Academy International

Galileo – Festival of Science and Innovation
Academy Project

Padova, 7 – 10 May 2026

Application deadline: Sunday, May 3, 2026

Applications are now open for the accommodation grants to participate in the Academy Program of the Galileo Festival of Science and Innovation. This is a unique opportunity for networking, exchange, and specialized training—taking place in Padua from Friday, May 8, to Sunday, May 10, 2026. The call is open to Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, and ITS students from all Italian universities.

The Galileo Festival of Science and Innovation is promoted by ItalyPost and the Municipality of Padua, and curated by Goodnet Territori in Rete. The director of the event is Giovanni Caprara, journalist and scientific columnist for the Corriere della Sera.

Interested students can choose to submit their application for one of two available options:

Option 1 | Company visits + participation in the Galileo Festival: The Academy will run from Thursday, May 7, to Sunday, May 10, for a total of 4 days / 3 nights.
Option 2 | Participation in the Galileo Festival: The Academy will run from Friday, May 8, to Sunday, May 10, for a total of 3 days / 2 nights.

The deadline to submit your application is Sunday, May 3

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Fellowships to Participate in the Galileo Festival of Science and Innovation Academy

Once again this year, the Galileo Festival pays special attention to involving young people from Italian universities, aiming to offer them a unique opportunity for networking, exchange, and specialized training. To this end, the organization offers a selected number of university students the chance to apply for the Galileo Festival Academy and access the fellowships.

THE EVENT PROGRAM

The event program is available on the website www.galileofestival.it

GUIDED TOURS Participants selected for Option 1 will have the exclusive opportunity to analyze cutting-edge models firsthand through guided tours of premier companies and research centers, serving as genuine case studies of product and process innovation. The program, scheduled for the afternoon of Thursday, May 7, and the morning of Friday, May 8, includes access to world-class technological hubs such as Consorzio RFX, a global leader at the frontier of nuclear fusion research, and the Industrial Engineering Laboratories of the University of Padua, where academic research meets high-tech application. A third technical visit, currently being finalized, will also be part of the itinerary.

THE GREAT THEMES AND PROTAGONISTS OF PAST EDITIONS

To ensure the high scientific and educational value of the event, the 2026 edition will feature a prestigious lineup of the most prominent figures from the scientific, technological, and industrial landscapes. This year’s program will offer an in-depth journey through great contemporary challenges, ranging from the Space Economy to Life Sciences, and the new frontiers of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing.

The dialogue on research and communication will be led by internationally renowned figures such as engineer Amalia Ercoli Finzi, scientific consultant for NASA and ESA, and Francesco Profumo, former Minister of Education, Universities, and Research. The section dedicated to health and Life Sciences will feature contributions from experts like Fabrizio Pregliasco, Luca Scorrano, Maurizio Corbetta, and Stefania Ruggeri, while technological evolution and supercomputing will be analyzed by leaders such as Tommaso Calarco, Simone Montangero, and Fabrizio Pirri.

A strategic focus will be reserved for Space and applied technology, thanks to interventions by Massimo Comparini and Franco Fenoglio, alongside top executives from organizations such as Telespazio, Avio, and D-Orbit. Finally, a crucial element will be the dialogue with industry captains and institutions to translate innovation into concrete value for the productive system, through the testimonies of leaders like Luca Businaro, Federico Visentin, Vincenzo Papes, and representatives from local centers of excellence and the country’s most advanced research facilities.

Benefits for participants

Over the past fourteen years, more than 14,000 selected participants—Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students—have taken part in the Academy Program. Through our activities, we offer participants a unique opportunity to meet and exchange views with professionals and industry experts, participate in training activities, and join an international network of peers studying in the same disciplinary field or sharing the same interests.

The Galileo Festival Academy provides 50 fellowships that include:

preferential access and reserved seating at the event’s activities, with the possibility of direct dialogue with the speakers at the end of the sessions;
guided tours of innovative companies (for those participating in Option 1 of the Academy)
accommodation in shared rooms (triple/quadruple) in partner facilities for the entire duration of the stay, which varies depending on the option chosen by the student
lunches and dinners with a set menu in facilities that will be indicated by the organization;
transfers from the hotels to the Festival venues (where necessary) and to the selected companies during the tour itinerary (for those participating in Option 1)

The fellowships cover 50% of the participation costs. To confirm their attendance at the event, the students selected for the fellowship are required to pay a participation fee that varies depending on the chosen option:

Option 1 | Company guided tours + participation in the Galileo Festival (4 days / 3 nights): 360.00 euros
Option 2 | Participation in the Galileo Festival (3 days / 2 nights): 260.00 euros

Travel expenses to and from Padua are the responsibility of the selected students. Upon actual participation in the program of events defined by the festival’s scientific direction, an official certificate of participation will be issued.

How to apply for a fellowship

The Galileo Festival Academy is offering 50 fellowships. To apply, simply fill out the form available by clicking here by Sunday, May 3.

Selected students are required to follow the program of events defined by the Galileo Festival organizers and to participate actively in the activities scheduled during the event.

The selection of candidates will be at the sole discretion of the organizing committee; applications will be reviewed and approved on a weekly basis until all available positions are filled.

Our staff will provide selected students with all necessary information regarding board, lodging, and the schedule of events, and will communicate the procedures for the payment of the participation fee.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

If you have any doubts or questions regarding how to fill out the application form, the organization of your stay at the Galileo Festival, or what to do in case of cancellation after paying the participation fee, click here to find the answers to our most frequently asked questions.