Patrizio Bianchi is Full Professor of Applied Economics. After a long period of at the University of Bologna, he founded the Department of Economics and Management of the University of Ferrara (1997). From 2004 he was Rector of the University of Ferrara and then President of the Foundation of the Conference of Italian University Rectors. From 2010 he was Regional Minister for European Affairs, Education, Research, University, and Labour of the Emilia Romagna Regional Government. Since 2020 he has held the Unesco Chair “Education, Growth and Equality” and is Scientific Director of the International Foundation Big Data and AI for Human Development.  In Spring 2020 he became President of the National Task Force for the relaunching of the Italian Education System after Covid. Patrizio Bianchi has advised national and international institutions and has served in numerous institutional roles. For his scientific and institutional activity, he was appointed Commendatore al Merito della Repubblica (Commander of Italian Republic). He has published 250 scientific articles and 40 books.