“The new strategic plan of the Polytechnic University of Bari is an opportunity for the relaunch of Taranto”
Rector Fratino at the MarTa for the Ionian stage of Polifonia: a pact with society is needed for a development project
20 May 2026
“The Polytechnic’s strategic plan should be the opportunity to jointly design a strategic plan for Taranto, focused on research, innovation, the enhancement of talent, and increased opportunities in the area.” This was stated today by the Rector of the Polytechnic University of Bari, Umberto Fratino, at the Polifonia round table, the itinerant project to define the university’s new strategic plan through a series of discussions with representatives of institutions, businesses, schools, and professions in the area. The discussion took place at the MarTa – National Archaeological Museum of Taranto – and followed the guiding principle of the university as a source of development and knowledge.
Dal dibattito sono emerse le necessità del Politecnico e quelle dei suoi interlocutori pubblici e privati. Su alcuni punti, c’è stata una sostanziale unanimità di intenti: valorizzare la presenza fisica del Politecnico nella città, attivando nuove sedi nel centro di Taranto; potenziare l’orientamento attraverso la collaborazione tra ateneo, imprese e istituzioni, per aiutare i giovani a scegliere i corsi di studio con maggiori opportunità di successo nel territorio; realizzare un polo di ricerca ‘indigeno’, tarato sulle potenzialità e gli obiettivi di sviluppo locali, che coinvolga il Politecnico, le altre università e di ricerca, le imprese; favorire quindi la collaborazione tra pubblico e privato per fare ricerca e sviluppo insieme, sui temi di maggior interesse per gli obiettivi di un futuro sostenibile. Sullo sfondo, i temi delle infrastrutture (fisiche e digitali) che servono a rendere il contesto più attrattivo, la mobilità sostenibile, la capacità – da sviluppare – di dialogare con i paesi del Mediterraneo per rendere più internazionale l’offerta formativa e la ricerca.
The debate was attended by Giovanni Patronelli, Councillor for Urban Planning of the Municipality of Taranto; Gianfranco Palmisano, President of the Province; Salvatore Toma, President of Confindustria Taranto; Anda Furfaro, Vice President of the industrialists with responsibility for Education; Cristina Carriere, of the Port System Authority of the Ionian Sea; Vito Messi, President of Ance Taranto; Roberto Rotondo, archaeologist, of the Superintendency for Cultural and Underwater Heritage; Sandro Maggi, architect of the MarTa; and Antonio Messeni Petruzzelli, President of the Tecnopolo of Taranto. Representing the Polytechnic, in addition to Rector Fratino, were Professors Domenica Costantino, President of the TTEC center (the Polytechnic’s campus in Taranto), Pietro De Palma, Vice-Rector for Strategic Policies, Annalisa Di Roma, Vice-Rector for the Student Community, and Enrico Brighi, General Director of the university.
According to Furfaro, it is necessary to start again from the central role of the Polytechnic in the area, “so that it is felt as an integral part of this city. Moreover, we need new tools to turn ideas into innovative projects.” And on skills, a synergy to orient study programs toward maritime professions. According to Messeni Petruzzelli, “we must work together, for a technological hub in the area, capable of carrying out applied research in the area itself. The interlocutor for the relaunch of Taranto is not only the Mimit, but also entities such as Mur, the Ministry of Transport, etc., because culture is needed, but also research, innovation, infrastructure. Synergy is needed for a new project for the area.”
Regarding skills, Messi stressed that there is a need for “an increase in skills and support for innovative investments.” Councillor Patronelli proposed collaborating to strengthen guidance in schools: “We must have a clear understanding of the best profiles to train for the needs of the area and employment opportunities.” Looking beyond the city of Taranto, Messeni Petruzzelli also said that projects must travel on the dual track of the sea and space – in reference to the spaceport of Grottaglie. There was also agreement on the need to go beyond Ilva and build a new industrial project. Regarding the territory, Rector Fratino highlighted the potential of an area that is naturally connected to the Brindisi area and, more broadly, to Salento. It is no coincidence that Polifonia made a stop in Taranto, after the launch event in Brindisi, dedicated to the theme of Mediterranean horizons, and the one in Bari, at the Campus, focused on new teaching models. The next events will again be in Bari and then in Barletta.
The article “The new strategic plan of the Polytechnic University of Bari is an opportunity for the relaunch of Taranto” comes from Poliba Chronicle.