Research

Research

Our mission

We are committed to research that pushes the boundaries of knowledge, integrating fundamental discoveries with applications. Our goal is to make a positive impact on societal transformations and to educate individuals who will contribute to tomorrow’s society with competence and passion.

Strategy

UNIPI is a research-intensive university that actively supports the participation of its researchers in competitive national and international calls, both for individual projects and consortia. 

We promote a research culture that is open to international engagement, recognizing it as essential for professional and personal growth and for achieving results with high scientific, cultural, and social impact. 

Research in Numbers

303
HORIZON 2020 AND HORIZON EUROPE PROJECTS (MARCH 2025)
475
NATIONAL AND REGIONAL PROJECTS (DECEMBER 2025)
5.876
INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS 2024 (SCOPUS)
1.725
RESEARCH STAFF (DECEMBER 2023)
1.008
PHD STUDENTS (DECEMBER 2024)

Research places

At the University of Pisa, research thrives across 20 departments and numerous centers—university-wide, departmental, and interdepartmental. Our research ecosystem is powered by hundreds of active projects involving scientists from around the globe. We invest in cutting-edge infrastructure and shared laboratories to foster a dynamic and interdisciplinary scientific community. 

Our research is further strengthened by collaborations with leading research institutes, advanced schools, and public institutions in the Pisa area, as well as by a solid network of national and international partnerships. 

Research News

Sea turtles inspire robots to navigate the ocean without GPS

An algorithm based on the Earth's magnetic field could enable marine vehicles to reach distant destinations without relying on existing geomagnetic maps or GPS

Florence’s fashion paradox: as fashion shows grew, the city lost its leading position

The study reconstructs for the first time the rise and decline of Florence's fashion shows from 1951 to 1984, highlighting the decisive role of leading fashion houses, the international press and the ability to set trends

River sediments: University of Pisa launches a centralised digital archive to bring scattered data together

Nearly two million records spanning 1924 to 2025 brought together in a new archive: a tool for studying changes in rivers and coastlines and guiding land management

Peter, the virtual spider for treating and diagnosing phobias

The study by University of Pisa bioengineers and psychologists was published in Communications Psychology, a journal of the Nature group

From space to Earth: atomic oxygen enters conservation laboratories, revolutionising the cleaning of the most fragile surfaces

The European MOXY project has developed a green technology capable of cleaning works of art without contact, solvents or residues