PoliTO and ASTM together again to lead students towards technical and managerial excellence in major infrastructure projects
25 May 2026The latest edition of the workshop held by ASTM in partnership with the Politecnico di Torino took place on May 13 and 14. This annual event connect the academic world with the operational challenges of major infrastructure projects. The initiative reaffirms the strategic value of the synergy between industry and academia for the development of technical expertise and innovation in the infrastructure sector.
Two intensive days spent between the conference room and construction sites provided valuable opportunities for learning and knowledge-sharing for over 100 graduating students from Civil and Building Engineering programs and PhD students in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
The first day featured an introduction to the context and the works to be visited. ASTM welcomed all participants, followed by speeches from the Heads of DISEG (Department of Structural, Geotechnical and Building Engineering) and DIATI (Department of Environmental, Land and Infrastructure Engineering), as well as the Coordinators of the Academic Board and Ph.D. Programs at PoliTO. The focus then shifted to the projects: the new Turin-Lyon cross-border railway line and the Chiomonte interchange were presented by representatives directly involved in the works.
The construction sites are located along the A32 Turin-Bardonecchia motorway, which is managed by ASTM through the concessionaire SITAF. The Chiomonte interchange was built to connect the Chiomonte construction site—the operational hub for the construction of the Italian-side base tunnel of the new Turin-Lyon railway line—with the A32 motorway, without impacting local traffic. The Turin-Lyon line, promoted by TELT, with its 65 km of high-speed/high-capacity rail connection between Italy and France, represents one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe.
The second day was marked by technical site visits, during which the students, accompanied by PoliTO professors as well as the staff from TELT and ITINERA — the ASTM construction company involved in both projects — were able to see at first hand significant examples of integrated engineering, where innovation, sustainability, and infrastructure performance converge.
Thanks to the speakers, the academic team of the Politecnico and the technical experts who participated:
Politecnico di Torino
Sebastiano Foti Head of DISEG
Francesco Laio Head of DIATI
Alessandro Pasquale Fantilli Coordinator Academic Board – Civil and Building Engineering
Valerio De Biagi Vice Coordinator Academic Board – Ph.D. programme in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Paolo Castaldo, Head of Study Centre for University Strategy
Luca Giordano, DISEG Professor in Bridge Design and Building
Mariapaola Vozzola, DISEG Professor
Diego Gino, DISEG Professor
Elena Miceli, DISEG Professor
ASTM
Giovanni Frante Communication & Institutional Relations Director
Loretta Corti Head of Brand and Digital Communication
SITAF
Claudio Vezzosi, CEO
Francesco D’Ambra, Technical Director
TELT
Davide Fuschi Deputy Communication Director
ITINERA
Giacobbe Verrascina, Director – Road Infrastructure Business Unit
Francesco Poma Director – Railway and Hydraulic Infrastructures Business Unit
Falcin Federico, Communication Manager
William Masi, Project Manager
Sebastiano Calligaris, Site Director
Nicola Crestani, Site Director Assistant
Diego Bagante, Project Manager
Davide Pozzo, Site Director
This initiative, which has been run for years and will continue in the future thanks to growing participation and positive feedback from students, is tailored specifically to them. The workshop aims to spark the younger generation’s interest in major infrastructure, a complex and strategic sector that requires specialized skills and multidisciplinary approaches.
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