{"id":6520,"date":"2019-01-08T11:56:05","date_gmt":"2019-01-08T11:56:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.polifactory.polimi.it\/chi-siamo\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T10:52:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T10:52:07","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.polifactory.polimi.it\/en\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” bg_image=”11470″ bg_position=”center center” background_image_loading=”default” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”300″ bottom_padding=”300″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” color_overlay=”#c5cee3″ overlay_strength=”0.5″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” 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animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][page_submenu alignment=”left” sticky=”true” bg_color=”#f96939″][page_link link_url=”#who” title=”Who we are” id=”1773831093282-4″ tab_id=”1773831093282-7″][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/page_link][page_link title=”What we do” id=”1773831093290-2″ link_url=”#what” tab_id=”1773831093290-5″][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/page_link][page_link title=”Approach” id=”1773831093292-2″ link_url=”#approach” tab_id=”1773831093292-9″][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/page_link][page_link title=”People” id=”1773831093297-8″ link_url=”#people” tab_id=”1773831093297-1″][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/page_link][\/page_submenu][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”top” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” bottom_padding=”0″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” id=”who” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3\/5″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”40″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1757323993313{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” text_direction=”default” el_id=”chisiamo” el_class=”titoletto-payoff”]Who we are<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

We are Politecnico di Milano’s
\nmakerspace<\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]Polifactory is the makerspace<\/em> of the Politecnico di Milano<\/a><\/strong>. It was founded in 2015 thanks to the collaboration between the Department of Design<\/a> and the Departments of Mechanics<\/a> and Electronics<\/a>, Information, and Bioengineering<\/a>. It is a multidisciplinary laboratory that conducts design research and explores the evolution of production, distribution, and use models of product-service systems, in relation to the digital and circular transition of contemporary society and the economy.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]Polifactory is a space that enables participatory design with businesses, institutions, and citizens. It promotes collaborative research processes and peer-to-peer learning that use enabling technologies to experiment with new design and production processes and prototype innovative product-service solutions.[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”40″][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2\/5″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”top” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” bottom_padding=”0″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2\/5″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3\/5″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][nectar_video_lightbox link_style=”play_button_2″ nectar_play_button_color=”Default-Accent-Color” image_url=”12108″ hover_effect=”defaut” box_shadow=”none” border_radius=”none” play_button_size=”default” video_url=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/TdaZQkXCLAk”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n
Polifactory presented by its Scientific Director, prof. Stefano Maffei (2021)
\nVideo credits: Politecnico di Milano<\/strong><\/h6>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”top” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” bottom_padding=”0″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” id=”what” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3\/5″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”40″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1757325352604{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” text_direction=”default” el_class=”titoletto-payoff” el_id=”cosafacciamo”]What we do<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

We conduct competitive, consultative, and experimental research, supporting businesses, institutions, and young designers to transform ideas into tangible innovation.<\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]olifactory develops competitive research<\/strong> projects in Italy and abroad, working with public and private institutions. It conducts consultancy research<\/strong> for small and large companies in key manufacturing and service sectors.<\/p>\n

We support the pre-incubation of ideas<\/strong> developed by young talents at the Polytechnic University and promote cultural initiatives<\/strong> that explore complex themes in contemporary design research, fostering open dialogue with the research community and society at large.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2\/5″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”top” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” bottom_padding=”0″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” id=”approach” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3\/5″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”40″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1757324315024{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” text_direction=”default” el_class=”titoletto-payoff” el_id=”approccio”]Approach<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

We create ecosystems
\nfor design innovation<\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]Polifactory weaves together the diverse design and technical cultures within and beyond the Politecnico di Milano to create a center of expertise<\/strong> and an interdisciplinary research hub<\/strong> dedicated to exploring new models of design, production, distribution, and post-consumption of contemporary product-service systems.<\/p>\n

Within the Politecnico di Milano, Polifactory collaborates with the Fondazione Politecnico, liaises with the University’s Technology Transfer Office<\/a>, participates in programs and initiatives of the PoliHub<\/a> incubator, and is open to collaborations with the community of faculty, researchers, and PhD students working in the various Departments of the Politecnico di Milano. Outside the Politecnico, Polifactory collaborates with companies, public and private organizations and institutions<\/strong>, and various associations operating in Italy and internationally.<\/p>\n

Polifactory, with its team of researchers and designers, supports its partners throughout the various phases of the innovation process<\/strong>: from preliminary research to the co-creation of ideas, from technical and experimental concept testing to executive design, prototyping, and testing, both in the laboratory and in operational environments.<\/p>\n

Polifactory develops innovative solutions<\/strong> at the product-service and process-system levels, pursuing two main approaches:<\/p>\n