Two hundred and fifty thousand euros, for 17 projects in three areas, economy, engineering and agriculture, intended for deserving young graduates: this is the research support program “PM Campus: Empowering Research Award”, supported by Philip Morris International through Philip Morris Italia and Intertaba and arrived today in Bologna at the stage of awarding the winners.
The appointment was held at the Mast, an arts center donated by the entrepreneur Isabella Seragnoli (GD) in the Emilian capital. And it is thanks to the presence of GD, leader in cigarette packaging machines, that Philip Morris has decided to expand its presence in the Emilia region with the innovative Crespellano plant, which will see the light of day by the end of the year and if it continues to invest under the two towers.
The award-winning projects come from all over the country, are innovative and original and are curated not only by PhD students and university researchers but also by managers of the two affiliates of Philip Morris International, to facilitate the exchange of information between research and business.
Tobacco is the center of gravity of the works and they range from studies on the analysis of production costs, to those on mechanization, from drying ovens, to filters, from the aging of the workforce in Italy, to the excise tax system. The universities involved are, among others, Padua, Milan, Bologna, Perugia, Bari.
“We have tried to concentrate on our business – said the CEO of PM Italia Eugenio Sidoli – by bringing together theory and practice, which does not always happen”.
The awarding of the projects was done in the presence of the Minister of Labour Giuliano Poletti according to which “this is the right direction to take. Indeed, only thanks to the union of knowledge and business can Italy compete and stay in the top ranks of the rankings. Today, beautiful initiatives are multiplying and I would like them to become our normal way of proceeding. In our country the taste for discussion is highly developed, but we also need to act and decide. For example, we have already discussed the electoral law, changed it and approved it in the Senate”. Now we need to move forward: "those who govern must take responsibility for making things proceed".
