Massimo La Scala is Full Professor of Electrical Energy Systems at the Polytechnic University of Bari, with nearly four decades of experience in academia, research, industry, and consulting in the energy sector.
His expertise covers: operation and design of electrical power systems, dynamic simulation, smart grids, energy regulation, and energy transition.
As Principal Investigator, he has led 36 research projects funded by national and European programs, including Horizon 2020, national and regional initiatives, with total budgets exceeding €20 million. His scientific contributions include over 312 publications, 22 book chapters, and editorial work on four volumes.
In 2007, he received the IEEE PES Fellowship (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Power & Energy Society) with the following motivation: "Contributions to the development of computationally efficient methodologies for simulating the dynamic performance of power systems and for their control."
He is also the recipient of the CIGRE Recognition Award and ranks among the top 2% of the world's most cited scientists, according to Stanford University.
Prof. La Scala has served on the boards of directors of major energy research consortia in Italy, such as ENSIEL, CESE, and the Italian Energy Technology District. Since 2021, he has been a member of the Scientific Committee of RSE S.p.A. (Ricerca Sistema Energetico), whose mission is to develop research programs in the electricity and energy sector, in support of the Italian electricity system and the Ministry of Energy Security and the Environment.
He has been a member of expert committees appointed by the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and Environment (ARERA) for cost-benefit analyses in the expansion of TERNA S.p.A.'s national transmission network and for assessments on smart grids. He has also contributed to international regulatory projects in Lithuania and Turkey on behalf of ARERA. He was a member of the panel of 17 experts of the Permanent Observatory on Energy, Water and District Heating Regulation, referred to in Resolution No. 83/2015/A of March 5, 2015, of the Authority.
By Decree of the Ministry of University and Scientific Research No. 544 of April 24, 2020 By Decree of the Ministry of University and Scientific Research No. 544 of April 24, 2020, Massimo La Scala was appointed member of the Commission of Experts for the drafting of the National Research Program 2021-2027.
Since 2021, he has been a member of the IEA Consultative Group supporting the joint IEA-Italy Project: Smarter digital power infrastructure to enhance energy efficiency, resilient systems, and energy transitions.
In 2017, Prof. La Scala served as an expert evaluator of Horizon 2020 research projects for the European Commission: Call - H2020-JTI-FCH-2017-1 for Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking (FCH2).
In addition to research, he has played a key role in training engineers and doctoral students, developing laboratories for renewable energy and urban efficiency (LabZERO), and promoting innovation in public services and energy infrastructure.
He is also a member of the IEEE Region 8 (Europe, Middle East, Africa) Climate Change Committee and Coordinator of the IEEE Italy Section Humanitarian Technologies Committee.