Bocconi Rector Billari: universities are places of pluralism, they are at the centre of the future

Artificial intelligence is one of the most important challenges for the freedom of our digital societies. Bocconi tackles it with an interdisciplinary approach and responsibility, through the AI Lab led by Riccardo Zecchina, which combines theoretical research and practical applications in educational, managerial and social contexts. In collaboration with OpenAI, the University was the first in Italy - and among the first in Europe - to offer equal access to the most advanced AI tools to the entire community. Early joint projects include the use of intelligent agents to test economic and social theories, the measurement of abstract concepts in text and video, and the creation of personalised educational assistants.
An example of multidisciplinary research is HEAL - Health Emergencies Analytics Lab, an evolution of the Covid Crisis Lab, which addresses global issues of public health, prevention and resilience. Coordinated by Alessia Melegaro, the lab involves all Bocconi departments and is funded by the Invernizzi Foundation.
Another frontier is entrepreneurship. With the Tech Europe Foundation (TEF), created in partnership with the Fondazione Politecnico di Milano and other institutional players, Bocconi is launching TEF Ignition, a programme that brings students closer to the world of startups and innovation. And from 2026-27 the new MSc Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship will start, with a renewed and even more impact-oriented curriculum.

In 2026, Milan will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Bocconi will be an active part of the event, thanks to an agreement with the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026. Students are already applying as volunteers (over 1,400 have signed up), while scientific research will make a concrete contribution through a study led by Dino Ruta to analyse the impact and legacy of the Games according to IOC and OECD guidelines. At the same time, the "Research in Motion" initiative will bring physical activity and scientific dissemination to the campus in a single interactive pathway, supported by the Lombardy Region in the framework of the Culture Games.

A central passage in Billari's speech concerned the pact between generations, which today is in crisis due to mistrust, inequalities and precariousness. Italy,' Billari recalled, 'is one of the countries where people work less despite living longer, leave home later, and the new generations struggle to build a future. And yet, never before have different generations coexisted and had to work together. This is why the university must become a space for dialogue and co-construction, not only between students and lecturers, but between knowledge, experiences, languages. "Every lecture is an act of trust. But it is also a choice: that of not renouncing complexity," said Billari. At Bocconi, this means teaching that integrates classrooms and real projects, theory and experimentation, research and social impact. With over 14,000 professionals trained each year by SDA Bocconi and 2,600 students involved in international programmes, the University builds bridges between knowledge and action every day.

With over 146,000 alumni worldwide and more than 3,000 active donors in 2024 alone, Bocconi is today a global crossroads of ideas, energies and skills. It is a living community, which grows and transforms, but which remains united by a shared idea: to give back value, to generate the future, to invest in knowledge as a common good. Among the most heartfelt moments of the ceremony were the remembrance of Bocconi historian Achille Marzio Romani, who recently passed away, and the presentation of the Bocconi Alumni Community 2025 awards, which celebrate the impact of those who, through their work, contribute to improving society:
- Elena Goitini, CEO of BNL and Country Head for Italy of the BNP Paribas Group, was awarded as Alumna of the Year
- Alisée de Tonnac, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Seedstars, as Emerging Leader
- Adama Sanneh, Co-Founder and CEO of the Moleskine Foundation, as Changemaker of the Year
Along with alumni involvement, the culture of giving continues to strengthen. In the four-year period 2021-2024 alone, nearly 70 million euros have been raised, a sign of growing confidence in the University's mission.
Donations are focused on four strategic directions - Inclusion, Social Sciences, Social Responsibility and Community - and 60% of the funds raised go directly to students, through need-based and merit-based scholarships. A commitment that every year allows 2,000 young people to attend Bocconi free of charge and 1 in 3 students to receive financial support, thus guaranteeing the formation of a generation that is aware and capable of making an impact.
But philanthropic support also fuels cutting-edge research and the most innovative initiatives. Thanks to their contribution, there are now 2 named research centres, 8 laboratories created thanks to philanthropic donations, and 24 named chairs, of which two new ones have just been announced this year.
The first is the Enel Foundation Chair in Competitiveness and Transition, which will be awarded to Francesco Decarolis, full professor in the Department of Economics, to study the delicate balance between energy transition and competitiveness, and the role of policies in building fair and resilient markets. The second is the Harvey Chaplin Chair in Distribution, Channel & Experience Management, supported by Campari, which will go to Sandro Castaldo, full professor in the Department of Marketing, to develop frontier research on distribution channels and the customer experience in a transforming economy.
"This university is not just a place of learning: it is a collective project, built every day by those who choose to be here," concluded Billari. "And in that grain of time entrusted to us, each of us has the opportunity - and the responsibility - to make a difference."