Maria Chiara Carrozza is a distinguished Italian engineer, academic, and science policy leader, renowned for her pioneering work in biomedical engineering and robotics. Since 2021, she has served as President of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), guiding the nation’s largest public research institution with a focus on excellence, innovation, and societal impact. Previously, she was Rector of the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa, where she advanced interdisciplinary research and fostered strategic collaborations between academia and industry. Carrozza also served as Italy’s Minister of Education, Universities and Research, shaping national science and education policies with visionary leadership. Her scientific contributions span human–machine interaction, intelligent prosthetics, and innovative robotic systems aimed at improving health and quality of life. Author of numerous influential publications and recipient of prestigious awards, Professor Carrozza embodies a lifelong commitment to advancing science for the benefit of society.

During the ISTA Congress in Rome, she will serve as the Presidential Guest Speaker, introduced by the Congress Chair, Professor Stefano Gumina.