New strategic alliance between Eni and Politecnico di Milano

Today Eni and Politecnico di Milano are inaugurating a new strategic scientific research alliance, based on innovation and development in the circular economy, digitalisation and the transition towards an increasingly more sustainable energy system. The Rector of Politecnico di Milano, Ferruccio Resta, and the CEO of Eni, Claudio Descalzi, signed the renewed framework agreement regulating the collaboration between the university and the company in the Politecnico today. The partnership dates back to 2008 and has involved research investments by Eni for about 40 million euro; also resulting in 16 patents with inventors from the Polytechnic.

The agreement renewal, to last three years plus an optional one, attributes a strategic character to the partnership. It is based on the three key routes that Eni intends to travel to develop its growth strategy: the circular economy, interpreted as the sustainability of production processes, optimising resources and minimising waste; the energy transition, with the study of innovative sector technologies and promotion of the use of natural gas; digitalisation, translated into operational excellence for environmental safety and protection.

As part of the agreement, Eni has also chosen the Politecnico di Milano as its partner to design and implement a training path of excellence, the 2^nd Level University Master’s in Energy Innovation.  This is a multi-discipline course enabling 25 young graduates with a master’s in engineering, physics,  chemistry and industrial chemistry to acquire the know how needed to operate in a continually, significantly innovative sector, the energy one. During the year, the students will study energy sector scenarios, sustainability and climate change, the most innovative oil&gas technologies (bio-fuels &green refinery, green chemistry), renewable energies and specific highly important technological subjects like storing energy and capturing CO2, and the digital technologies supporting the sector’s industrial processes in depth.  The students will be offered an advanced training and research apprenticeship lasting 12 months. When the Master’s is over, those obtaining the title successfully will be offered a contract with the company. The Master will start on 26 November 2018, the announcement of selection will expire on 1 October 2018.

The long-term collaboration between Politecnico di Milano and Eni is a partnership of excellence. By matching the needs expressed by industry and the opportunities offered by the academic world, it can generate a virtuous cycle and add value to scientific research as a service to the country and its industrial growth. Aimed at the union between academic world competences and industrial pragmatism, Eni collaborates with the most advanced Universities and Research Centres in Italy and the world.