Universit� degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Economy and Planning visits the Department of Engineering Enzo Ferrari

On Tuesday, June 4th, 2024, at the Department of Engineering Enzo Ferrari (DIEF) of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE), a delegation composed of faculty from MUNER – Motorvehicle University of Emilia Romagna, UNIBO – University of Bologna, and UNIMORE – University of Modena and Reggio Emilia had the honor of hosting the Minister of Economy and Planning of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Faisal F. Alibrahim, and his ministerial delegation.

The visit is part of an initiative organized by the National Made in Italy Cluster to introduce the regional cluster system to the leading edge of the Saudi economy in the textile, furniture and automotive sectors, which in Emilia Romagna has received the valuable support of Clust-ER Mech.

During the visit, MUNER (Motorvehicle University Emilia-Romagna) and MOST (National Center for Sustainable Mobility) projects were presented, highlighting the excellence and innovation of our Region in the field of mobility and engineering, with particular reference to research in connected and autonomous vehicles and innovative lightweight materials.

The day began at the Engineering Campus in Modena with a warm welcome to the participants.

This was followed by an introductory session where the delegation presented the Saudi Arabian system and the motivations behind the visit, giving a clear overview of the collaboration opportunities.

This was followed by the presentation of Clust-ER MECH and the Emilia-Romagna cluster policy, in collaboration with ART-ER. This presentation highlighted the synergies between the various regional players in the field of advanced mechanics.

The morning continued with the presentation of MUNER - Motorvehicle University Emilia-Romagna, a joint initiative that brings together the 4 universities of the Emilia Romagna region and some of the most important companies in the automotive sector, with the aim of training highly qualified engineers.

The MASA/MOST project, which focuses on advanced solutions for sustainable mobility, was then presented.

After the presentations, the delegation had the opportunity to visit the Automotive Academy laboratories at UNIMORE, where some of the most innovative research projects currently underway were showcased. These projects include the design of high-performance chassis, cutting-edge additive manufacturing technologies, the development of innovative propulsion systems, and sensor systems for driver monitoring and off-highway applications.

After visiting the labs, the delegation moved to the university startup labs hosted by MillEmilia Emilia at the Techboard Group. Here, the activities of the startup HIPERT were presented and a demonstration of autonomous vehicles developed by Hipert and UNIMORE within MASA – the Modena Automotive Smart Area.

The day concluded with a light lunch where participants had the opportunity to discuss potential future collaborations in an informal setting. After lunch, closing remarks were made, concluding a day of productive exchange and promising prospects.

This meeting is an important opportunity to strengthen trade and collaboration between Italy and Saudi Arabia and to promote a fruitful exchange of knowledge and expertise. The presentation of our region's projects and excellence not only highlights our innovative capacity in the field of sustainable mobility and the automotive industry but also promotes cooperation between academic and industrial institutions on a global scale.

The visit of the Saudi Arabian Minister of Economy and Planning, His Excellency Faisal F. Alibrahim, underlines the strategic importance of our region in the international landscape of research and technological development. With the MUNER project and the National Center for Sustainable Mobility, Emilia-Romagna reaffirms its position as a center of excellence for training and innovation in the automotive sector, contributing to the creation of advanced solutions for increasingly sustainable and intelligent mobility.

Categorie: International - english