MARCO MARI

Italia Innovation, Co-Founder
Politecnico di Milano, PhD Candidate
MIT, Research Affiliate
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I am a researcher and an entrepreneur passionate about law and economics, international politics and manufacturing value chains.

I graduated in Juridical Science at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan and in International Relations at Harvard University. I am currently a PhD Candidate in Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering at Politecnico di Milano and a Research Affiliate to the Industrial Performance Center at MIT.

I co-founded Italia Innovation: an independent organization specialized in bridging academic and business excellence to support the advancement of the Italian political and economic landscape.
CV




Education
Politecnico di Milano, Milano (Italy)
PhD Candidate in Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering

Harvard University, Cambridge (USA)
Master of Liberal Arts in International Relations

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, (Italy)
Laurea in Scienze Giuridiche

Liceo Classico G.G. Trissino, Valdagno (Italy)
Maturità Classica


Research and Professional Experience Massachussetts Institute of Technology
Research Affiliate at Industrial Performance Center
2025 - present

Italia Innovation
Co-Founder and Executive Director
2015 - present

Domori Chocolate - Gruppo illy
Chief Digital and Creative Officer
2016-2017

Benetton Group
Creative Director Fabrica Futures
2017

illycaffè
Innovation Advisor to General Manager
2015 - 2016

H-Farm Ventures
Venture Team Lead
2013-2014

Corriere della Sera
Contributor at Corriere Innovazione
2012-2013



Press
‘A lezione da Poltrona Frau’, RAI
2024

‘Viaggio on the road per scoprire il futuro dell’industria italiana: «La sfida più grande è attrarre talenti»’, StartupItalia
2024

‘Venetian Voyages - Which MBA?’, The Economist
2015

‘Innovation in Italy’, Knowledge at Wharton, University of Pennsylvania
2015                








Last Updated 25.12.31
MARCO MARI | RESEARCH AND PRACTICE






1. Research | Corporate Statecraft
I study how organizations shape the institutional landscapes in which they operate. My research examines the growing capacity of firms, foundations, and universities to influence economic trajectories, civic life, and the governance arrangements that structure collective action. This phenomenon—what I call corporate statecraft—captures how non-state actors participate in building, steering, and sometimes redefining the institutional orders of their communities.

Read more about my research



2. Practice | Italia Innovation 
 I co-founded Italia Innovation as an independent research studio dedicated to understanding and supporting the future of the Italian economy and its civic fabric. What began as a student experiment has grown into a platform where research, fieldwork, and institutional practice intersect — bringing together companies, scholars, and emerging leaders to study how organizations shape the regions and communities around them.

Read more about Italia Innovation




© marco mari 2026