Research Team | CE_IPsa Project

The CE_IPsa project brings together a distinguished group of researchers from two Italian universities, combining expertise in economic policy, management, political economy, commodity science, and mathematical economics. Our interdisciplinary approach enables comprehensive investigation of circular economy and industrial symbiosis implementation in production areas, bridging academic research with practical policy applications.

Lead Partner • RU1

University of Naples "L'Orientale"

Department of Human and Social Sciences

CUP: C53D23008770001

Principal Investigator

Prof. Roberta Arbolino

Full Professor of Economic Policy

Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Naples "L'Orientale"

Roberta Arbolino is Full Professor of Economic Policy at the Department of Human and Social Sciences since 2023, where she teaches Economic Policy and Policies for Economic Development. Since 2024, she has served as Deputy Director of DSUS. Her main research areas include regional economics, public policy evaluation, sustainable development, and circular economy. On these topics, she has participated in several research projects as Principal Investigator and research team member; she has also published articles in international journals, including Socioeconomic Planning Sciences, International Economics, Regional Studies, Journal of Common Market Studies, Journal of Cleaner Production, and Energy Policy.

Research Expertise

Policy Evaluation Sustainable Development Regional Policies Regional Economy

ORCID Scopus Google Scholar

Prof. Alessandra De Chiara

Full Professor of Management

Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Naples "L'Orientale"

Alessandra De Chiara is full professor of Business Management and lecturer of Corporate Social Responsibility at the University of Naples "L'Orientale" (Italy). Her scientific activity is aimed at deepening the issues of sustainability and corporate social responsibility, also with reference to the units of investigation of the supply chains, clusters and local systems. The topics of stakeholder engagement for sustainability strategies, of CSR disclosure, of entrepreneurship and of new consumption models in the circular economy are investigated. She is Coordinator of Master Degree in International Relation, President of the International Studies Teaching Area Committee of the Department of Human and Social Sciences and Rector's Delegate for the Development of Sustainability at the University L'Orientale.

Research Expertise

Sustainability Corporate Social Responsibility Circular Economy International Business

ORCID Scopus Google Scholar

Prof. Antonio Lopes

Full Professor of Political Economy

Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Naples "L'Orientale"

Antonio Lopes is Full Professor of Political Economy at the Department of Human and Social Sciences of the Università degli Studi di Napoli "L'Orientale" since 2016. His main research areas include the study of development policies, the analysis of theoretical foundations of technical and allocative efficiency analysis with particular focus on econometric techniques for performance measurement, and the study of industrial policies and the role of small and medium enterprises in the development process of depressed areas. He has participated in several research projects and is the author of numerous scientific contributions in national and international scientific journals.

Research Expertise

Industrial Policies Regional Development Local Development Policy

Scopus

Dr. Luisa De Simone

Researcher in Economic Policy

Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Naples "L'Orientale"

Luisa De Simone is a Fixed-Term Researcher (RTD) in Economic Policy. Her research activity is primarily focused on public policy evaluation, regional economics, sustainable development, and development economics. On these topics, she has published in prestigious international journals such as Journal of Cleaner Production, Ecological Indicators, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Waste Management, and Journal of Environmental Management.

Research Expertise

Public Policy Evaluation Regional Economy Sustainable Development Development Economy

ORCID Scopus Google Scholar

Recruited Research Staff

Dr. Antonio Licastro

Ph.D. in Economics, Management and Statistics

Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Naples "L'Orientale"

Antonio Licastro is currently employed as a research fellow at the Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Naples "L'Orientale", Italy. He completed his PhD with laude in 2025 at the University of Messina, department of Economics. His areas of expertise are econometrics, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), industrial ecology, and sustainability science, with focus on critical environmental challenges in agricultural and territorial systems. Current research interests include developing accessible assessment methodologies for sustainability transitions in small communities, integrating digital technologies in environmental monitoring systems, and advancing the theoretical foundations of circular economy applications in agricultural contexts. His work contributes to achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to sustainable production and consumption, climate action, and sustainable communities.

Research Expertise

Econometrics Life Cycle Assessment Industrial Ecology Sustainability Science Circular Economy

ORCID Scopus Google Scholar

Dr. Maria Coscia

Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Naples "L'Orientale"

Maria Coscia, PhD in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, is a post-doctoral researcher at the Department of Social and Human Sciences, University of Naples "L'Orientale". She has been a Visiting Scholar at the University of Poitiers. Her research focuses on circular economy, corporate social responsibility and ESG-related issues, corporate governance, gender diversity, and the links between sustainability-oriented strategies and innovation. She has disseminated her work through presentations at major international conferences and publications in top-ranked peer-reviewed journals. Alongside research, she is actively involved in teaching and academic service, contributing to university courses and training initiatives and supporting scholarly communities through reviewing.

Research Expertise

Circular Economy Corporate Social Responsibility ESG Corporate Governance Sustainability and Innovation

ORCID

Partner • RU2

University of Messina

Department of Economics

CUP: J53D23016630001

Co-Principal Investigator

Prof. Giuseppe Ioppolo

Full Professor of Commodity Science

Department of Economics, University of Messina

Giuseppe Ioppolo is a Civil Engineer for Environment with a focus on sustainability and environmental Management, he is a Full Professor of Commodities Science, and a Lecturer in the Technology of Production Cycles and TQM, Department of Economics, University of Messina. He is a member of the Doctoral School of Economics, Management, and Statistics. He is Delegate of the Rector for Relations with Local Enterprises. As Editor-in-Chief of the journal Sustainability, one of the leading international journals on the topic of sustainability, he has served as a referee for Italy and Europe in numerous scientific committees at international conferences. As a Visiting Professor, he has lectured at Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), BJTU MBA (Beijing, China), Tokyo University (Tokyo, Japan), and Santa Barbara University (California, USA). He is the PI for several international programs and is particularly active in China. He has participated in national and international research programs such as Interreg and Horizon. Finally, he has carried out process coordination activities in engineering and spatial planning projects, both in Italy (such as the Aeolian Islands, Sardinia, Valle d'Agrò, etc.) and abroad (Tunisia, Croatia, etc.).

Research Expertise

Circular Economy Industrial Ecology Sustainable Development Environmental Management Regional Planning

ORCID Scopus Google Scholar

Prof. Grazia Calabrò

Full Professor of Commodity Science

Department of Economics, University of Messina

Grazia Calabrò is Full Professor of Commodity Science. Since 2019, she is member of evaluation Committee for extension/renewal of fixed-term researcher at the University of Messina. She is member of the Italian Academy of Commodity Sciences and member of the Association for Innovation and Quality in Sustainable Business (Basiq). She has participated in a number of different working and research groups as principal investigator and co-investigator. Since 2007, she is in the editorial board of the International Journal of Economic Practices and Theories and Calitatea-Access la Success/Quality- Access to Success. Since 2016, she is also external review of Amfiteatru Economic Journal. She has been invited as speaker at national and international conferences. She is author of more than 200 publications on national and international scientific journals, books and proceedings. The scientific and research activity mainly encompasses the following areas: Quality certification (cosmetics, air and cultural good, ethical certification); Environmental management and Certification, Circular Economy, Tourism and Environment, Food quality, safety and security.

Research Expertise

Product Quality Assessment Environmental Certification Material Flow Analysis Agri-food Systems Territorial Valorization

ORCID Scopus

Prof. Giuseppe Caristi

Full Professor of Mathematical Economics

Department of Economics, University of Messina

Giuseppe Caristi is Full Professor of Mathematical for Economics. Associate Research in CNR-IRIB Research National Centre of Institute Innovation Biomedical Innovation Research Institute of Italy. Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Mathematical Analysis and International of Contemporary Mathematical Sciences. Moreover, he serves as Editorial Board Member in Scientifics journal. His Main research interest are: Mathematic for Economics, Optimization Theory, Partial Differential Equations, Nonlinear Analysis, Applied Mathematics. The research team fully respects the gender equality principle in its composition.

Research Expertise

Mathematical Optimization Multi-objective Analysis Statistical Modeling Decision Theory Linear Programming

ORCID Scopus Google Scholar

Recruited Research Staff

Dr. Carlotta D'Alessandro

Ph.D. in Economics, Management and Statistics

Department of Economics, University of Messina

Carlotta D'Alessandro holds a Ph.D. in Economics, Management and Statistics with a focus on Sustainability and Circular Economy from the University of Messina. Her research is dedicated to addressing critical issues in sustainability and promoting circular economy practices, working towards a more sustainable and circular future. She is currently serving as a Guest Editor for an international scientific journal.

Research Expertise

Sustainability Circular Economy Sustainable Development Sustainable Innovation Management Industrial Ecology

ORCID Scopus Google Scholar

10 Researchers

2 Italian Universities

5+ Disciplines