Marco Della Gala joined Aston University in July 2018 to work,  as “Innovation Expert”, on the project AGRI - Agri-tech Growth and Resources for Innovation. His area of expertise is in Supply Chain Management and he has been working to support food companies to innovate their processes, as well as to adopt information technologies, innovative business models and collaborative networking models.

Marco’s background is in management engineering, in which he graduated from the University of Calabria, Italy, in 2004, followed later by a Phd in Civil and Industrial Engineering at the same University in 2018, with a thesis titled “Organizational models and ICT services to support the sustainable development of local agro-food and touristic systems”. He also gained a Masters in knowledge engineering in 2006. Since his master degree, Marco has been working both in academic sector as research fellow and lecturer, and with companies in the ICT and in the food sector as business process analyst, information system and db designer, as well as mobile app and web developer. He also co-founded an IT start-up company that was awarder with the second prizes at a regional business plan competion in Italy and funded by an EFRD project.

Prior to join Aston University Marco worked at the Community and Countryside Research Institute – University of Gloucestershire on the project SOFIA – Situated learning Opportunities to Foster ICT adoption in Alternative Agro-Food Networks funded in the framework of the Horizon2020 Programme by the Marie Sladvoska-Curie Action (Individual Fellowships). Moreover, during his experience as a research fellow at the University of Calabria, he participated to three large collaborative research and industrial innovation projects working on organizational models e technologies fostering new forms of collaboration in the tourism sector; methods, models and new interactions channels among producers and consumers supporting local food systems management; organizational models and ICTs supporting Alternative Agro-Food Network.

Marco’s more recent research interests are in Sustainable Supply Chain Management and new collaborative business models fostered by ICTs.

• Phd in Civil and Industrial Engineering  (University of Calabria, Italy)
• Master in Knowledge Engineering (1000h) (University of Calabria, Italy)
• Master Degree in Management Engineering (University of Calabria, Italy)

• Sustainable Supply Chain Management
• Collaborative Networks
• Information management systems
• Knowledge management and learning organizations

• AGRI - Agri-tech Growth and Resources for Innovation (Aston University, July 2018 - Ongoing)
• SOFIA - Situated learning Opportunities Fostered by ICT applications in AAFNs (EU Horizon 2020 - Marie Skłodowska Curie action - Individual Fellowship; University of Gloucestershire, 2016 -  2018)
• DIRECT FOOD (University of Calabria, 2012 - 2015)
• AGROMATER (University of Calabria, 2009 - 2012)
• SADECAL (University of Calabria, 2006 - 2008)

• Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme - Marie-Slodowska Curie Action Individual Fellowship) Grant Agreement No 702884.
• Business plan and funding application for a start-up company to participate in a regional bid in Calabria (Italy) granted with 140K €
• 2° price [3K €] at a Regional competition on innovative business models and business plans (Start-Cup Calabria) and invitation to take part to the PNI (italian national prize for Innovation) final  
• Scholarship to attend the Entrepreneurial Summer Academy - EU project TRADE-IT
• Scholarship to attend a Master in Knowledge Engineering 

• Lecturer and adjunct lecturer for the course of “Business Information Management” - BSc in Management Engineering - University of Calabria. (Academic Years 2005, 2006, 2015 and 2016).
• Adjunct lecturer for the course “Information Systems Lab” - MSc in Management Engineering - University of Calabria. (Academic Years 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010)
• Adjunct lecturer for the course “Knowledge Management”  - BSc in Management Engineering - University of Calabria. (Academic Years 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009)
• Adjunct lecturer for the course “e-business and networked enterprises” - BSc in Management Engineering - University of Calabria. (Academic Year 2009)

• Marie-Slodowska Curie Research Fellow, University of Gloucestershire (UK), 2016 - 2018
• Research Fellow, University of Calabria (Italy),  2009 - 2016
• Adjunct Lecturer,  University of Calabria (Italy),  2006 - 2016
• Co-founder and Coordinator of  mobile app development, EasyMove - Start up Company (Italy), 2015-2016
• Consultant as business process analyst, information systems and db designer, and mobile app developer, Echopress s.r.l. (Italy), 2009 - 2016
• IT Manager, Sibari Agri-Food District (Italy), 2007-2009
• Consultant as web developer, University of Calabria (Italy), 2008
• Technological and business models auditor,  University of Calabria (Italy), 2007
• Research Assistant , University of Calabria (Italy), 2005 -2006