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TRIESTE, Italy – The fifteenth edition of the inter-university, first-level Master’s Program in Coffee Economics and Science – Ernesto Illy officially begins today. The program was conceived by illycaffè and the Ernesto Illy Foundation ETS to provide comprehensive training on the biological, agronomic, technological, and economic aspects that lead from the coffee plant to the final product.
Aimed at young graduates in economics, engineering, and agricultural sciences, the Master’s program brings together 26 students from 20 countries: Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Lithuania, Malawi, Mozambique, Norway, Peru, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Gerardo Patacconi has been appointed as the new Director of the Master’s program. Selected for his extensive knowledge of the coffee value chain, he will guide both the development strategy and the educational pathway. Patacconi previously led operations at the International Coffee Organization (ICO) and held key roles at UNIDO, focusing on agro-industrial development and sustainability.
The academic program includes more than 400 hours of teaching delivered by 60 lecturers in a hybrid format. Classes will begin online and continue in person from May 2026, concluding with a project related to one of the subjects covered during the program.
Alongside illycaffè and the Ernesto Illy Foundation ETS, the program is supported by the University of Trieste, the University of Udine, SISSA (the International School for Advanced Studies of Trieste), and the Trieste Science and Technology Park – Area Science Park. Also confirmed for this edition is the partial scholarship provided by the Friuli Foundation. A total of 17 students benefit each year from financial support offered by the Ernesto Illy Foundation ETS: 12 students receive full scholarships and 5 receive partial scholarships.
“We are pleased, as the Ernesto Illy Foundation, to commit ourselves to nurturing young talents entering the world of coffee,” said Anna Illy, President of the Ernesto Illy Foundation and member of the Board of Directors of illycaffè. “For 15 years, the Master’s Program in Coffee Economics and Science has trained highly qualified professionals who will enhance the excellence of this product on an international level, promoting innovation throughout the entire value chain. This year’s program has been overseen by the new Director, Gerardo Patacconi, whose leadership and in-depth sector expertise will further enrich the educational journey.”.
Since its first edition, the Ernesto Illy Master’s Program in Coffee Economics and Science has involved more than 290 students from over 40 countries worldwide. The program has contributed to the development of professionals specialized in coffee, committed to applying the ethical and sustainable approach that distinguishes illycaffè’s business model, while safeguarding, promoting, and supporting the sustainable quality of illy coffee.
