professionals who are involved in specific projects.

Interdisciplinarity is considered the Centre's distinctive factor and strength both in carrying out institutional research as well as in identifying technical-managerial solutions for businesses and institutions.


 

What we do: Research areas

CIELI’s research activity is structured into research areas composed of groups of researchers that have specific skills in the following themes related to logistics, transport and infrastructure:

 

·        logistics and Supply Chain Management;

·        shipping and intermodality;

·        port industry;

·        transport and urban logistics;

·        land transport and road infrastructure;

·        air transport;

·        logistics platforms and infrastructure for logistics;

·        ICT for future logistics and transport security

·        port industry and cruise tourism;

·        local development policies;

·        environmental sustainability and property development.

 

 

What we can do: Interdisciplinary skills


 The themes of logistics and transport are studied adopting an interdisciplinary perspective. Each CIELI lecturer and researcher brings “horizontal” competencies pertaining to the different disciplinary fields to research projects and/or issues:

·        TECHNICAL-ENGINEERING COMPETENCIES. For example: evaluation models; simulation techniques; techniques to manage production and logistics, research into new plant designs; new technologies of flow movements; Information and Communication Technology (ICT); security and control of processes.

·        ECONOMIC-MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES. For example: management of operations and processes and sources of competitive advantage; strategy; assessment of investments; management control; corporate governance; marketing and market research; Corporate Social Responsibility; analysis of economic and social impact; analysis of the structure of sectors and competition; identification and maximising of externalities of networks connected to the formation and articulation of the demand for logistics services.

·        LEGAL COMPETENCIES. For example: logistics contracts; dispute analysis; ICT and legal issues in the context of logistics; shipping rights.

 

Research projects undertaken: the nature of research activities

The skills of lecturers and researchers are put to the service of research activities of different kinds in a perspective of integration:

·        Institutional research activities: are developed in the context of European projects or projects promoted by institutions that have a research promotion role (MIUR, MAE projects).

·        Research activities developed for companies or public/private bodies: identification of technical solutions for the analysis and improvement of efficiency and efficacy of logistics processes, study of structural characteristics of business/sectors, analysis of competition and company competitiveness, legal issues connected to shipping law, contract law etc.

·        Workshop activities that consist in the development of tools and software to optimise logistics processes, also carried out ad hoc on the basis of contractor requirements.

Among recent projects that involve CIELI (as lead partner or partner) are the following:

  •         "DOCKS THE FUTURE" Project in the context of the HORIZON 2020 programme (European Commission   
  •      "RCMS Rethinking Container Management System" Project in the context of the HORIZON 2020 programme (European Commission)       
  •     "SECOND LIFE" : seafarers work and live better having alternatives of future job ashore
  •        "PUMS - Piano Urbano della Mobilità Sostenibile" Project (Urban Sustainable Mobility Plan)
  •        "SIGNAL" Project Definition of an integrated system of LNG distribution (network of distribution + stocking site) in ports where ships and other forms of transport can refuel
  •       “CAR SHARING” Research Project on the economic advantage of car sharing
  •     "EASY LOG" Project (European Commission- Interreg Italia-Francia Marittimo
  •       "CIRCUMVECTIO" CIRColazione di qUalità delle Merci su VEttori nella CaTena logIstica del prOgramma Project (Quality circulation of goods and vectors in the logistics chain of the programme)
  •       "SPORT" – Smart PORt Terminals"  Project (European Commission -Interreg Italia-Francia Marittimo)  Definition and development of an integrated system and modular software tool to support port logistics operators.  
  •       “TDI RETE-GNL” Project - Identification of technological-productive solutions for the distribution and bunkering of LNG in ports of transfrontier areas - Localisation of the plants and deposits of the network of primary distribution
  •        "FNM- Ferrovie Nord Milano" Project - Study for the activation of the fast passenger service on the Genoa-Milan stretc
  •       “PORTOPIA – Ports Observatory for Performance Indicator Analysis” Project in the context of the 7th Framework Programme (European Commission)
  •       “Surveying and highlighting of main issues in the telecommunications network” Project (Regional Council for Communications, Co.Re.Com)
  •       " SLIMPORT” Project (Ministry for Economic Development)               
  •       “BriaTra” Project in the context of the call for proposals JUST/2014/JCOO/AG (European Commission)
  •        Annual Report  “Shipping in figures” (National Union of Shipbuilding, Shipping and related Industries - Unione Nazionale Cantieri e Industrie Nautiche e Affini – UCINA)
  •       Feasibility study “Parque Industrial Cartagena Verde” to put in place a logistics industrial park in Colombia (Zona Franca de Bogotà)
  •       Study on Retail logistics in UK (POPAI Servizi Srl)
  •       Partnership agreement to carry out research and training activities (BF Partners)
  •       “The cruise business in Liguria: tourist flows, ports and creating value for the region” Project (Project Santa Margherita Srl)
  •       Adherence to the Interdisciplinary Centre of Research and Technological innovation for the reduction, recovery and reuse of waste (University of Genoa 

      

        

     

      

      

      

     

      

    

How we work with companies: forms of collaboration

 Research and work for third parties

·        What: paid services through which CIELI provides companies with its scientific knowledge as well as the professionalism of its lecturers and researchers to carry out research activities, consultancy and training for companies (contractors).

·        How: companies propose conferring a task, establishing the timeframe, modality and payment.

·        Why: researchers carrying out this activity in the research centre guarantees the high quality and interdisciplinarity of the work done.

 

Research in collaboration with other parties

·        What: research action of common interest on the basis of an agreed-upon research project that involves cooperation between personnel in the company and the research centre.

·        How: participation in calls for applications from international institutions (European Union) or national ones (Ministry) with the elaboration of a project in which reciprocal tasks and rights are defined. Economic participation is laid down each time on the basis of specific agreements.

·        Why: interchange of knowledge and skills, companies not only co-finance, they also co-benefit.

Research grants

·        What: a research grant consists of a collaboration contract to undertake research activity that has a continuous nature but is time-bound (minimum duration 1 year and maximum 3 years, renewable for a maximum of 4), and coordinated with the overall activity of research coordinators. This activity is tightly bound with the implementation of a research programme or a phase of one. The research grant is one of the instruments with which the University promotes the research training of young researchers, and creates and disseminates innovation and study in sectors of particular interest for the area. Research is carried out autonomously with the usual limits of the programme laid down by coordinators.

·        How: once a theme of particular research interest has been identified, the company or external institute manifests its willingness to make resources available for the total or partial cover (from 100% to 30%) of a grant, through a free provision or a convention with the University in which mutual obligations are formalised. The annual cost of a research grant can vary (according to the needs) from a minimum of about 23,000 euros to a maximum of 42,000 euros. The financing company can also take part in the selection of research students alongside the designated Commission of lecturers.

·        Why: the participation of an external company or institute in the financing of a research grant promotes research that, while containing important scientific content for the University, responds to specific and concrete demands. Making the university structure, skills and services available enables the increase of competitiveness and quality of productive processes and services or products provided. Further benefits for companies from investing in research are tax concessions in terms of tax deductions.

 

·         MASTER’S/TRAINING COURSES

·         University Master’s

·         Advanced training projects for new graduates and/or working graduates: courses aimed at training and keeping high level and high quality managers up to date on methodological, technical and management aspects of logistics and promotion of the spread and development of modern management techniques and methodologies in the logistics field. The international profile of the Master’s is an important requirement to increase competitiveness. These training projects award the title of Master’s Diploma (first or second level) which is legally recognised nationally and internationally. In planning these activities, the Centre carefully evaluates labour market trends and employment needs expressed by companies in order to guarantee satisfactory placement.

·         CIELI was lead partner in the process of re-engineering the Master’s course in Integrated Logistics. This process happened in two phases: the first one in 2006 when it took the name “Management of Integrated Logistic Systems”; and the second in 2007 when under the name “Planning and Management of Logistic and Transportation Systems” it was integrated with another financed Master’s course (“Ports, transport and territory”)

·         The course was held in English and its students came from Asia, Africa, South America and Europe. The international characteristics are confirmed also by the lecturers, some of who are internationally famed consultants and some are lectures from, inter alia, Lausanne, Milan and Turin Polytechnics and the Universities of Antwerp and Bergamo. The Master’s, whose main public sponsor was Genoa province, besides the S. Paolo Foundation, directly or indirectly obtained the support and help of over 40 companies and public and private bodies, thus attaining the important objective of relative organisational and financial autonomy. Direct support came from: Accenture, Fondazione ENI Enrico Mattei, Gruppo Gavio, LogiPetrol-SBG, the Liguria Region, Eni, Silvio Bertani – Logipetrol, Finporto, Rivalta Terminal Europa.Indirect support, through work experience or witness accounts came from: Coes Company, DuPont Europe Switzerland, Swatch Group, Schiffini Mobili Cucine SpA, Giver Viaggi, TXT e-solutions, Eaton, DANONE- Saiwa, T-Bridge–Consulting, Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen& Hamilton LLP, Ufficio delle Dogane di Genova, G A F – Society for the Training of Management Personnel, Eidon, Flemish Port Commission, Autorità Portuale di Genova, Porto Petroli, SoftecoSismat, D’Appolonia, LPLogistics, Pagirosrl, Ce.P.I.M.-Interporto Parma, Interporto Bologna, IFC Worldwide Cargo, MAN Truck and Bus, Trenitalia – Ferrovie dello Stato, FareImpresa, Spring PetroleumLondon UK, KuehneNagel Genova, BalmerLawrie&Co.Ltd in Mumbai India, BIP Milano, ILog Genova, Res Data srl Fidenza. Another element of prestige for the Master’s is its inclusion in the MAE and ICE project “Invest Your Talent in Italy” with a fundamental contribution to CIELI from the Chamber of Commerce of Genoa. This is a project aimed at disseminating the opportunities of excellent Italian training opportunities held in English.

·         In September 2018 the first edition of Master’s courses organised by CIELI was inaugurated:

·         Second level University Master's in "Ship Agency management, finance and operation" - 1st edition

·         Training courses/continuous training

·         Summer School

·         Annual lecture

·         Training projects that are geared to the working environment and are highly specialised: for graduates and/or professionals that wish to specialise on a specific theme of logistics and transport, thus enabling a better placement in the workforce or the development of skills for training-work. In planning these activities, the Centre uses indications from the business world.

·         Training courses for companies/Public Administration

·         Training projects designed and put in place in direct collaboration with partners and/or companies express particular training demands in terms of transport and logistics. 

 

Last update 21 October 2022