MICA
Make Italian Culture Alive

View of the Italian Pavillion. Courtesy of Paolo Pettigiani for Fondazione CHANGES at Expo 2025 Osaka

Project

Make Italian Culture Alive (MICA) is a project funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research that brings together five prestigious Italian universities for Expo 2025 Osaka. Scheduled from May 6 to 10, 2025, at the Multimedia Conference Room of the Italian Pavilion, MICA will offer a significant opportunity to explore and enhance Italy’s artistic and cultural heritage through innovative and interactive approaches.

Through an immersive experience that integrates artificial intelligence, innovative teaching, language education, and forms of artistic expression, MICA promotes dialogue and cooperation between Italy and Japan. The public will be engaged in interactive workshops, multimedia installations, and presentations of cutting-edge research projects, including RePAIR, CHANGES, and iNEST.
The initiative aims to create meaningful connections and strengthen the bond between the two cultures, contributing to the protection and enhancement of cultural heritage in a contemporary key.

At Expo 2025 Osaka, MICA combines a digital exhibition with a multidisciplinary programme of activities, such as workshops, talks, and meetings, to provide an immersive experience for visitors.

Team

Coordination

Ca' Foscari University of Venice

Partners

Participation

Fondazione CHANGES - Cultural Heritage Active Innovation for Next-Gen Sustainable Society

Scientific Director - project leader

  • Chiara Saccon, Ca' Foscari University of Venice

Scientific Managers - project partners

  • Alberto Bentoglio, University of Milan
  • Paolo Carafa, Sapienza University of Rome
  • Susanna Caccia Gherardini, University of Florence
  • Gala Maria Follaco, University of Naples L’Orientale

Project management 

  • Matilde Nuzzo

Scientific contributions

  • Ca' Foscari University of Venice: Chiara Saccon, Monica Calcagno, Marcello Pelillo, Sebastiano Vascon, Luca Palmieri, Fabrizio Panozzo, Margherita De Luca, Marcella M. Mariotti, Margherita Melotti, Matilde Giugni, Nicholas Ruggeri.
  • University of Naples L’Orientale: Gala Maria Follaco, Antonio Manieri
  • University of Florence: Susanna Caccia Gherardini, Giorgio Verdiani, Andrea Innocenzo Volpe, Leonardo Zaffi, Pierpaolo Lagani, Francesco Pisani, Luciana Bizzini, Ken'ichi Matsutomi, Yoichi Sakasegawa
  • University of Milan: Alberto Bentoglio
  • Sapienza University of Rome: Paolo Carafa, Carlo Bianchini
  • CHANGES Foundation: Ilaria Manzini, Fabio Beltotto