About us

ION Fund is an architecture, design, infrastructure engineering and territorial planning firm among the most advanced and competitive in the Italian landscape. Our solid background in scientific and technological research allows us to interpret in depth the context in which we operate, even when highly complex, and to identify the most suitable design models and emerging trends.

Network

Our firm, based in Milan and Rome, sits at the centre of a broad national and international network of highly specialised professionals who provide invaluable interdisciplinary input, in a process that is always one of co-creation. Bringing together diverse strategic areas within the network allows us to work in an integrated way across the entire organisational and management chain, as well as to build new teams, tailor-made for each specific project.

IONers

The value of our people is our greatest asset. That is why we give them the opportunity to apply their key skills to the fullest and freely express their professional selves. They are people with whom we share the principles and foundations of how we work.

Davide Bruno

Born in Milan in 1963, Davide Bruno is the founder of ION Fund and a professor at Politecnico di Milano.

His academic and professional path is closely interwoven with research, teaching and the business world, making him a multifaceted figure able to combine theory and practice. Bruno has played a key role in developing collaborations between universities and companies.

He served as Delegate for Competitions and the Development of Innovation and Creativity for Enterprises at the School of Design, and was a member of the Patent Committee of Politecnico di Milano.
His experience extends beyond academic boundaries: he has coordinated international research in innovative fields such as strategic design, sustainable mobility and urban infrastructure development.

A prolific author, he has published numerous books on design and innovation, contributing to academic and industrial debate with an interdisciplinary approach.

His work has made him an innovator, a problem solver and a leader capable of tackling complex design challenges with a strategic, future-oriented vision.

Partnership

Innovators by nature, and inclined to bridge people's lives with the functionality of things, our partners of choice are professionals who come from, or have collaborated with, some of the most advanced research and application institutes, including:

the Politecnico di Milano Laboratories, a network of research infrastructure active in numerous strategic fields, from civil and environmental engineering to energy, from design to computer science;
POLI.design, the Politecnico di Milano consortium that acts as a bridge between universities, companies, agencies, institutions and professional communities to promote the value of design;
Università degli Studi di Milano, which boasts a universally recognised level of excellence;
CINECA, a leading centre for high-performance computing and the development of cutting-edge applications.

Shared research and innovation

ION Fund is a member of CISE — Construction Innovation and Sustainable Engineering, a consortium based at Politecnico di Milano that brings together universities and businesses in the construction sector. This connection strengthens the dialogue between research and design practice, with a focus on a more innovative and sustainable built environment.

Discover CISE members

Awards and recognition

Davide Maria Bruno has received numerous accolades for his contribution to the world of design and innovation.

Among the most prestigious is the Compasso d'Oro, awarded for the university project “Agenzia SDI” (Sistema Design Italia) at Politecnico di Milano, a testament to his role in the promotion of excellence in industrial design.

In the field of research, his work has received high-level evaluations, including a score of 29/30 and a Class A rating (Excellent and extremely relevant) under Italy's Research Quality Assessment (VQR) for the book Moving Design: The Flow of People in the Cities of the Future.

He has also served as a National MIUR Evaluator for scientific research and has held prominent roles on academic and scientific committees, including the Patent Committee of Politecnico di Milano.

His contribution to innovation and design has been recognised internationally through awards, collaborations with leading companies, and involvement in high-impact research projects in the fields of mobility, industrial design and urban infrastructure.