Overview

TIRESIA (Technology Innovation and REsearch for Social ImpAct) is a research centre established within the School of Management at Politecnico di Milano. It advances understanding of the impact economy, combining social innovation, finance, and entrepreneurship to promote sustainable and inclusive growth.

Mission and focus areas

TIRESIA’s mission is to foster research and practice that integrate social value creation into financial and business systems. Its work spans impact finance, social entrepreneurship, sustainable innovation, and the evolving ESG landscape. The centre examines how finance can drive systemic transformation and supports the development of inclusive, sustainable business models.

Structure and governance

Led by Professor Mario Calderini, TIRESIA operates through a multidisciplinary team of researchers, academics, and PhD candidates. It collaborates with over 80 partners from public, private, and non-profit sectors, combining academic rigour with applied research. Its governance reflects the structure of Politecnico di Milano, ensuring alignment with academic standards and institutional integrity.

Programs and offerings

TIRESIA delivers academic research, applied projects, and education programmes covering impact finance, social innovation, and ESG management. It runs observatories on social impact finance and hybrid enterprises, conducts advisory work for governments and organisations, and contributes to executive training. Through its publications, events, and collaborations, TIRESIA bridges academia and practice, equipping decision-makers to integrate sustainability and social impact into financial and corporate strategies.

Mission

Tiresia’s mission is to study and interpret the transformations that are deeply changing entrepreneurship, corporations, finance and innovation in the impact economy.

TIRESIA’s hybrid approach combines research, education, advisory and experiential learning. According to MacArthur Foundation, we contributed to establish the Polytechnic University of Milan in the top ten universities providing teaching and research in social impact finance at a global level.