Focus on Environmental Law

Through the Marco Biagi Foundation, as part of the doctoral programme “Work, Development and Innovation”, he is writing his dissertation on the topic of “The impact of policy measures on ecological transition and regional society”. In doing so, he is comparing the current situation in his home country, Italy, with that in Austria.

A six-month stay at a university abroad is part of his doctoral studies. The University of Applied Sciences Burgenland is a partner institution in a European project focusing on renewable energies. For this reason, and because of its professional expertise and more than 30 years of experience in the fields of energy, environment and buildings, he chose to spend his time at the University of Applied Sciences Burgenland in Pinkafeld. For six months, he now has his office in the Energetikum living lab building.

He aims to complete his work later this year. He would like to find out which best practices exist and how different regulatory approaches are structured — in other words, how the state not only regulates renewable energy, but also actively promotes it.

He is particularly interested in topics related to the energy transition and the role of public authorities and administration. What fascinates him most is how legal regulations can help drive the energy transition forward and involve public institutions as well as citizens more closely.

In the further course of his research, he also wants to examine more closely the connection between administrative law, spatial planning, and the participation of municipalities and the public. In energy projects in particular, involving the population plays an important role, and for Filippo this aspect is an essential part of his future research.

At first, settling in in Austria was not entirely easy for him. However, he now feels very much at home in Pinkafeld. He also feels that he has become part of the university community and has received strong support from his colleagues.

Compared with Italy, he experiences the Austrian university and academic life as markedly different. In Italy, universities are often housed in historic buildings, whereas in Austria he is particularly impressed by the modern and forward-looking character of the Pinkafeld campus.

Filippo enjoys getting to know not only his work environment but also the surrounding area and life in Austria. Overall, he sees his stay in Pinkafeld as a valuable opportunity to deepen his research, become familiar with other legal approaches, and gain new experience for his further academic and professional future.