Unimore’s LINE team wins second place at StartCup Emilia-Romagna 2025
The LINE project team from Unimore, which aims to develop a new generation of local thermal and electric power generators, has secured second place in the 25th edition of StartCup Emilia-Romagna, the regional competition that rewards the best entrepreneurial projects emerging from universities and research centres.
The LINE team is composed of two researchers and two professors from the “Enzo Ferrari” Department of Engineering: Professors Enrico Mattarelli and Carlo Alberto Rinaldini, experts in internal combustion engines, together with researchers Stefano Caprioli and Francesco Scrignoli, specialists in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and advanced fuel technologies.
The LINE project aims to create a new generation of local power generators that are more efficient, cost-effective and, above all, sustainable. At the heart of the innovation is a fuel-flexible engine capable of running, with minimal modifications, on biofuels such as hydrogen, ethanol and biogas. The idea stems from academic research and responds to a concrete need: reducing emissions associated with distributed energy generation.
“We realised that small generators used to supply power to construction sites, rural areas, hospitals and SMEs still rely on outdated technologies and fuels. There’s huge room for improvement in making them more efficient, affordable and environmentally friendly,” explains Stefano Caprioli.
The team has completed the concept design and CFD simulations for the preliminary development phase and is now building the first prototype for laboratory testing, supported by regional funding.
“The LINE engine will make it possible to use local, renewable biofuels, helping reduce emissions and promote the growth of energy communities and distributed generation—energy produced close to where it is consumed,” adds Francesco Scrignoli. “With LINE, we’re making a tangible contribution to the sustainable development goals related to clean energy and climate action.”
The recognition obtained at StartCup Emilia-Romagna 2025 marks an important milestone in Unimore’s broader commitment to technology transfer and the enhancement of university research.
Categorie: International - english, Notizie_eng
Articolo pubblicato da: Ufficio Stampa Unimore - ufficiostampa@unimore.it il 22/10/2025