In recognition of his contributions to academic and scientific collaboration between Italy and Iceland, Professor Paolo Gargiulo, a leading researcher in Biomedical Engineering at Reykjavik University, director of the  Institute of Biomedical and Neural Engineering and senior researcher at Landspítali University Hospital, has been awarded the title of Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy.

The honour, published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale on June 7, 2025, celebrates Prof. Gargiulo’s long-standing commitment to fostering educational and research exchanges between the two countries.

Over the past years, Prof. Gargiulo has played a pivotal role in establishing Erasmus student exchange agreements and research collaborations between Reykjavik University and several prestigious Italian institutions, including the University of Federico II (Naples), the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," the University of Salerno, the University of Padua, the University of Bologna, the University of Eastern Piedmont (Novara), and the University of Molise. These initiatives have enabled dozens of Italian students to pursue studies and research in Biomedical Engineering in Iceland, gaining valuable hands-on experience at the Institute of Biomedical and Neural Engineering.

Prof. Gargiulo has also promoted joint PhD programmes and bilateral supervision agreements with multiple Italian universities, strengthening scientific collaboration and creating international pathways for doctoral education. His research mentorship has significantly contributed to the professional growth of young Italian scientists, many of whom have advanced to academic positions in Italy and abroad.

In addition to his research achievements, Prof. Gargiulo has supported the development of new academic programmes. Notably, a recent partnership with Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome led to the creation of a master’s programme titled AI and Cloud in Healthcare and Public Administration aimed at integrating artificial intelligence and cloud technologies into the health and public sectors.

The conferral of the Order of the Star of Italy was held at Reykjavik University on October 16th, with the Italian Ambassador Stefano Nicoletti and the Undersecretary of Defence Senator Isabella Rauti.

Read more about Prof. Gargiulo research here