The University of Milan as a cosmetics hub: CosmIS trains future professionals

The in-person week of the Erasmus Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) Innovation Project Development in Cosmetics, organised by the Master’s degree programme in Cosmetic Industrial Science (CosmIS) and the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Milan, concluded in early March.

From 2 to 6 March, 26 students from 13 countries across three continents were hosted in Milan, bringing together a cultural mosaic of young people from Europe, the Middle East and the Americas (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Spain, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Brazil, the United States and Venezuela).

The programme, developed in collaboration with three partner universities — Haute École Louvain en Hainaut, the University of Valencia, and Lithuania’s Kaunas University of Technology — offered an intensive, multidisciplinary experience. Participants, divided into five teams, worked on a shared project covering all the key stages of the cosmetics value chain: from concept development to marketing strategy, from formulation to production and product launch.

The project, titled Face Glow (Facial All-day Cleansers for Energizing Good Mornings and Lovely Overnight Wellness), focused on the development of facial cleansing products, combining creativity, scientific expertise and an industrial perspective.

A key factor in the initiative's success was the joint contribution of academia and industry. Alongside the CosmIS faculty and staff and those of the partner universities, the University’s International Mobility and Promotion Office and numerous companies and professionals from the cosmetics sector played an essential role, volunteering specialised support by hosting visits, participating in seminars, and enabling the development of prototypes. These include Amita Health Care Italia, ArtCosmetics, BASF, Biochim, Caldic/Lamberti, Complife Italia, Croda, Dolce & Gabbana, Ghiaroni, IMCD, KIKO Milano, LCM Trading, Prodotti Gianni, Seppic, Visionnaire Cosmetics Lab, and Zschimmer & Schwarz Italia.

The week in Milan represented the "in-person" core of a broader programme, which will continue online until May through the University’s e-learning platforms. The teams will present the projects they have developed, which will be evaluated by a panel of experts. The winning project will gain further visibility through publication on the CEC Editore website, a leading publisher of specialist journals such as Cosmetic Technology and Make-up Technology.

“The BIP Face Glow project, a bold venture for a Master’s degree programme in its third year, has yielded significant results. The week of intensive in-person academic activities was inspired by a scientific outreach initiative of the Italian Society of Chemistry and Cosmetic Sciences (SICC) and made possible thanks to the contribution of numerous people, both within and outside the University. It was extremely enriching for the entire teaching staff, reminding us of the value of collaborative work, innovation in knowledge transfer, and the positive impact of direct interaction with students. The success of the initiative is such that we hope to repeat it at partner universities in the coming years, with the goal of eventually hosting the BIP again at the University of Milan,” explains Lucia Zema, lecturer at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and chair of the Master’s degree programme.

The Erasmus project fits within the vision of the Master’s degree programme in Cosmetic Industrial Science (CosmIS), a programme with an international focus designed to develop strong professional skills. Delivered entirely in English and lasting two years, the programme aims to prepare highly qualified professionals for the cosmetics industry, equipping them with skills in areas ranging from research and development to production, and from quality control to product marketing. A distinctive feature of the programme is the integration of lectures with laboratory activities, complemented by an internship in the final semester.