Lombardy is the most populous and rich region in Italy.

The universities cooperating in the School and its PhD program are situated in four provinces of Lombardy which together make up more than half of the territory and the population of the region; almost all initiatives in the field of higher education in Lombardy are concentrated in this area.

The location of the School promotes the cooperation with companies and institutions interested in the development of advanced university education and qualified research projects. The School represents an aggregation center for other universities in Lombardy and research centers, companies and institutions working in the region.

Bergamo

The city of Bergamo, about 40 km northeast of Milan, is home to approximately 120,000 inhabitants. The foothills of the Alps begin immediately north of the town. The town has two centres: "Città alta" (upper city), a hilltop medieval town, surrounded by cyclopic defensive walls, and the "Città bassa" (lower city). The two parts of the town are connected by funicular/cable car, roads and foot-paths. The upper city, surrounded by Venetian walls built in the 17th century, forms the historic centre of Bergamo; the lower city is its modern centre.

Brescia

Dating back to the Roman period, Brescia and its province lie almost at the heart of the Po Valley, between Milan and Venice, enclosed by three lakes: Lake of Garda, Lake of Idro and Lake of Iseo. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, with a population of around 200,000; it is the second largest city in Lombardy after Milan. Brescia has been an important regional centre since pre-Roman times and a number of Roman and medieval monuments are preserved, among which is the prominent castle.

Pavia

The city of Pavia was founded by the Romans on the left bank of the River Ticino, near its confluence with the Po, more than two thousand years ago. Nowadays, almost 75,000 people live in this city, only 35 km from Milan, in south-western Lombardy. Pavia is the capital of a fertile eponymous province known for agricultural products including wine, rice, cereals, and dairy products. Although there are a number of industries located in the suburbs, these tend not to disturb the peaceful atmosphere of the town. Tourists and visitors get impressed by Pavia’s historical and artistic heritage; the city possesses a vast amount of cultural treasures, including several important churches and museums.