About

Who We Are

Research Unit One (RUO) is an independent European research center founded in 2006 and dedicated to interdisciplinary legal research, policy development and executive education.

Since its establishment, RUO has promoted scientific inquiry and international cooperation in areas where law, technology, governance and social transformation intersect. Through a comparative and multidisciplinary approach, the center addresses emerging challenges affecting justice systems, public institutions, economic actors and civil society.

Today, RUO operates as a platform connecting academics, professionals, institutions and international partners committed to advancing knowledge, innovation and evidence-based policymaking.

Our History

Research Unit One was founded in 2007 with the objective of promoting advanced comparative legal research, particularly in the fields of substantive and procedural criminal law.

Over time, the center progressively expanded its activities beyond traditional comparative studies, embracing new research domains generated by globalization, digital transformation and regulatory innovation.

Through collaborations with universities, research institutions, public administrations and international organizations, RUO has developed a distinctive research profile combining legal scholarship with practical engagement in public policy, institutional innovation and professional capacity building.

Today, RUO's activities extend across Europe and the Euro-Mediterranean region through scientific partnerships, educational initiatives and international research projects.

Our Mission

RUO's mission is to generate knowledge capable of supporting fairer, more resilient and more accountable institutions.

The center seeks to bridge academic research and practical implementation by producing scientific studies, policy analyses, executive education programs and innovative research initiatives addressing contemporary global challenges.

Particular attention is devoted to the impact of emerging technologies on justice systems, the protection of fundamental rights, the prevention of corruption and organized crime, environmental sustainability and the governance of complex social transformations.

RUO promotes an interdisciplinary and international vision grounded in scientific rigor, comparative analysis and public engagement.

Governance

Research Unit One is directed by Professor Daniela Mainenti, Professor of Comparative Criminal Procedure and internationally recognized scholar in artificial intelligence and criminal justice, cybersecurity governance, digital evidence, environmental crime and comparative legal studies.

The center operates through a network of researchers, practitioners, scientific advisors and institutional partners who contribute to its research, educational and policy-oriented activities.

Its governance model combines academic independence, scientific excellence and international collaboration.

Core Research Areas

Artificial Intelligence and Criminal Justice

Cybersecurity Governance and Digital Resilience

Digital Evidence and Algorithmic Accountability

Comparative Criminal Procedure

Organized Crime, Anti-Corruption and Confiscated Assets

Environmental Crime and Ecological Justice

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing

Food Fraud and Food Integrity

Blue Economy and Maritime Governance

Strategic Partnerships

RUO collaborates with universities, research centers, professional networks, public institutions, international organizations and private stakeholders in Italy and abroad.

Its activities are developed through scientific cooperation agreements, joint research initiatives, executive education programs and policy-oriented projects aimed at fostering innovation, institutional resilience and sustainable development.

The center actively promotes dialogue between academia, government, civil society and industry to encourage the circulation of knowledge and the development of practical solutions to emerging global challenges.

International Perspective

RUO operates within a European and Euro-Mediterranean framework, recognizing that many contemporary challenges—artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, organized crime, environmental crime, maritime governance and food integrity—transcend national boundaries and require coordinated responses.

Through research, education and international cooperation, RUO seeks to contribute to the development of legal and institutional frameworks capable of addressing these challenges while safeguarding democratic values, human rights and the rule of law.