After getting a high school diploma in classical studies and a degree in Mechanical Engineering, he was assistant and associate professor of Mechanics of Machines in the Engineering Department of the Università di Bologna; since 1 November 1990, he is full professor of Industrial Technical Design at the Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia.

At the same university, he directed for 3 terms the "Enzo Ferrari" Engineering Department, of which he was a founder and organizer; he also served as Director of the Intermech More inter-departmental center for industrial research, and Coordinator of the entire lab network of the Mechanics Regional Platform.

He was part of the High Mechanics and Automotive Design and Technology Postgraduate Program Committee as Coordinator of the Simulation Tools and Mechanical Design specialization department, and he authored around 150 scientific publications about various themes related to the application and design aspects of Mechanics, with a particular focus on the innovative methods of industrial engineering.