Roberto Cingolani
Roberto Cingolani | |
|---|---|
 Cingolani in 2018. | |
| Minister for Ecological Transition | |
| Assumed office 13 February 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Mario Draghi |
| Preceded by | Sergio Costa (Environment) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 December 1961 Milan, Lombardy, Italy |
| Political party | Independent |
| Alma mater | University of Bari Scuola Normale di Pisa |
Roberto Cingolani (born 23 December 1961) is an Italian physicist, academic and manager who has been serving as Minister for Ecological Transition in the cabinet of Prime Minister Mario Draghi since 13 February 2021.[1][2][3]
From 2019 until 2021, Cingolani was the technology and innovation officer at Leonardo S.p.A.; before this, he was scientific director at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia in Genoa from 2005 to 2019.
Early life and education
Cingolani spent his childhood in Bari where he graduated from the University of Bari in 1985 with a degree in physics. He obtained his doctorate there in November 1988, and his PhD at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa in 1990.[1]
Career
Academic career
From 1988 to 1991, Cingolani was a staff member of the Max Planck Institute in Stuttgart, Germany, under the direction of Nobel laureate Klaus von Klitzing. He planned to move permanently to Japan to work at the University of Tokyo, but returned to Italy due to the death of his father.[1]
From 1991 to 1999, Cingolani was first researcher and then associate professor of general physics at the Materials Science Department of the University of Salento (then called the University of Lecce). Between 1997 and 2000, he was a visiting professor at the University of Tokyo, then at Virginia Commonwealth University in the United States.[1] From 2000 to 2005 he returned to the University of Salento, where he was professor of general physics at the Faculty of Engineering. There, he founded and directed the National Laboratory of Nanotechnologies in Lecce.[3]
In 2001, Cingolani worked as an expert for the Public Prosecutor's Office of Rome giving expert opinions on the Marta Russo and Unabomber cases.
From 2005 to 2019, Cingolani was scientific director of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Genoa.[1] In December 2015, he was awarded the Rome Science Prize. In 2016 he worked on the birth of the Human Technopole in Milan, the project for a citadel of life science.[3]
Career in the private sector
On 27 June 2019 Cingolani was appointed Chief Technology and Innovation Officer of the defense and aerospace sector company Leonardo S.p.A., becoming operational from 1 September 2019.[1][4]
Political career
On 13 February 2021, Cingolani was appointed Minister for Ecological Transition in the Draghi cabinet.[3] The newly-created role took over energy matters previously shared with other ministries and combined them with the environment portfolio.[5] He has criticised environmental activists for being too ideological in their approach and called for a slower, sustainable transition.[6] Italian climate activists have expressed concern over Cingolani's calls for a slower transition and his statements supporting increased use of natural gas.[7][8]
Other activities
- Ferrari, Non-Executive Member of the Board of Directors (–2021)[9]
- Illy, Member of the Board of Directors (2019–2021)[10]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Factbox: Technocrat ministers in Draghi's new Italian government". Reuters. 13 February 2021.
- ^ "Mario Draghi's new government to be sworn in on Saturday". The Guardian. 13 February 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Who is Roberto Cingolani, Minister of Ecological Transition". Italy 24 News. 12 February 2021.
- ^ "Mario Draghi wins backing of largest party in Italian parliament". Bloomberg. 13 February 2021.
- ^ Stephen Jewkes (February 14, 2021), Italy gets green superministry as Draghi eyes EU funds Reuters.
- ^ Lettig, Daniele (2021-09-02). "Italian minister: Environmental activists worse than climate crisis". www.euractiv.com. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
- ^ "Italy creates ecological transition ministry but campaigners warn against gas support". Climate Home News. 2021-02-17. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
- ^ "Technology, Diversification and Education". www.eni.com. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
- ^ Non-executive Director Roberto Cingolani resigns in light of his new responsibilities as Minister of the new Italian Government Ferrari, press release of February 16, 2021.
- ^ illycaffè S.p.A. appoints new Board of Directors Illy, press release of April 29, 2019.
