Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini honored twice with Dr. Honoris Causa
On 12 November 2025, Professor Aldo R. Boccaccini (WW7) was conferred the Honorary Doctorate degree by Alexander Dubček University of Trenčín (TNUAD) in Slovakia. The conferral ceremony took place in Trenčín in the presence of the University Rector, Prof. Jozef Habánik, members of the TNUAD Scientific Council, faculty, students, and members of the university’s academic community.
In his laudation, Prof. Dušan Galusek, Director of the Centre for Functional and Surface Functionalized Glass (FunGlass) at TNUAD, highlighted Prof. Boccaccini’s distinguished career, which combines scientific excellence, an international vision for effective scientific cooperation, and outstanding mentorship of the next generation of researchers.
Prof. Boccaccini has been an international partner of the FunGlass Centre since its establishment almost ten years ago within the framework of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. He has played a pivotal role in shaping the Centre’s direction, mentoring young scientists, and fostering international collaboration. This recognition by TNUAD reflects not only his global impact on materials science but also his lasting contribution to the FunGlass mission.
Prof. Boccaccini said: “It is a true honor and privilege to have been conferred this distinction. I am proud to become part of the academic community of this distinguished institution. My deepest appreciation goes to the university leadership and faculty for this recognition. Special thanks to Prof. Dušan Galusek, Director of the FunGlass Center, for many years of research collaboration and friendship. I am also deeply grateful to everyone at FunGlass for their continuous support of international collaborations and exchanges with me personally and with the Institute of Biomaterials at University of Erlangen – Nuremberg”
On November 17, Prof. Boccaccini and Dr. Janne Haaland Matlary, Professor of International Politics at the University of Oslo, were awarded honorary doctorates for UICBarcelona in a solemn ceremony held in the Aula Magna of the University.
The Minister of the Departament de Recerca i Universitats, Núria Montserrat, stressed that both represent authentic world references and that their appointment brings prestige to both the university and the Catalan university system, recalling that knowledge knows no borders.
The laudatios were given by:
• Dr. Montserrat Nebrera, director of the Carlemany Institute of European Studies and professor of Constitutional Law, highlighted the academic, political and humanist career of Dr. Haaland Matláry.
• Dr. Roman Perez Antoñanzas, Director of the Bioengineering Institute of Technology (BIT) UIC Barcelona and Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer, underlined the relevance of Prof. Boccaccini in the development of biomaterials and its impact on clinical innovation.
The rector, Dr. Alfonso Méndiz Noguero, closed the event by congratulating the new doctors and insisting that their careers, although coming from very different fields, demonstrate the unity of the sciences. He pointed out that this complementarity favors dialogue and interdisciplinarity, and recalled that the university must promote a global education aimed at the integral development of the person.