Michele CALI'

Updated on 30 September 2026

Michele Calì was born in Brindisi, Italy, on 19 August 1969. In 1996, he received his Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, with a specialization in Mechanical Design, from the University of Catania. His experimental thesis, entitled “Dynamic Design of Internal Combustion Engine Valve Trains Using Multibody Codes”, was developed in collaboration with the FIAT Research Centre (C.R.F.) in Orbassano and was awarded a scholarship by the Italian Automotive Technical Association (ATA).

In 2000, he obtained his PhD in Structural Mechanics – XIII Cycle, with an experimental dissertation entitled “Numerical-Experimental Analysis and Dynamic Optimization of an Internal Combustion Engine Valve Train”, developed in collaboration with Ferrari S.p.A.

Since January 2023, he has been Associate Professor in the academic field IIND-03/B – Engineering Drawing and Methods for Industrial Engineering, at the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Catania. In 2023, he obtained the Italian National Scientific Qualification for Full Professorship in Academic Recruitment Field 09/A3. Previously, he served as a Type-B Fixed-Term Researcher from March 2020 to December 2022 and as a Type-A Fixed-Term Researcher from March 2015 to February 2020, both in the former academic field ING-IND/15.

From 2010 to 2015, he was a Research Fellow at the University of Catania, working on research projects focused on geometric modelling and multibody analysis of mechanical systems, co-funded by Euromecc S.r.l. From 2003 to 2009, he held research fellowships funded or co-funded by Ferrari S.p.A., carrying out research on CAD/CAE methodologies and high-performance powertrain systems. Between 2001 and 2003, he collaborated with ELASIS on the development of FEM and multibody models for automotive applications and contributed to ENEA-funded research activities in biomechanics related to cardiac prostheses.

He has been continuously engaged in teaching and research activities at the University of Catania since 1995. Since 21 April 2020, he has been a member of the PhD Board in “Systems Engineering, Energy, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering” at the University of Catania and, since 18 May 2026, a member of the PhD Board in Electronic, Energy and Industrial Engineering.

His research activity focuses on the development of integrated methodologies for industrial design and product development, with particular emphasis on advanced geometric modelling, CAD/CAE methodologies, FEM and multibody simulation, product optimization, Additive Manufacturing, and Digital Engineering and Digital Twin approaches. His main application fields include automotive engineering, biomedical engineering, advanced manufacturing, cultural and archaeological heritage, renewable energy, and industrial systems.

He has served as Scientific Coordinator, Principal Investigator, or Research Activity Leader within the following research projects and industrial research contracts:

• Ferrari S.p.A. – “Integrated CAD-CAE Methodologies for Design and Simulation”;

• Ferrari S.p.A. – “Integrated CAD-CAE Design for the Development and Optimization of Body Components”;

• Oranfresh S.r.l. – “Product Engineering for Citrus Juicing Devices”;

• PIA.CE.RI. 2024-2026, Line 1 – TC-SMART;

• PRIN 2022 – “3DCer4Dent – 3D Printing and Digital Twinning Ceramic Restorations for Dentistry”;

• PIA.CE.RI. 2020-2022, Line 3 Starting Grant – NASCAR Project, “New Approaches for the Modelling of Complex Surfaces Acquired by Scanning”;

• TAFIPACC – “Advanced Treatment of Industrial Sludge through Closed-Cycle Drying Processes”.

He has also contributed to national and international research projects funded under MURST/MUR, CNR, PRIN, FIRB, POR, and PON programmes, including:

• GOSPEL – “Management and Optimization of Complex Production and Distribution Systems”;

• AMELIE – “Advanced Framework for Manufacturing Engineering and Product Lifecycle Enhancement”;

• STEM-STELO – “Development and Validation of Systems and Technologies for Special Machinery and Heavy Transport Applications”.

His scientific collaboration with Ferrari S.p.A., initiated during his PhD studies, has continued over the years through research fellowships, research contracts, integrated CAD/CAE design activities, numerical simulation, component optimization, and patent development.

He has established scientific and industrial collaborations with universities, research centres, and companies in Italy and abroad. His academic and research collaborations include, among others, Politecnico di Bari, the University of Naples Federico II, the University of Perugia, Politecnico di Torino, Université de Picardie “Jules Verne”, the University of Johannesburg, Université Amar Telidji, and research groups in Slovenia, Montenegro, and other European countries. His industrial collaborations include the FIAT Research Centre, ELASIS, FIAT Powertrain Technologies, the Ferrari S.p.A. Powertrain Technical Division, Ducati Motorcycles R&D, Lamborghini Auto S.p.A. R&D, Euromecc S.r.l., SeaEngineering, and EOS e-Manufacturing Solutions.

His teaching activity mainly concerns Technical and Industrial Drawing, three-dimensional geometric modelling, and integrated CAD/CAE design methodologies. At the University of Catania, he has taught within the degree programmes in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Management Engineering, delivering courses in Technical Drawing, Computer-Aided Design, Automotive Engineering Practice, Geometric Modelling of Machines, Integrated CAD-CAE Design, and 3D Modelling.

During the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 academic years, he taught the course “Geometric Modelling in CAD-CAE Design Methodologies” at the Scuola Superiore of the University of Catania. He has also delivered advanced courses and seminars at the University of Naples Federico II, Politecnico di Bari, and Université de Picardie “Jules Verne”. In 2017, he was invited as a lecturer at the University of Naples Federico II, within the PhD Programme in Biomorphological and Surgical Sciences, where he taught the course “Geometric Modeling and Methods for Integrated CAD/CAE Design”.

He has supervised and co-supervised more than 100 undergraduate and Master’s theses in the fields of CAD/CAE industrial design, Additive Manufacturing, multibody systems, and Biomedical Engineering.

He has undertaken several international academic mobility activities within Erasmus Mobility Agreements and scientific collaborations. At Université de Picardie “Jules Verne” in Amiens, he carried out academic mobility periods in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024, delivering advanced courses to Master’s and PhD students on integrated CAD/CAE methodologies, vehicle design optimization, and industrial engineering applications in the mechanical and biomedical fields.

Within the Erasmus framework, he also taught the course “Digital Image Processing and 3D Reconstruction” at the University of Malta. Since 2019, he has served as Scientific Coordinator of Erasmus Bilateral Agreements between the University of Catania and several international institutions, including the University of Ljubljana, the Technical University of Cartagena, and Université de Picardie “Jules Verne”. He has participated as an invited speaker, keynote speaker, and presenter at national and international workshops, congresses, and conferences.

He has served as Chair and as a member of scientific and technical committees of national and international conferences, including ADM, FAIM, JCM, INGEGRAF-ICEERE, AIST4GE, and ICNRDTNS. He has organized Special Sessions on Design for Sustainability, EcoDesign, and Additive Manufacturing and contributed to the organization of the ADM–INGEGRAF–AIP PRIMECA International Joint Conference.

From 2007 to 2020, he served as regional representative and member of the evaluation committee for the “ADM School Award”. He was also Scientific Coordinator of the 2nd International Workshop “Tolerancing in Design”, held from 8 to 10 July 2026 at the Scuola Superiore of the University of Catania.

He is a member of the Editorial Boards of international scientific journals, including the International Journal on Interactive Design and Manufacturing (IJIDeM) – Springer and Modelling and Simulation in Engineering. He has also served as Guest Editor for international Special Issues devoted to Smart Manufacturing Technology, Additive Manufacturing for Biomedical Applications, Pattern Recognition Using Neural Networks, and Design for Sustainability.

He is inventor and co-inventor of patents developed within research collaborations with Ferrari S.p.A. and within biomedical research activities.

Since 2025, he has served as Coordinator of the A042 Teacher Qualification Programme in Mechanical Science and Technology.

He is a member of national and international scientific associations, including ADM, ATA, AIAS, AIMETA, and CMM.