A future-oriented collaboration that combines academic excellence and industrial expertise to promote innovation in critical digital infrastructures
Vertiv (NYSE: VRT), a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, has signed a framework collaboration agreement with the University of Bologna, one of the most prestigious academic institutions in Europe and the oldest university in the Western world, founded in 1088. The five-year agreement establishes a broad collaboration, focused on knowledge development, skills enhancement and local impact.
“For Vertiv, the collaboration with the University of Bologna is a strategic step that allows us to combine advanced research, technological innovation and talent development,” says Giovanni Zanei, vice president large power conversion of Vertiv. “Joining forces with the University means contributing not only to regional growth, but also to the generation of knowledge and solutions that will impact digital projects and infrastructures globally.”
“This agreement,” observes Giovanni Molari, rector of the University of Bologna, “represents a virtuous model of collaboration between university and business, capable of generating shared value, concrete opportunities for students and researchers, and new paths for sustainable development.”
Key initiatives include research, development and innovation projects funded at regional, national and European levels, technical-scientific consultancy, scholarships, research grants, doctoral programmes, as well as the creation of shared laboratories and research infrastructures. Particular attention will be dedicated to the promotion and dissemination of results through seminars, events and forums on cutting-edge topics.
On the training front, Vertiv's qualified experts will contribute to educational programs from undergraduate to doctorate, including specialized training courses, Summer and Winter Schools and interdisciplinary programs. The collaboration also includes up-skilling and re-skilling initiatives for Vertiv employees, with the possible establishment of a School dedicated to Higher Education. Students and recent graduates will benefit from curricular internships, recruiting events and international opportunities within Vertiv's global network.
The framework agreement also addresses technology transfer, with collaborations on patents, start-ups and university spin-offs, as well as workshops, contests and open innovation initiatives, with particular attention to public involvement, sustainability and social innovation, through projects that benefit the territory and the community.
