Patrizio Bianchi (born 28 May 1952) is an Italian economist and academic, current chairholder of the
UNESCO Chair in Education, Growth and Equality. He served as
minister of education in the
Draghi Cabinet from 2021 to 2022.
Biography
Early life and studies
Patrizio Bianchi was born in the town of
Copparo, but he and his family moved to nearby city of
Ferrara
Ferrara (, ; egl, Fràra ) is a city and ''comune'' in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital of the Province of Ferrara. it had 132,009 inhabitants. It is situated northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stre ...
in his early life. After having graduated from the
University of Bologna
The University of Bologna ( it, Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna, UNIBO) is a public research university in Bologna, Italy. Founded in 1088 by an organised guild of students (''studiorum''), it is the oldest university in contin ...
in May 1976 with honours in political science under the guidance of
Romano Prodi
Romano Antonio Prodi (; born 9 August 1939) is an Italian politician, economist, academic, senior civil servant, and business executive who served as the tenth president of the European Commission from 1999 to 2004. He served twice as Prime ...
and
Alberto Quadrio Curzio, he specialised in economics and industrial politics at the
London School of Economics with
Professor Basil Yamey. During this period he worked for the ''British Price Commission'', participating in an investigative report into price controls in the cement sector, a subject about which he wrote his first essay, published in 1980 by Il Mulino.
Academic Activity
Early career at the universities of Trento, Udine and Bologna
In 1980 he became a researcher at the Faculty of Economics of the
University of Trento
The University of Trento (Italian: ''Università degli Studi di Trento'') is an Italian university located in Trento and nearby Rovereto. It has been able to achieve considerable results in didactics, research, and international relations acco ...
, and in the same year the
Minister of Budget Beniamino Andreatta nominated him National Planning Secretary for the restructuring of the automobile industry. In 1981 he became the supervising scientist for the Laboratory of Industrial Politics in
Nomisma
''Nomisma'' ( el, νόμισμα) was the ancient Greek word for "money" and is derived from nomos (νόμος) anything assigned, a usage, custom, law, ordinance".The King James Version New Testament Greek Lexicon; Strong's Number:3546
The te ...
.
In 1982 he moved to the
University of Bologna
The University of Bologna ( it, Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna, UNIBO) is a public research university in Bologna, Italy. Founded in 1088 by an organised guild of students (''studiorum''), it is the oldest university in contin ...
in the same role of university researcher where he won the Associate Professorship in 1986. In 1987 along with
Martin Carnoy (
Stanford University
Stanford University, officially Leland Stanford Junior University, is a private research university in Stanford, California. The campus occupies , among the largest in the United States, and enrolls over 17,000 students. Stanford is conside ...
) and Manuel Castells (
University of California, Berkley), he was invited to the Chinese Ministry of Education to analyse the relationship between the university system and economic development, paying particular attention to the evaluation of research activities and to the training of PhD students. In 1989 he was named as visiting professor of Political Economics at the
University of Udine
The University of Udine ( Italian ''Università degli Studi di Udine'') is a university in the city of Udine, Italy. It was founded in 1978 as part of the reconstruction plan of Friuli after the earthquake in 1976. Its aim was to provide the Friu ...
. In 1991 he returned to Bologna as visiting professor of Political Economics for the European community, with the mandate to launch the course of political science from the new seat of the University of Bologna at
Forli. Furthermore, at the University of Bologna in 1994 he became full professor of Economic Policy in the Department of Economic Sciences.
In 1992 he was named as director of the economic and industrial politics magazine L'industria (published by Il Mulino), a role that he would carry out until 2004.
University of Ferrara: from the foundation of the Faculty of Economics to becoming Dean
In 1997 he entered into the governing body of the
IRI - Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale with the objective of finalising its privatisation by the year 2000. From 1999 to 2000 he was named President of ''Sviluppo Italia'' (today ''Invitalia)'' the national agency for the development of Southern Italy - created with the objective of valuing, rationalising and reuniting the previously operating 8 agencies of development.
In 1997 he moved to the
University of Ferrara
The University of Ferrara ( it, Università degli Studi di Ferrara) is the main university of the city of Ferrara in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. In the years prior to the First World War the University of Ferrara, with more than 5 ...
where in 1998 he founded the Faculty of Economics - now knows as Department of Economy and Management, recognised as department of excellence at national level. Here he fulfilled his role as Full Professor of Economy and Industrial Politics as well as becoming the faculty director in 2000. Professor Bianchi was elected Dean of the university with a 3-year term in 2004 and reelected to the same post until 2010. From 2004 to 2007 he was part of the managerial committee of the
Conference of Italian University Rectors. From 2006 to 2010 he was appointed as President of the Foundation of the Conference of Italian University Rectors and President of the
Università telematica internazionale "UniNettuno" of Rome (owned by the consortium of Italian universities "Nettuno"). From 2003 to 2010 he acted as President of IMPAT - university consortium for the promotion of technology transfer and research spin-offs.
Since January 2020 he has been the
UNESCO chairholder for Education, Growth and Equality at the University Of Ferrara.
Over the years he has carried out research and consultancy activities for major national, European and international institutions, in particular in the area of industrial policy and development policies, publishing over 200 articles and 40 books in Italian, English and Spanish.
Political Activity
Regional Minister for Emilia-Romagna
He served as Regional Minister for education, training, research, university, labour, work and European policies for development for
Emilia-Romagna
egl, Emigliàn (man) egl, Emiglièna (woman) rgn, Rumagnòl (man) rgn, Rumagnòla (woman) it, Emiliano (man) it, Emiliana (woman) or it, Romagnolo (man) it, Romagnola (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title ...
region for two terms from 2010 to February 2020 under the respective guidance of the presidents
Vasco Errani and
Stefano Bonaccini
Stefano Bonaccini (born 1 January 1967) is an Italian politician and member of the Democratic Party (PD). He has been serving as the president of Emilia-Romagna since 24 November 2014.
Bonaccini started his political career in the post-communi ...
.
From 2010 to 2012 he designed and implemented the reform of regional professional development, and from 2012 to 2014 he managed the reinitiation of teaching activities and the reconstruction of schools in the area affected by the
2012 20–29 May Earthquake. Since 2017 he has directed the activities for the design and activation of the Big Data Technopole in Bologna, the new headquarters of the
European Center for Weather Forecasts (previously located in
Reading
Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of letters, symbols, etc., especially by sight or touch.
For educators and researchers, reading is a multifaceted process involving such areas as word recognition, orthography (spelling) ...
but transferred to Bologna following
Brexit
Brexit (; a portmanteau of "British exit") was the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU) at 23:00 GMT on 31 January 2020 (00:00 1 February 2020 CET).The UK also left the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or ...
) and of the European Scientific
Supercomputing
A supercomputer is a computer with a high level of performance as compared to a general-purpose computer. The performance of a supercomputer is commonly measured in floating-point operations per second (FLOPS) instead of million instructions p ...
Center which houses Leonardo, the fourth fastest supercomputer in the world. In January 2019 he founded the International Foundation Big Data and Artificial Intelligence for Human Development (IFAB), where he was Scientific Director until 2021. Since June 2018 he has also worked as vice-president of the Intermediterranean Commission (CIM) of the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions (CPMR).
His term as Regional Minister ended in February 2020. During his years as Councilor he was awarded the honor of ''
Commendatore al merito della Repubblica Italiana'' by the
President of the Italian Republic
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
Giorgio Napolitano
Giorgio Napolitano (; born 29 June 1925) is an Italian politician who served as president of Italy from 2006 to 2015, the first Italian president to be re-elected to the presidency. Due to his dominant position in Italian politics, some critics ...
in 2010. On the 11 June 2015 as part of the closing meeting of the academic year of the
Accademia dei Lincei
The Accademia dei Lincei (; literally the "Academy of the Lynx-Eyed", but anglicised as the Lincean Academy) is one of the oldest and most prestigious European scientific institutions, located at the Palazzo Corsini on the Via della Lungara in Ro ...
he received the Lincei prize of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage for Political and Social Sciences from the President of the Italian Republic,
Sergio Mattarella
Sergio Mattarella (; born 23 July 1941) is an Italian politician, jurist, academic and lawyer who has served as the president of Italy since 2015.
A Christian leftist politician, Mattarella was a leading member of the Christian Democracy p ...
.
Italian Minister of Education in the Mario Draghi cabinet
In April of the same year he coordinated the ministerial task force, formed by the then Minister of Education
Lucia Azzolina, to coordinate and manage the restart of the school year during the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
.
On 12 February 2021 he was named by
Mario Draghi as Minister of Education in the
Draghi government (a
national unity government
A national unity government, government of national unity (GNU), or national union government is a broad coalition government consisting of all parties (or all major parties) in the legislature, usually formed during a time of war or other nati ...
) and was sworn in the following day at the
Quirinale in the presence of the President of the Republic
Sergio Mattarella
Sergio Mattarella (; born 23 July 1941) is an Italian politician, jurist, academic and lawyer who has served as the president of Italy since 2015.
A Christian leftist politician, Mattarella was a leading member of the Christian Democracy p ...
.The main objectives of his term was the return of face-to-face teaching for the 2021–2022 school year after the distance learning period due to the coronavirus pandemic and the implementation of the reforms envisaged by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan - PNRR (part of
Next Generation EU).
As Education Secretary he chaired the G20 of education in Catania in 2021, held within the 2021 G20 summit under the Italian presidency. In September 2022 he also spoke in New York on the theme "Transforming Education for a Transforming World" at the
seventy-seventh UN general assembly.
His term ended on October 22, 2022, with the inauguration of the
Meloni government.
Return to Academic Activity
After his term in government concluded, he returned to academic activity, being appointed professor
emeritus
''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...
at the
University of Ferrara
The University of Ferrara ( it, Università degli Studi di Ferrara) is the main university of the city of Ferrara in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. In the years prior to the First World War the University of Ferrara, with more than 5 ...
. On 3 and 4 November 2022 he participated in the International Conference of UNESCO Chairs held in Paris on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the
UNESCO/UNITWIN Chairs Program.
Honours, Prizes and recognitions
* 2005 - Honorary Professor of Economy and Technology at the Technological University of
Guangzhou
Guangzhou (, ; ; or ; ), also known as Canton () and alternatively romanized as Kwongchow or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in southern China. Located on the Pearl River about north-northwest of Hong Kong ...
* 2008 - Honorary Citizen of the City of
Fokoué-Fotomena, Cameroon
* 2009 - Honorary Citizen of the City of
Rafaela
Rafaela () is a city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, about 96 km from the provincial capital. It is the head town of the Castellanos Department. It has a population of 99,150 per the .
The city was established in 1881 by Guillermo ...
* 2010 -
Commander/''Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana''/3rd Class Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
* 2015 - Lincei Prize winner, Ministry of culture and
Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei
The Accademia dei Lincei (; literally the "Academy of the Lynx-Eyed", but anglicised as the Lincean Academy) is one of the oldest and most prestigious European scientific institutions, located at the Palazzo Corsini on the Via della Lungara in Ro ...
* 2020 - Honorary Citizen of the City of
Novafeltria
* 2020 - Member of the Vicenza Olympic Academy
* 2020 -
UNESCO chairholder for "Education, Growth, Equality"
* 2022 - Doctorado ad honorem,
Universidad de Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires ( es, Universidad de Buenos Aires, UBA) is a public research university in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Established in 1821, it is the premier institution of higher learning in the country and one of the most prestig ...
.
* 2022 - Honorary degree in Economy and Political Science,
University of Medicine, Tirana.
Works
* ''Politiche pubbliche e strategie dell'impresa nell'industria europea del cemento'', Il Mulino, Bologna, pp. 1–162, 1980
* ''Il controllo dei prezzi. Un confronto internazionale'', Franco Angeli, Milano, pp. 1–140, 1982
* ''Public and Private Control in Mass Product Industry: The Cement Industry Cases'', Martinus Nijhoff Publisher, London, pp. 1–140, 1983
* ''Divisione del lavoro e ristrutturazione industriale'', Il Mulino, Bologna, pp. 1–130, 1984
* ''Antitrust e gruppi industriali'', Il Mulino, Bologna, pp. 1–300, 1988
* ''Industrial Reorganization and StructuralChange in the Automobile Industry'', Collana di Economia Applicata, Bologna University Press, Bologna, pp. 1–142, 1989
* ''L'amministrazione dell'industria e del commercio estero'', (P. Bianchi and M. G. Giordani eds.), Il Mulino, Bologna, pp. 1–270, 1990
* ''Produzione e potere di mercato'', Ediesse, Roma, pp. 1–270, 1991
* ''Concorrenza e controllo delle concentrazioni in Europa'', (P. Bianchi and G. Gualtieri eds.), Il Mulino, Bologna, pp. 1–502, 1993
* ''Technology and Human Resources in Europe after Maastricht'', (P. Bianchi e M. Carnoyeds), International Journal of Technology Management, vol. 9, n. ¾, 1994
* ''Europe's Economic Challenge'', (P. Bianchi, K. Cowling, R. Sudgeneds), Routledge, London-New York, pp. 1–216, 1994
* ''L'Europa smarrita'', Vallecchi Editore, Firenze, pp. 1–180, 1995
* ''Le politiche industriali dell'Unione Europea'', Il Mulino, Bologna, pp. 1–250, 1995
* ''Cambiamento delle istituzioni economiche e nuovo sviluppo in Italia e in Europa'', (S. Beretta e P. Bianchi eds.), Il Mulino, Bologna, pp. 1–410, 1996
* ''Costruir el mercado. Lecciones de la Unión Europea: el desarrollo de la instituciones y de las políticas de competitividad'', Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Buenos Aires, pp. 1–260, 1997
* ''Industrial Policies and Economic Integration. Learning from European Experiences'', Routledge, London, pp. 1–240, 1998
* ''Construir el Mercado'', nueva edicion, Pagina/12 editorial, Buenos Aires, 1998
* ''InnovacionY Territorio, Politicas para pequeña empresas'', (con L. M. Miller), Editorial JVS, Mexico City, pp. 1–280, 1999
* ''Politiche industriali dell'Unione Europea'', 2ª edizione ampliata, Il Mulino, Bologna, pp. 1–326, 1999
* ''Le Api Audaci – Piccole Imprese e Dinamiche Industriali in Estremo Oriente'', (con M. R. De Tommaso and L. Rubini), Franco Angeli, Milano, pp. 1–210, 2000
* ''La Rincorsa Frenata – L'industria italiana dall'unità nazionale all'unificazione europea'', Il Mulino, Saggi, Bologna, pp. 1–330, 2002
* ''Technology, Information and Market Dynamics: TopicsInAdvanced Industrial Organization'', (P. Bianchi and L. Lambertini eds.), E. Elgar, London, pp. 1–212, 2003
* ''The Economic Importance of Intangible Assets'', (P. Bianchi and S. Labory eds.), AshgateAcademic Pu. London, pp. 1–202, 2004
* ''International Handbook on Industrial Policy'', (P. Bianchi and S. Labory eds.), E. Elgar, Cheltenham, pp. 1–464, 2006
* ''High Technology, Productivity and Networks'', (P. Bianchi, M. D. Parrilli, R. Sugden eds.), Palgrave Pu., London, pp. 1–254, 2008
* ''International Handbook on Industrial Policy'', (P. Bianchi and S. Labory eds.), II edition, 2008
* ''Le nuove politiche industriali dell'Unione Europea'', (con S. Labory), Il Mulino, pp. 1–243, Bologna, 2009
* ''Le politiche industriali alla prova del futuro'', (P. Bianchi and C. Pozzi eds.), Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010.
* ''Industrial Policies after the Crisis. Seizing the Future'', (con S. Labory), E. Elgar, Cheltenham, pp. 1–150, 2011
* ''La zucca i coriandoli e la strega cicciona,'' Ferrara, Corbo Editore, 2011
* ''La rincorsa frenata. L'industria italiana dall'unità nazionale alla crisi globale''. Nuova edizione, Il Mulino, Bologna, pp. 1–346, 2013
* ''Globalizzazione, crisi e ristrutturazione industriale'', McGraw-Hill Education, Milano, pp. 1–190, Milano-New York, 2014
* ''Manufacturing Reinassance'', (con S. Labory), Revue d'économie industrielle, numéro special (two issues), n. 144, pp. 1–200, 2013 and n. 145, pp. 1–200, 2014
* ''Toward a New Industrial Policy. Selected Papers'', (con S. Labory), Mc Graw Hill Education, Milano, pp. 1–190, Milano-New York, 2016
* ''Il Cammino e le orme. Industria e politica alle origini dell'Italia contemporanea'', Il Mulino, Bologna, 2017
* ''Industrial policy for the manufacturing revolution: perspectives on digital globalisation,'' (P. Bianchi and S. Labory eds.), E. Elgar, Cheltenham, 2018
* ''4.0 La nuova rivoluzione industriale'', Il Mulino, Bologna 2018
* ''Nello specchio della scuola. Quale sviluppo per l'Italia,'' Il Mulino, Bologna, 2020
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bianchi, Patrizio
Living people
1952 births
Draghi Cabinet
Education ministers of Italy
University of Bologna alumni