From 18 to 20 September, Politecnico di Milano will host the 2026 International Engineering Festival at Leonardo and Bovisa campus. This three-day event is open to all and offers the chance to discover how research, skills, and technologies can help shape the future. This year's theme is 'Technology for Humanity', promoting a vision of technology as a tool and an opportunity to build a better tomorrow.
The Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering is participating in the festival again this year, with a packed program of events scheduled for 19 September at the Bovisa campus. There will be workshops for children and young people, tours of research laboratories, and in-depth talks, offering visitors the chance to explore some of the themes that are transforming the world of engineering first-hand, from artificial intelligence and sustainability to entrepreneurship and digital transformation.
KIDS ACTIVITIES
Younger children can try their hand at creative and technological activities:
PoliBingBong: Create Your Superhero with AI
Saturday 19 September, 10:00–13:00
This creative workshop will bring the comic book character PoliBingBong to life. Developed with the help of AI, PoliBingBong is not a substitute for humans, but an ally to enhance their abilities. The workshop will explore artificial intelligence as a tool for creativity and collaboration.
Curated by Tommaso Buganza, Daniel Trabucchi, Matteo Kalshmidt and Francesca Fumero
To register, click here
Facereader
Saturday 19 September, 10:00–18:00
An interactive experience with Facereader, software that analyses emotional facial expressions. Through play and imitating emotions, participants will discover how contactless technology based on facial analysis works.
Curated by Lucio Lamberti and Maurizio Mauri
To register, click here
Experiencing the future
Saturday 19 September, 10:00–18:00
An immersive virtual reality experience in which participants can discover the principles of automation and industrial production through play. They will simulate the role of production line operators and experiment with assembly processes and work organization.
Curated by Walter Quadrini and Adalberto Polenghi.
To register, click here
TEEN ACTIVITIES
Teenagers will also have the opportunity to explore the skills required for tomorrow's world.
From idea to startup in less than an hour!
Saturday 19 September, 10:00–13:00
This interactive challenge will see participants turn a real-world problem into an innovative idea using creativity, artificial intelligence, and Design Thinking and Lean Startup tools. They will experience the journey that takes an idea from concept to a concrete project, right through to the final pitch.
Curated by Monica Rossi and Angelo Cavallo.
To register, click here: https://onlineservices.polimi.it/festival_ingegneria/app/evento?eventoID=77
Fashion Fixers: Rethink, Repair, Repeat!
Saturday 19 September, 10:00–13:00
This creative workshop focuses on sustainability in fashion. Participants will reflect on the impact of fast fashion and experiment with techniques for repairing and customizing garments. Discover the role of engineering in promoting more sustainable consumption models.
Curated by Hakan Karaosman and Margherita Pero.
To register, click here
Virtual Reality Headsets
Saturday 19 September, 10:00–18:00
Participants will use VR headsets to complete small tasks in a virtual environment, such as launching virtual rockets in a mountainous setting or attempting to fly a virtual drone inside a hangar.
Curated by Lucio Lamberti and Maurizio Mauri.
To register, click here
OPEN LABS
The festival will also offer the opportunity to visit the department's laboratories and gain insight into the facilities that support research.
The following laboratories will be open on Saturday 19 September from 10:00 to 18:00:
- BRIEL (Behavioural Research in Immersive Environment): register here to visit the laboratory
- Marco Garetti Laboratory: register here to visit the laboratory
- IoT Lab (Internet of Things): register here to visit the laboratory
SESSIONS
AI at Work
Saturday 19 September at 15:00
A session dedicated to the role of artificial intelligence in the world of work and the new challenges of accountability arising from its use. It will be an opportunity to reflect on the roles, impacts, and the need for a conscious and responsible approach to AI.
Curated by Sara Zaniboni, with Gudela Grothe (ETH Zurich).
To register, click here
Further information on the full program of events and how to register is available on the festival's official website