From October 5th to 10th, 2025, the second mission to Italy by the delegation from the Georgian Technical University of Tbilisi took place, with stops in Milan, Livigno, Trento and Edolo. The visit confirmed and strengthened the ongoing collaboration with UNIMONT – The Centre of Excellence for Mountain Education and Research of the University of Milan.
The Georgian delegation, composed of Noe Khozrevanidze, Tamar Koblianidze, and George Tchitchinadze from the Georgian Technical University of Tbilisi, returned to Italy for a week of meetings and institutional visits within the framework of a capacity-building project promoted by the Georgian Government, dedicated to education and research for the sustainable development of mountain areas.
Following the first visit in May and the mission to Georgia last September by a UNIMONT delegation, this second mission to Italy represented a further step in the cooperation between the two universities, aimed at strengthening synergies in education, research, and the enhancement of mountain territories.
The program began in Milan, with a visit to the historic headquarters of the University of Milan in Via Festa del Perdono and an institutional meeting with professors and researchers from the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (DISAA). The delegation then travelled to Livigno, where, guided by experts from Mottolino S.p.A. – a private company operating in the mountain tourism and sports sector – they visited the construction sites and infrastructure for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, exploring the sustainability and territorial regeneration projects linked to the event.
In the following days, the mission continued in Trentino, with a visit to the MUSE – Science Museum of Trento, accompanied by its Director Massimo Bernardi, and meetings with local organizations involved in territorial innovation projects, including the Lana Lunatica social farm in Pellizzano – founded by a UNIMONT graduate – and the Caseificio Sociale Presanella cooperative dairy in Vermiglio.
The journey then moved on to Edolo, home of the UNIMONT Centre, where the delegation met with students of the Alpine Campus of the University of Milan and took part in discussions on joint research projects and international initiatives. The visit also included an excursion to Val Grande, in Vezza d’Oglio (BS), where participants experienced the famous red deer rutting calls – an important natural phenomenon and a driver for local tourism.
The final stage of the mission took place at Barone Pizzini winery, an example of excellence in sustainable viticulture in the Franciacorta region.
“We are very pleased with this visit, which confirms the strength of the internationalization process of the Edolo Campus of the University of Milan and its growing recognition at the international level,” said Professor Anna Giorgi, Head of the UNIMONT Centre of the University of Milan. “This process will continue in the coming days with the arrival of Professor Kjell Overvåg, Professor of Human Geography at the Inland Norway University of Lillehammer and Visiting Professor at UNIMONT, further evidence of our expanding and high-quality international network.” Professor Giorgi concludes “These achievements are possible thanks to the commitment and professionalism of the UNIMONT team, which consistently stands out for its efficiency and excellence in organizing and managing international activities.”
