IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca (www.imtlucca.it) is a research university within the Italian public higher education system. As an institute for advanced studies, IMT School researchers carry out methodological research, held to high scientific standards, leading to the development of new knowledge. IMT School's specially designed campus fosters the continual presence of visiting scholars that contribute to creating a stimulating and intellectually lively environment. At the same time, IMT School is also an institute of technology where numerous research projects are undertaken to apply cutting-edge scientific results to solve problems of economic, industrial, and societal interest. The pillars of the School's research model are its thematic research units, highly specialized in a specific field, that often cooperate in interdisciplinary projects. IMT's institutional role is also that of a graduate school where knowledge is transmitted to young PhD students. The multidisciplinary PhD program of IMT School, organized into thematic curricula, promotes the full integration of research and education.