Women Who Pioneer: A Sit-Down With Cinzia Rubattino and Sabrina Verardi
Women Who Pioneer:
A Sit-Down With Cinzia Rubattino and Sabrina Verardi
A cohesive team and a shared sense of purpose—reinforced by strong female teamwork—create the ideal environment for innovation.
Cinzia Rubattino & Sabrina Verardi, Engineering
What is your current role in PIONEER?
At Engineering, we are jointly responsible for several core activities in PIONEER. Our team leads the requirements analysis and the definition of the platform architecture, ensuring that the Open Innovation Platform is designed around real user needs and is technically robust.
We are also involved in the development and deployment of the platform, coordinating with partners to integrate functionalities smoothly.
Additionally, we guide the exploitation and sustainability work package, working to ensure that PIONEER’s results will have a long-term impact beyond the project’s lifetime.
What motivated you to get involved in digital transition projects?
Sabrina:
Digital transition projects allow us to work at the intersection of innovation, technology, and societal impact. Being part of initiatives like PIONEER means contributing to solutions that can meaningfully transform processes, enhance collaboration, and empower communities.
Cinzia:
For me, the motivation comes from the opportunity to build digital ecosystems that are open, inclusive, and accessible. These projects challenge us to imagine the future and then work together to make it real.
Looking ahead, what changes or initiatives are most crucial to ensure equal opportunities and stronger representation of women in research and innovation across Europe?
Cinzia & Sabrina:
We believe that structural and cultural change must go hand in hand.
On one side, organisations need to promote career paths that support women, ensure transparent evaluation processes, and actively work to eliminate gender bias.
On the other, we need visible role models, more opportunities for women to take leadership roles, and a stronger emphasis on collaborative and supportive work environments.
Projects like PIONEER show that when teamwork is combined with strong female solidarity and mutual support, the quality and organisation of activities significantly benefit.
Are you involved in or aware of outreach or mentoring efforts aimed at encouraging girls or young women into STEM?
Yes, we often participate in initiatives within Engineering that promote STEM careers among young women. These activities are part of our broader commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as outlined on Engineering’s DEI webpage.
Cinzia:
Over the past years, I have been actively involved in mentoring and outreach initiatives.
One example is the collaboration between the CircularTwAIn and DaCapo projects to jointly prepare our participation in the European Women in Technology conference. Unfortunately, there was no available slot for our workshop, but the collaboration itself was extremely valuable—it allowed us to share experiences, reflect on common challenges, and strengthen our commitment to supporting women in STEM.
I also contributed as a tutor in the Engineering's RiParto programme, supporting women entering or re-entering the digital and innovation sectors. These experiences reaffirm how impactful structured mentoring can be in building confidence and opening new opportunities.
Final Thoughts
Cinzia & Sabrina:
Working together on PIONEER has shown us once again how powerful collaboration can be. A cohesive team and a shared sense of purpose—reinforced by strong female teamwork—create the ideal environment for innovation.
We hope our experience can inspire more women to join research, technology, and digital transformation, contributing to a more inclusive and forward-looking European innovation ecosystem.
