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See all SUPSI newsTunnel safety: smart sensors to monitor air quality, traffic and risks
In road tunnels, safety depends on rapid decisions and reliable real-time information. During a fire, understanding airflow dynamics and vehicle positions is essential to contain toxic smoke and support emergency response operations. To address these challenges, researchers from the SUPSI Institute of Systems and Applied Electronics (ISEA) developed a new generation of smart sensors designed to improve tunnel ventilation systems and strengthen emergency management.
The PREMIO SWISSENGINEERINGTICINO
The Fondazione SWISSENGINEERINGTICINO supports and promotes the work of SUPSI graduates and students, as well as students enrolled in innovative entrepreneurial ideas programs. This year as well, several awards were presented.
An app to learn driving: SUPSI student reaches the Swiss final of Red Bull Basement
SteerBudd, the project developed by Gioele Cavallo to make driving practice sessions with friends and family more effective, has been selected from more than one thousand applications as one of the eight Swiss finalists of Red Bull Basement, an initiative that supports young innovators in developing entrepreneurial ideas.
New Materials Redefining Space Exploration
One month after Artemis II’s return to Earth, attention is still fixed on the sky. Among the unresolved questions, the spotlight is on the “heat shield”, the critical layer that allows a capsule to survive the intense conditions of atmospheric reentry. We spoke with Prof. Alberto Ortona, head of the Hybrid Materials Laboratory, and researcher Marco Pelanconi, who leads CERAM-X, an ESA Phi-Lab–funded project developing next-generation ceramic materials for aerospace applications.
Between Ticino and the USA: Computer Engineering projects with American universities
This year once again, students from the Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering took part in activities developed in collaboration with Penn State University and Virginia Tech. These experiences combine intercultural exchange and project-based work, helping students develop the skills needed to operate in international environments. Prof. Sandro Pedrazzini, Head of the Bachelor programme and promoter of the initiative, explains their educational impact and added value.
20 SUPSI lecturers have been appointed
Between December 2024 and February 2026, the SUPSI Board appointed 20 professors working across the four departments and at two affiliated institutions: the Fernfachhochschule Schweiz and the University School of Music of the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana.
From Classroom to Cutting-Edge Labs: Railway Engineering in Action
A study experience between Milan and Florence enabled Mechanical Engineering students to explore advanced technologies and infrastructures for railway monitoring and safety, with a focus on acoustic analysis and vehicle performance.
Real-time quality control for additive manufacturing: from research to advanced production
A robotic system developed by the Sustainable Production Systems (SPS) Laboratory at SUPSI monitors in real time the quality of surface coatings during additive manufacturing processes. The solution enhances reliability and sustainability in the production of complex components, with applications ranging from aerospace to heat exchangers and electric mobility.
Social media and online manipulation: what is changing?
The social media landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, shaped by new regulations, growing scrutiny of major platforms, and content that is increasingly difficult to interpret. At the core of these changes lies Artificial Intelligence, which both amplifies risks and provides new tools for mitigation. Understanding these dynamics and fostering critical awareness is becoming essential for navigating the digital environment.
Using microwaves to measure the internal temperature of objects
3D printing is becoming increasingly important in industrial applications. However, to be truly reliable at scale, it requires tools capable of better monitoring what happens during production. The uTeam project has developed an innovative microwave-based approach to observe phenomena occurring beneath the powder during the cooling process.
Where no one has gone before
Artemis II will carry four astronauts around the Moon, marking the first human flight beyond low Earth orbit more than 50 years after the last Apollo mission. During the 10-day spaceflight, critical tests will be conducted to prepare for returns to the Moon and Mars.
From linear to circular
Measuring the impact of their activities and tracking the life cycle of a product are becoming essential requirements for companies. In addition to responding to the regulatory context, these guidelines can prove to be new and powerful strategic drivers.
SUPSI Sustainability Award for Bachelor’s Theses 2024–25
Three graduates from the degree programmes in Management Engineering, Business Administration and Leisure Management were awarded for the attention they devoted to sustainability issues in their Bachelor’s theses and for the reflections they later presented both orally and in writing. The award, supported by BancaStato, reflects SUPSI’s ongoing commitment to integrating sustainability into its study programmes.
A bridge between cultures: SUPSI and Penn State strengthen intercultural competences
SUPSI’s international activities continue to grow, offering students opportunities for direct engagement with diverse academic and cultural environments. Among the most significant collaborations is the one with Penn State University, which for the past five years has involved the Bachelor’s programme in Computer Engineering in a joint spring project dedicated to developing global, digital and intercultural competences.
Alessandro Antonucci appointed Associate Professor in Robust Probabilistic Artificial Intelligence
The SUPSI Council has appointed Alessandro Antonucci as Associate Professor in Robust Probabilistic Artificial Intelligence at the Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IDSIA USI-SUPSI).
Open Day DTI: over 400 participants for a future in Engineering
Over 400 prospective students and their guests attended the Open Days of the Department of Innovative Technologies on 28 February and 2 March. Through presentations, lab tours, live demos and testimonials, they explored the Bachelor of Science programmes in Electronic Engineering, Engineering and Management, Computer Science Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, as well as Data Science and AI, including specialisations and career opportunities in technology.
Physics-informed artificial intelligence for prediabetes prevention
Predicting prediabetes risk early and acting before the condition progresses is the goal of PRAESIIDIUM, a European project that combines artificial intelligence and mathematical modelling to develop innovative tools for prevention and support a more personalized approach to healthcare.
Successfully Concluded the First USI-SUPSI Winter School in Network Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
The event involved 51 participants taking part in an advanced training program dedicated to the most recent statistical, computational, and machine learning methodologies for the analysis of dynamic, relational, and spatiotemporal data.
Faster, greener skis: the race to develop PFAS-free waxes
With the Winter Olympics just days away and the world’s best athletes preparing to fight for medals, attention turns to a small but decisive factor in performance: ski and snowboard waxes. Two projects from the Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Technology (MEMTi), working with KV+ Sagl, ZHAW and Swiss-Ski, are racing to develop alternatives to fluorinated waxes—banned over environmental and health concerns but still considered the gold standard for speed.
The human side of software development
Kevlin Henney will be the keynote speaker at Voxxed Days Ticino 2026. Over the past forty years, the visionary British author has anticipated many of the key challenges faced by the software development industry.
SUPSI and UBS together to innovate artificial intelligence in the financial sector
A SUPSI team from the Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence Studies (IDSIA USI-SUPSI) is collaborating with UBS on the development of AI applications to optimize banking operational processes.
Grace, the quadruped robot that climbs and overcomes the unexpected
Designed to enhance safety in industrial inspection activities, Grace is a quadruped robot capable of moving and climbing in hostile environments such as shipyards, oil platforms and energy facilities. Among its distinctive features are its ability to adapt to surfaces of different nature and to respond to unforeseen events by autonomously adjusting its behaviour.
AI Agents Arrive in Lugano
On Friday, February 6, 2026, the eleventh edition of Voxxed Days Ticino will take place at the Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano. The event is co-organized by the Institute of Information Systems and Networking (ISIN) of SUPSI and the Faculty of Informatics of USI, together with Exteso. An international initiative created by developers, for developers.
Dario Piga appointed Associate Professor of Artificial Intelligence for Modeling and Control
The SUPSI Council has appointed Dario Piga to the position of Associate Professor of Artificial Intelligence for Modeling and Control at the Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IDSIA USI–SUPSI).
International award for AI addressing complex decisions
A team from the Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence Studies (IDSIA USI-SUPSI) received the Best Conference Paper Award at the IEEE International Conference on Agentic AI (ICA 2025), held in Wuhan. The award-winning work introduces novel methods for analyzing decision-making processes and coordination among artificial intelligence systems in dynamic and highly complex aerial scenarios, through the use of advanced simulations.
1,375 SUPSI graduates
In 2025, 1,375 students successfully completed their course of study at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI). Of these, 974 obtained a Bachelor’s degree, 375 a Master’s degree, and 26 a Diploma awarded by the DFA/ASP in the field of teaching at upper secondary schools.
Rivers of Words (and Money) for Large Language Models
Are the investments and enthusiasm surrounding LLMs truly justified, or do they risk outpacing their real potential? With Tiziano Leidi, Director of ISIN, a clear-eyed analysis of a technology set to take center stage at the upcoming Voxxed Days Ticino.
From Sensors to AI: How Rehabilitation Becomes Personalized
By integrating wearable devices, web applications, and machine learning models, the MLSmartPhysio project—funded by the Hasler Foundation—introduces a new approach to personalized upper-limb rehabilitation and lays the groundwork for future clinical studies and applications in real healthcare settings.