Eni and the University of Milano-Bicocca today signed, in the presence of the Rector of the University of Milano-Bicocca, Giovanna Iannantuoni, of the President of Eni, Lucia Calvosa, and of the CEO of Eni, Claudio Descalzi, a five-year Joint Research Agreement (JRA), for the launch of a strategic collaboration on research projects of common interest, in areas related to the energy transition and for which the University is recognised as a centre of excellence.
In particular, the agreement defines 6 areas of research: magnetic fusion, batteries, geothermal energy and hydrogeology, environmental applications, geo-bio-hydro-chemical characterisation and modelling and sanitisation and hygienisation of environments with plasma technologies.
This agreement is in line with the goals of the 2020-2022 Strategic Plan of the University of Milano-Bicocca, which actively pursues and considers technology transfer activities and those related to the third mission as a priority.
For Eni, the collaboration represents a new and important step towards further strengthening its technological leadership in energy transition and it is part of the company’s desire to increase its network with the best of academic excellence.
The Rector of the University of Milano-Bicocca, Giovanna Iannantuoni, said: “This joint research agreement is part of a process of profound change in the relationship between the academic world and the business world. Universities, in recent years, have come to understand that they have to abandon their ivory towers, opening the doors of laboratories and research centres, sharing knowledge and ideas, in an intense and fruitful dialogue with the production system. Our university has embarked on this cultural revolution by expressing it through technology transfer and third mission activities.
A fundamental strategy for launching research projects that can contribute to innovation and to the progress of society.”
The CEO of Eni, Claudio Descalzi, commented: “The technological variety represents the main way to face the energy transition in the many areas in which it is necessary to intervene in order to reduce emissions. And for Eni it is the key tool for achieving the complete decarbonisation of industrial processes and products as part of its strategy, a concrete path for which we have already taken important steps. In this sense, collaborations with the scientific world and with academic excellence, such as the University of Milano-Bicocca, are essential for us to further progress at a technological level and to create a system at the national level.”