Mission

April 2005, MIT President Susan Hockfield and Gianfelice Rocca sign the Progetto Rocca Agreeement at MIT.

The “Progetto Roberto Rocca” is a new collaboration between MIT and the Milan Politecnico, Italy’s top engineering school in the fields of Mechanic Engineering, Bioengineering, Mathematics, and Materials Science. Funded by the Fondazione Fratelli Agostino and Enrico Rocca to honor Dr. Roberto Rocca, an alumnus of both institutions, the Progetto will devote $ 250,000 a year for the next five years to promote the two-ways circulation of people, ideas and scientific practices through student fellowships, faculty seed funds, and workshops. Priority is given to innovative projects involving younger scholars.

In keeping with Dr Rocca’s example, the Progetto intends to contribute to the emergence of a new generation of researchers of stellar quality spanning the Atlantic, and build ever closer connections between MIT and Politecnico. Born in Milan, and a graduate from the Politecnico, Roberto Rocca continued his studies at MIT. After obtaining a PhD in Metallurgical Sciences, he joined Techint, a company founded by his father Agostino, contributing to its transformation into a leading engineering and construction company. In 2002, the steel pipe component of the business was consolidated in a new company, Tenaris, which is listed on the New York, Buenos Aires, Milan and Mexico, stock exchanges, has more than 40,000 employees and is present in four continents. Roberto Rocca, was a recipient of the Willy Korf Award, the highest international recognition for entrepreneurs in the steel industry. Dr Rocca was married to Andreina Bassetti, with whom had three children: Agostino – who died in April 2001 in an air accident during a flight to Patagonia – Gianfelice and Paolo.

May 2005, Politecnico President Giulio Ballio and Gianfelice Rocca sign the Progetto Rocca Agreement in Milan.

In keeping with Roberto Rocca’s commitment to excellence, his life long passion for scientific innovation and interest in education, the Progetto will support exceptionally promising young scholars and research projects in their start up phase. The Progetto intends to contribute to the emergence of a new generation of scientists of stellar quality engaged in innovative projects that spun across the Atlantic and build a closer connection between MIT and Politecnico.