Luca started his career at Shell Research in the Netherlands, where he was involved in designing novel oil and petrochemical processes focusing on process modeling, control, and integration. He continued this work in Minneapolis for Cray Research and Silicon Graphics, leading the development of some of the world’s most extensive process plant simulations. In addition, he led the development of Virtual Plant, a pioneering prototype of a visual simulator for operator training.
Later, at Cargill, he worked in corporate R&D on novel agricultural commodities transformation processes, emphasizing biofuels development and renewable energy in plant operations. He led a group that developed multiple domestic and international projects in aerobic digestion, biomass utilization, and carbon intensity reduction. Among them, what at the time was the largest cluster of manure to biogas projects in the US.
After Cargill, he has worked with several early-stage companies leading or supporting the transition to commercialization from early-stage R&D. Among those; he led the development of a venture for a bio-ethanol derived chemicals resulting in the construction of a world-class production site which now provides biobased solvents to the paint and coating industry.
Luca holds a Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Padova, Italy, and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine of London, United Kingdom. In his spare time, he enjoys biking, flying, fishing, and reading history books.