Discover our Team
The creative and strategic engine of our innovation
Presidency and Board of Directors
Vincenzo Lipardi
President
President and Co-founder of SPICI s.r.l. and General Director of Fabbrica Italiana dell’Innovazione. A specialist in policies for research, technological innovation, business internationalization, science communication, and the creation of Science Centers and scientific museums, he is listed in the MIMIT register of Innovation Managers and serves as an REA expert for the European Commission. Co-founder of the Città della Scienza in Naples, he previously served as the Director of the Department of Communication and New Technologies for the Municipality of Naples. He is the visionary and co-founder of Campania Newsteel, a certified incubator where he served as Vice President. He led the China–Italy Innovation Week for the MIUR (Italian Ministry of Education, University, and Research) and collaborated with UNESCO on projects for museums and science centers in Africa and the Middle East. He is a member of international networks and serves on the board of EBN – European Business Network.
Amedeo Manzo
Vice President
Co-founder and Vice President of the Board of Directors of SPICI s.r.l., he is a chartered accountant and has been honored as a senator of the profession. Founder and President of the Cooperative Credit Bank of Naples (BCC Napoli), he has served as President of the Campania Federation of BCCs (later renamed the Federation of Community Banks – Cooperative Credit of Campania and Calabria) since 2020. A member of the National Council of Federcasse, he is also the President of BCC Insurance Services (Iccrea Banca Spa). In the public sector, he serves as the President of the Board of Statutory Auditors of ASL Napoli 2 Nord and as Sole Administrator of Napoli Holding. He is a national councilor of Confcooperative and a member of the regional council. Additionally, he teaches at the University of Naples Federico II and the Pontifical Antonianum University. He has received numerous awards and recognitions for his social contributions to the community.
Chiara Romano
Board Member
Co-founder and Head of the Internationalization Department at SPICI s.r.l., she is an expert in international cooperation projects in science and technology. She provides consulting, coaching, and training on the internationalization of SMEs and public entities, fostering innovation, technology transfer, expansion into international markets, and interconnection between ecosystems across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa. A summa cum laude graduate in International Relations from the University of Naples L’Orientale, with a focus on China and Asia, she has lived extensively in China, gaining significant international experience. Identified by the U.S. Department of State as a “future leader,” she participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program on Women and Entrepreneurship. She speaks fluent Chinese and English and is the proud mother of a daughter.
Management
Mariangela Contursi
General Director
General Director of SPICI s.r.l. and Co-founder of Fabbrica Italiana dell’Innovazione. A manager with over 20 years of experience in business creation, development, innovation, and internationalization, she specializes in industrial development strategies and digital innovation. She is an expert in consulting, coaching, and training services to promote innovation processes, technology transfer, and sustainable development. She has served as General Director of Campania NewSteel and designed and directed the Officina Digitale. She was the Head of the Business Innovation Centre at Città della Scienza, the Operational Manager of the Business Innovation Centre and Technology Hub at Campania Innovazione S.p.A., and the coordinator of the Development Department staff for the Municipality of Naples. She is the Regional Manager for Southern Italy and the Islands at InnovUp and a member of the Advisory Board of the MANN (National Archaeological Museum of Naples).
Scientific Committee
Salvatore Cuomo
Scientific Advisor
Scientific Advisor at SPICI s.r.l., he is a Full Professor of Numerical Analysis at the University of Naples Federico II. An expert in Artificial Intelligence, his focus includes numerical approximation, the mathematical aspects of AI, and Scientific Machine Learning (SciML). He is a co-founder of the MODAL laboratory and the academic spin-off Predico s.r.l., where he has developed innovative models to represent complex systems and enhance the transparency of neural networks. He is also a co-inventor of the PredicTS patent, an advanced forecasting system. His research bridges theory and application, driving innovation in the fields of science and engineering.
Services Area
Luigi Panaro
Administration
With 20 years of experience as an Administrative Manager and HR Manager, Luigi is a dynamic, problem-solving professional who has also overseen the organization of various corporate administrative offices, from document protocol to the archiving of both paper and digital records. He has been responsible for the implementation of software solutions for accounting, management control, and payroll processing.
Luisa Bosco
Organizational Secretariat
Project Manager at SPICI s.r.l., within the Department of Executive and Presidential Secretariat. A graduate in Philosophy from the University of Naples Federico II, she has extensive experience in managing international projects across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. For over 10 years, she worked at Projects Abroad UK, contributing to the implementation of social projects in various fields, including Human Rights, Microcredit, Education, and Medicine, coordinating efforts both remotely and on-site. She played a key role in establishing a local office in Kenya, managing staff training and initiating collaborations with strategic partners. As a development worker, she supported microcredit projects in Uganda and Rwanda in collaboration with local NGOs. Specialized in CRM, digital marketing, and complex project management, she is fluent in English and is highly skilled at working in multicultural environments.
Raffaele Angellotti
Technical Office
Valentina Varlese
Marketing and Communication
Head of the Communication Department at SPICI s.r.l., she is an expert in communication, graphic design, advertising, and digital marketing strategies. Graduated in Institutional and Corporate Communication in 2011, she boasts over 10 years of experience in digital companies and businesses. She has collaborated with online publications such as Ninja Marketing, Ninja Academy, Robadadonne.it, Gravidanzaonline.it, and Bigodino.it, solidifying her expertise in the digital editorial sector. As Digital Content Manager for 8 years at Insem SpA, she led the Technical Area team in creating editorial plans and social media campaigns. She also worked as Digital Manager for IEM, a Business Intelligence and Data Analysis platform for e-commerce. Her skillset includes content marketing, advanced graphic design, and the creation of print materials for events and corporate presentations.
Digital Lab
Greta Attademo
Digital Storyteller
Digital Storyteller at the Digital Lab, she develops projects that combine narrative practices with digital technologies to create interactive and engaging content. Graduating with honors in 2017, she earned a Ph.D. in Architecture in 2022, focusing on the representation of space in video games, which culminated in a monographic publication. She has worked as a post-doc researcher at the University of Genoa and Federico II University of Naples, where she also taught Descriptive Geometry and Digital Drawing. Her work centers on visual storytelling projects for cultural, landscape, and territorial heritage, supported by scientific publications and presentations at national and international conferences. She won the “Playable Museum Awards” in 2020 and the “Dossena Award” in 2024. Her expertise includes CAD, GIS, 3D Photogrammetry & Modelling, and Graphics & Editing.
Giuseppe Abagnale
Game Designer
Game Designer at the Digital Lab, he is a computer scientist with a master’s degree in Project Management and a deep passion for video games and board games. He has honed his skills through a master’s program in Game Development and courses in Game Design and UX/UI for gaming. Since his early university years, he has been designing and developing games, blending creativity with technical expertise. Passionate about the creative process of design, he is dedicated to managing application development, turning ideas into interactive experiences.
Luca Ricciardi Serafino de Conciliis
Software Engineer
Software Engineer at the Digital Lab, he holds a degree in Computer and Electronics Engineering. With extensive experience in Unity and C#, he worked as a consultant for Maserati for six months and has developed several video games as an indie developer, including his most significant project, “Formula 2707 – All Stars Kombat.” He combines his passion for gaming with advanced technical skills. As a Fullstack Developer, he focuses on creating immersive digital experiences and cutting-edge technological solutions, making him a key professional for high-impact technological projects.
Antonio Barletta
AI Expert
AI Expert at the Digital Lab, he holds a summa cum laude degree in Applied Mathematics. As a Data Scientist and Machine Learning Specialist, he has experience in developing inferential engines for Artificial Intelligence projects at SPICI s.r.l. He is involved in industrial research with a focus on convolutional neural networks and graph-based data structures.
Lia Nastro
Junior Designer
Alvi Rownok
Data Scientist
Data Scientist at the Digital Lab, he develops predictive models for energy production and consumption using SARIMAX, designs mapping and data logging systems for film shoot bookings in Naples, and creates Python scripts for QGIS mapping and OneDrive resource analysis. He also works on analyzing the WSPROTOCOL system with file attachments and contributes to project proposals for the I-NEST program, focusing on Digital Twin development and AI/ML applications. Additionally, he studies natural language processing to develop customized chatbots.
European Projects and Open Innovation Department
Anne-Marie Bruyas
Head of Department
Head of the Social Innovation and European Projects Department at SPICI s.r.l., she holds degrees in Environmental Sciences and Science Communication from Paris and has over 30 years of experience in developing and managing European and international cooperation projects. Previously, she served as Head of International Relations at Città della Scienza in Naples. Her key areas of expertise include transnational projects on Science, Culture, and Society, as well as initiatives and exhibitions aimed at promoting the internationalization of Italian research and innovation abroad. Throughout her career, she has designed and coordinated projects across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Since 2020, she has been serving as an Expert Evaluator and Ethics Expert Evaluator for the European Research Executive Agency (REA).
Bita Sekhavati
Project Manager
Graduated with honors in Technology Management and specialized in Technology Transfer, she has over five years of experience in incubating and accelerating startups and innovative ventures. At SPICI, she identifies strategic European projects, assesses their feasibility, seeks suitable partners, and drafts project proposals aligned with funding call objectives. In subsequent phases, she coordinates work plans, defines Work Packages, and monitors project implementation to ensure effective delivery. She has also built extensive experience in internationalization, facilitating strategic collaborations between Italy and other countries and promoting global technology transfer.
Education, Training, and Social Innovation Department
Luigi Amodio
Head of Department
Head of the Education, Training, and Social Innovation Department at SPICI s.r.l., he graduated in Sociology from the University of Naples Federico II, where he later began a collaboration with the institution. From 1990 to 2024, he worked with the Idis-Città della Scienza Foundation, holding various roles, including General Director and Director of the Science Centre. He is a member of the Kuratorium of the Deutsches Museum in Munich, the Scientific Committee of the Science Festival of Fermo, the General Council of the Idis Foundation, and the Advisory Board of Fabbrica Italiana dell’Innovazione. He teaches “Digital Media” at Federico II University, where he previously lectured in Museum Communication and General Sociology from 2004 to 2012. He has also taught in Master’s programs at the universities of Milano Bicocca, Tor Vergata, Roma Tre, and, in Naples, Suor Orsola Benincasa and Federico II.
Francesca Galasso
Project Manager
Management Engineer and currently Project Manager for Education, Training, and Social Innovation projects at SPICI s.r.l. At SPICI, she also manages Open Innovation Programs and contributes to various activities within the Incubation Programs promoted by Fabbrica Italiana dell’Innovazione. During her studies, she focused on innovation and the optimization of business processes. With a decade of experience as a CNGEI Scout educator, she brings to her projects a blend of creativity and a structured, engineering-driven approach, contributing to the development of innovative and effective solutions.