The University of Padova was founded in 1222. Today the university has 12,000 students in the engineering department. The Dept. of Management and Engineering (DTG), established in Vicenza in 1998, has the specific mission of linking technology and management. The department has 43 professors, 20 Ph.D. students and 20 technicians. Every year, about 200 students graduate in mechanical or management engineering.
One of the strongest research areas in the department is focused on light alloys and foundry processes. In this area, MAGMA collaborates with Prof. Franco Bonollo and his team. Prof. Bonollo and MAGMA have been partners in the IDEAL and NADIA projects, sponsored by the European Commission within FP5 and FP6.