They will collaborate to develop research and continue on the path of innovation: Pirelli and the Milan Polytechnic renew the JOINT LABS agreement, strengthening the partnership in terms of innovative materials and study in the tire sector.
The signing and presentation of the agreement took place at the Polytechnic, in the presence of Marco Tronchetti Provera, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pirelli, Giovanni Azzone, Rector of the Milan Polytechnic, Giampli Bracchi, President of the Milan Polytechnic Foundation, Ferruccio Resta, President Joint Labs Management Committee and Maurizio Boiocchi, General Manager Technology Pirelli.
This new phase of the three-year agreement (2015-2017) focuses on the following research areas:
F1 tyre: development of mathematical models that simulate the behavior of the tire in terms of grip and wear in relation to the roughness of the road surfaces;
innovative materials: new nanofillers, natural rubber from alternative crops, innovative chemicals and elastomers;
intelligent tire (Cyber Tyre): development of mathematical models that allow the chip contained in the Cyber Tire to extract useful information for intelligent vehicle control and the development of value-added services;
new lines of research in the modeling area: launch of a project on the development of tools and methodologies for the advanced virtual design of the tyre.
The Rector of the Milan Polytechnic, Giovanni Azzone, stated: – “Today, after the birth of the Joint Labs in 2011, we are renewing our commitment to collaborate to bring ever higher tire performance by opening up new research frontiers, particularly in their design. The potential of this extraordinary material that is rubber represents an exciting challenge for us with important repercussions also on road safety".
An important synergy between the Bicocca company and the Milanese university which, during the previous agreement, saw important results in terms of tire performance, its level of safety and sustainability thanks to advanced materials.
“Pirelli is focused on the development of innovative technologies at the service of mobility – underlined Marco Tronchetti Provera, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pirelli -. In this effort, the Politecnico di Milano represents for us a fundamental strategic partner and a now historic point of reference. The Joint Labs agreement, which we renewed today, is an example of how collaboration between industry and universities can generate scientific knowledge and business opportunities at the same time".
“Pirelli is one of our founders – explains Giampli Bracchi, President of the Milan Polytechnic Foundation – since 2003, he has been promoting frontier interdisciplinary research with us, which has involved various University competencies. Making collaboration between companies and universities systematic is confirmed as a priority for industrial growth and for the enhancement of academic research".
The bond between the Polytechnic and Pirelli is the result of a long-lasting synergy. It was after graduating from the Polytechnic that Giovanni Battista Pirelli's career developed: it was one of his teachers, and future Rector, Giuseppe Colombo, who pushed him to embark on the adventure towards a new industry, that of rubber, by founding in 1872 the company Pirelli&C.
Currently, among the most important collaborations, there is the CIFE Foundation, the international center of Photonics for Energy, born in 2010 from the collaboration between the National Research Council, the Milan Polytechnic Foundation and Pirelli & C SpA. In 2008 the chair was also established “Chemical Foundations of Rubber and Composite Technology”.
