An unexpected journey: into the future with Riccardo Donà

An adventure that started almost by chance and turned into a career now shaping the future of mobility. This is the story of Riccardo, a graduate in Mechatronic Engineering from the DII, an expert who serves as a Project Officer at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, where he drafts regulations for autonomous vehicles. A professional journey blending ambition, discovery, and a touch of irony.

When he began university, he never imagined working in the field of autonomous mobility, let alone holding a governmental position. “I must admit that the role I have now was nowhere in my plans when I started university, and I couldn’t have imagined ending up in this field,” he shares. His story illustrates how fate can surprise us, leading to unexplored horizons. Until a few months before starting at the JRC, he wasn’t even aware of its existence.

During his PhD, he had the opportunity to work on the Dreams4Cars project, where he designed and tested driving automation systems. “Ironically, I now find myself on the other side of development—on the regulatory side, evaluating these systems and defining performance specifications for their market introduction.” This experience marked a key transition: from academic theory to practical application, giving him firsthand insight into the technological and regulatory challenges of the field.

However, the change in perspective was not without its difficulties. “Since this was a completely new environment for me, I had to learn how to interact with colleagues from different backgrounds than mine.” Finding a common language to translate technical expertise into clear, applicable standards is one of the biggest challenges of his work, but also one of the most stimulating.

Today, his main task is to combine experimental and modeling research with the need to draft technical regulations for the approval of autonomous vehicles. “Being part of the first regulation for fully driverless vehicles at the European level is definitely an achievement that brings me satisfaction.”

Contributing to this technological revolution means helping turn an idea into reality for a technology that can improve road safety and transform mobility. “Of course,” he admits, “the ‘real’ product may not be as exciting as the ‘imagined’ product (it almost never is…), but it’s important for technology to move forward.”

The regulatory environment in which he works is not without its challenges. “It’s easy to face attempts at influence from entities with economic interests in the matter,” he explains. Maintaining independence and relying on a rigorous scientific method are key to overcoming such pressures. Moreover, it is essential to foresee the long-term implications of regulations, demonstrating foresight to anticipate possible future risks.

A Look to the Future

The autonomous driving sector is evolving rapidly. “In the near future, the sector is developing around two complementary business models: privately-owned vehicles with highway-level autonomous driving features, where a human driver remains on standby, and driverless vehicles for shared mobility, such as shuttles and robotaxis.” Contributing to this transition from prototyping to mass-market deployment is one of the most exciting challenges of his work.

What motivates him every day is knowing he is working in a field with great potential to improve collective well-being. “I always find strong motivation in working in a sector with significant social utility potential, while also involving substantial engineering development.”

Advice and Hopes

For those dreaming of a similar career, he recommends pursuing industrial engineering. “It may not seem obvious, but even an engineer’s role can be versatile,” he emphasizes. As for the future, he hopes to continue working in the field for many years but believes that the skills developed in the technical and regulatory aspects of autonomous driving could also be successfully applied to other sectors.

With passion, foresight, and a vision geared toward progress, this is the story of a professional who contributes every day to shaping the future of mobility, demonstrating that innovation is not just about technology but also a steadfast commitment to building a better world.