Academic positions
2019 – up to now Full Professor of Management Engineering University of L’Aquila (Italy)
2016 Visiting Professor University of Uppsala (Sweden)
2004 – 2019 Associate Professor of Management Engineering University of L’Aquila (Italy)
1998 - 2003 Assistant Professor of Management Engineering University of L’Aquila (Italy)
EDUCATION
1996: PhD in Business Management, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna (Italy)
1994: Visiting PhD student University of Uppsala, Sweden
1993-1994: Visiting PhD student, University of Bath (UK)
1992: Master in Economics and Business, LUISS Guido Carli (Rome, Italy)
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Business, Management and Accounting, Business and International Management, Strategy and Management
73
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Collaboration between universities and micro, small and medium firms: A structured literature review Rita Mura, Sabrina Di Flauro, Luciano Fratocchi Industry and Higher Education, 2026 This paper aims to provide a new perspective on the collaboration between Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (M&SMEs) and universities. It seeks to address a gap in the existing literature, which predominantly focuses on the analysis of collaboration between large firms and universities. This partnership is widely regarded as mutually beneficial, as M&SMEs can gain a competitive edge through innovation, while universities could leverage research outcomes and refine their academic programs. The study adopts a systematic literature review methodology and conducts a thematic analysis of articles obtained from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, employing an integrated interpretative framework based on six different perspectives: (1) who (involved actors); (2) what (collaboration inputs and outputs); (3) when (analyzed time span); (4) where (countries); (5) how (implemented collaboration modes); and (6) why (drivers, enabling factors and barriers). A total number of 82 journal articles published between 1987 and 2023 were analyzed. Based on the adopted interpretative framework, a lack of a shared conceptualization of the investigated phenomenon emerged and is associated with a relatively scarce adoption of theoretical frameworks. Moreover, a highly differentiated set of barriers and enabling factors were found, even if their interdependencies appear rarely investigated.
Technological Pathways for Rare Earth Elements Recovery from WEEE: A Systematic Mapping Review Luca Taglieri, Pietro Romano, Francesco Vegliò, Alberto Gallifuoco, Luciano Fratocchi Recycling, 2026 Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential to many low-carbon and digital technologies, yet the primary supply is geographically concentrated; waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) could act as an “urban mine”, but recovery pathways remain fragmented. We synthesize the evidence through a structured literature review of Scopus and Web of Science indexed studies focusing on WEEE-derived feedstocks for REE recovery: 148 records were screened and 51 papers met the inclusion criteria. Reporting of the search and study selection process follows PRISMA 2020. We coded each study by WEEE source/fraction, core technology family, and process configuration, target REEs, performance reporting, environmental proxies, and maturity, and discussed gaps against circularity goals. Results show an intense concentration on a few feedstocks, permanent magnets (22 studies), fluorescent lamps (16), and batteries (6), with only limited attention to multi-source streams. Hydrometallurgical routes dominate, while biometallurgical options are less explored. Recovery is more frequently reported than selectivity and environmental indicators, and most solutions remain at proof-of-concept maturity. Due to the heterogeneity of feedstocks, process configurations, and reported metrics, the findings were synthesized qualitatively (no meta-analysis). This review highlights priorities for future work: multi-source and heavy rare earth elements focused feedstocks, more selective and intensified flowsheets, harmonized performance reporting, and scale-up supported by life-cycle and cost assessments.
Toward a More Sustainable Paper Industry: The Contribution of the Hydrothermal Carbonization for Solid Residues Luca Taglieri, Alberto Gallifuoco, Katia Gallucci, Luciano Fratocchi ACS Omega, 2026 The paper industry has historically relied on virgin raw materials as the primary resource for production. Moreover, it requires high energy and water consumption and use of chemicals like chlorine. In response to these environmental challenges, the paper industry is progressively moving toward more sustainable practices aligned with circular economy's principles. However, the shift to recycling introduces new challenges, particularly the generation of new solid typologies of residues, such as pulper rejects and fine screen debris. This study investigates hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) as a circular solution for transforming such two solid residue streams into an effective solid fuel. More specifically, it verifies the technical feasibility of such technology on a laboratory scale. Moreover, the energy potential and environmental impacts of the obtained fuel are evaluated. Finally, it is checked whether the obtained hydrochar is compliant with the EU directive regarding Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF). Our findings confirm that HTC is an effective solution for the transformation of investigated solid residues. Moreover, all obtained hydrochars have a higher level of high heating value when compared with the original inputs (up to 83,6%). In this respect, the operating severity (250 °C) and liquid-to-solid ratio emerged as primary levers to raise the heating value while curbing halogens, mercury, and SRF-critical inorganics. Finally, the obtained hydrochars meet EU legislation in terms of energy and environmental performance, reaching even SRF Class 1 levels. This in turn confirms that HTC process parameters and feedstock mix can be properly tuned to deliver SRF-grade solids with stable, high-quality combustion behavior.
Entrepreneurial and market orientations: The moderating role of social networks on post-entry performance of international new ventures Manuela Presutti, Luciano Fratocchi, Vincenza Odorici International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 2026 This paper investigates whether entrepreneurial and marketing orientations (respectively EOs and Mos) impact – individually or collectively – international new ventures’ (INVs’) post-entry performance growth. Furthermore, we investigate whether such relations are moderated by the foreign social networks, both formal and informal, of international new ventures. Using a survey, we test our hypotheses on a sample of Italian high-tech INVs located in a cluster near Rome. A quantitative analysis is used to test the hypotheses. We found that EOs and MOs positively impact the post-entry international performance growth of INVs. Moreover, while informal foreign social network ties significantly moderate the impact of EOs and MOs, formal foreign social network ties do not have a significant moderating effect. Many theoretical and practical contributions are discussed in the paper.
Supply backshoring as a strategy to reduce transaction costs in an era of global value chain reconfiguration Paolo Barbieri, Cristina Di Stefano, Stefano Elia, Luciano Fratocchi, Cristina Pensa Journal of International Management, 2026 In recent years, the global economic landscape has become increasingly turbulent, exposing Global Value Chains (GVCs) to unexpected disruptions and leading companies to reassess their international strategies. To enhance their resilience and reduce dependencies on unstable markets, firms are adopting, among others, relocation strategies, including supply backshoring: the substitution of foreign suppliers with those in the home country. In this paper, we investigate the supply backshoring phenomenon through the lens of Transaction Cost Economics (TCE). Our empirical analysis, based on a dataset of Italian manufacturing companies integrating primary data from a survey conducted from June 2021 to February 2022 and archival data, supports the hypothesis that firms with higher asset specificity—measured by R&D and advertising intensity, as well as Intellectual Property rights intensity—display a greater likelihood of adopting supply backshoring. We also find some contingent effect, i.e., the positive relationship between firm asset specificity and the probability of implementing a supply backshoring strategy is stronger for medium-sized firms and for supplier-dominated and specialized supplier industries, while we do not find significant differences between firms operating in high-tech and low-tech industries. Our findings contribute to the understanding of supply backshoring by empirically validating TCE's relevance in this context and highlighting the role of asset specificity in firms' strategic decisions. This study offers one of the first comprehensive characterizations of the supply backshoring phenomenon, providing valuable insights for both scholars and practitioners.
The impact of distance on social capital in high-tech born global companies Manuela Presutti, Luciano Fratocchi, Antonio Majocchi Journal of Small Business Management, 2026 Building on the limited research that has explored the deterministic view of how distance influences inter-organizational social capital (SC), this study examines how geographic, psychic, technological, and market size distances influence the development of the SC of high-tech born global companies (BGs) with their foreign customers. This perspective presumes that distance and SC can change over time, specifically that SC changes can be associated with different types of distance. Using data from Italian high-tech BGs located in a cluster near Rome, collected in three different periods of analysis (2016, 2018, 2020), we find that the diverse types of distance have significant, varied, and sometimes opposing influences on SC development. Our findings address the research gap concerning SC dynamics in high-tech BGs. We contribute to the literature on SC and BGs by combining SC and distance issues, establishing a foundation for understanding the unique challenges such companies face in foreign markets.
An Integrated Business Strategy for the Twin Transition: Leveraging Digital Product Passports and Circular Economy Models Idiano D'Adamo, Luciano Fratocchi, Chiara Grosso, Madjid Tavana Business Strategy and the Environment, 2025 Companies face significant challenges in implementing digital transformation, often because of the use of fragmented strategies and limited cross‐functional coordination. Furthermore, not all digital innovations align with sustainability objectives. In response to this complexity, recent European Union directives have introduced digital product passports (DPPs) as strategic instruments to bridge the gap between digitalization and sustainability. Although promising, DPP implementation remains in its infancy and requires robust data governance to mitigate the risk of information overload. The present study integrates business perspectives into the design of DPPs, with a particular focus on the textile industry. It explores how DPPs can enhance competitiveness, facilitate sustainability monitoring, and promote circularity. Drawing on insights from textile firms and consulting support, this research employs multicriteria decision‐making methodologies—specifically, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). The findings reveal a strong alignment between these methodologies and a shared recognition of the strategic value of DPPs, particularly in facilitating access to information on product reuse, repair, and recycling. Additionally, the analysis highlights consultants' emphasis on the “Made in Italy” designation as a key differentiator. Overall, DPPs are shown to advance the development of circular business models in the textile sector by supporting three strategic priorities: material traceability, repair guidance, and optimized recycling pathways.
Value chain disruptions: policy responses to antibiotic shortages in global value chains Enrico Baraldi, Francesco Ciabuschi, Luciano Fratocchi Journal of International Business Policy, 2025 Significant disruptions have recently afflicted global value chains (GVCs), causing shortages of essential products like antibiotics. Antibiotic shortages are a prioritized issue for policymakers because they increase patient suffering and healthcare costs. Focusing on the case of Sweden, we use a unique dataset of generic antibiotic GVCs and show that more than three-quarters of them entail substantial shortage risk. Through extensive qualitative data, we first identify six policies currently under discussion by Swedish policymakers to address antibiotic shortages, and then discuss their potential impact on the configuration of antibiotics GVCs, as well as how these policies change when moving from the Swedish to the EU context. Our analysis shows specifically that mandatory parallel sourcing, relocations, and new reimbursement models are the three policies with the strongest expected effects. This study contributes to the GVC and international business literature by introducing three types of mechanisms (reinforcing, gathering, and multiplying) whereby policy can affect the resilience of GVCs. We also contribute novel insights about necessary changes in policies when moving from the national (Sweden) to the supranational (EU) level, as well as about how different types of GVC governance frame the relevance of policies for other small high-income countries.
Made in Europe Recovery of Rare Earth Elements: Is a Circular and Sustainable Value Chain Really Possible? Luca Taglieri, Luciano Fratocchi IFAC Papersonline, 2025 The demand for rare earth elements (REEs) has grown significantly due to their critical role in advanced technologies, including renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, and electronics. However, the European Union (EU) relies entirely on imports to meet its REE needs, exposing industries to significant supply chain vulnerabilities. The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state and future potential of the REEs recycling value chain in Europe, identifying enabling factors and barriers across the upstream, midstream, and downstream stages. Based on findings developed in three EU and national funded research, this paper highlights the huge potential of available recycling technologies but also criticalities in terms of waste collection systems, recycling infrastructure, and downstream processing capabilities. The paper offers some implications for policy makers at national and EU levels.
The roles of key suppliers in network formation when reshoring Enrico Baraldi, Francesco Ciabuschi, Luciano Fratocchi, Daniel Pedroletti, Antonio Picciotti Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing, 2025 Purpose Reshoring implies the reconfiguration of supply networks. Focusing on the specific case of a born-offshored firm that engaged in reshoring of outsourced activities, this study aims to analyse how initial key suppliers in the home country can help the reshoring firm to organize a new supply network. Design/methodology/approach The research is qualitative and based on a single exploratory case study. The data was collected from multiple primary and secondary sources, and using different techniques, such as in-depth interviews, direct observation and network pictures. Findings The study provides insights on how an initial key supplier can enable its customers’ reshoring in the home country. Specifically, the authors identify 10 roles played by a key supplier. The results also identify supply network formation as an essential component of the reshoring process. Originality/value This paper provides unique contributions. Firstly, it presents the specific and under-explored case of a born-offshored firm engaged in outsourced reshoring; secondly, it sheds light on the roles that key suppliers may play for the reshoring process; thirdly, it explores the formation of business relationships in the context of reshoring. In essence, the paper contributes to the reshoring literature, by stressing the importance of supply network formation in the reshoring process and by identifying the multiplicity of roles that key suppliers can play when implementing reshoring, and to the industrial marketing and purchasing (IMP) literature, by showing how relationships and networks develop during reshoring, a phenomenon so far understudied by IMP scholars.
Remain at home or return home: What are the drivers behind the (re)location of supply and manufacturing activities? Cee Region on A New Wave of Transition Towards Value Chain Reconfiguration and Innovation Cooperation Amidst Turbulent Times, 2023
Motivations of manufacturing reshoring: an interpretative framework Luciano Fratocchi, Alessandro Ancarani, Paolo Barbieri, Carmela Di Mauro, Guido Nassimbeni, Marco Sartor, Matteo Vignoli, Andrea Zanoni International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, 2016
2023– 2026 PRIN PNRR CASCADE (Criticality Analysis for Supply Chain Availability and Dependency Evaluation) – Local Unit Leader & Principal Investigator
2024 – 2027 Project 101147368 GRAPhiREC (Waste GRAPhite RECyclying for new lithium and alkaline batteries) – Exploitation manager
2023– 2027 LIFE22-ENV-IT-INSPIREE Industrial Production of mixed Rare Earth Elements oxides and carbonates from spent magnets recycling - Exploitation manager
2022 - 2024 December Project 21116-NewRe (Neodymium and Rare Earths from Waste Recycling) supported by EIT Raw Materials co-founded by the European Union - Exploitation manager
2023 – 2025 Dicembre Progetto Vitality - Ecosistema innovazione, digitalizzazione e sostenibilità per l’economia diffusa nel Centro Italia – Responsible of the Technology Transfer Work Package
2023 – 2024 TREASURE (“leading the TRansion of the European Automotive SUpply chain towards a circulaR future”; Horizon 2020 GA n. 101003587) - Exploitation manager