Donatella Sciuto Biography

“United in diversity for sustainable growth”. With this objective, in 2023, Donatella Sciuto was elected as the first female Rector of Politecnico di Milano, first technical university in the country. Full Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, Professor Sciuto was graduated in Electronic Engineering at the same university, she got her Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder (USA), and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration at Bocconi University.

Her commitment as a Rector comes after twelve years in the role of Vice Rector (2010-2022) and is based on a solid expertise and an open-minded and international vision, aimed at talent growth and promotion. Her objective by 2028, the end of her mandate, is to train top-tier students, future professionals, and researchers to address technological and societal challenges globally, reducing inequality and persisting in the pursuit of sustainable development goals.

To implement this vision, Professor Sciuto has introduced significant innovations within the university. She has proposed a shared management, expanding the governance to twelve Vice Rectors and about fifty delegates. This extended approach reflects the scope of the objectives set out in the Strategic Plan (2023-25; 2026-28 editions) and in the first Strategic Sustainability Plan of the University.

She serves on the Board of Directors of the Bank of Italy, Dassault Systèmes, Fila, Fondazione Tech Europe (TEF), Fondazione Corriere della Sera, Fondazione TOG onlus, Fondazione TIM, Fondazione Anthem and the National Center of Research in High- Performance Computing, Big Data e Quantum Computing. She serves on the Scientific Committees of Fondazione Enel, Fondazione Terna, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Chalmers University and Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology.

She has co-authored more than 400 scientific articles and holds 4 international patents. She was named President of the IEEE Council of Electronic Design Automation, an international scientific society based in the United States, and member of the Academia Europaea. She has been appointed IBM Women Leader in Artificial Intelligence and Inspiring Fifty Italy.

She collaborates in various STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) initiatives aimed at girls. She has launched the diversity & inclusion program at Politecnico di Milano (POP - Politecnico Equal Opportunities), where, as former Executive Vice Rector, she oversaw research strategies and teaching innovation (POK – Polimi Open Knowledge).