UNITI SMART CITY: A Discussion on Energy Transition
On Thursday, March 27, we had the pleasure of hosting the first meeting of the UNITI SMART CITY – Energy Transition: From Research to Business project at our headquarters in Padova. Promoted by UniSMART – Fondazione Università di Padova.
This initiative seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and the business sector, fostering the development of innovative solutions to transform cities into smart and sustainable ecosystems.
Through a series of meetings and workshops, the project promotes collaboration between universities, companies, and institutions, addressing key topics such as energy transition, sustainable mobility, and resource efficiency.
The March 27 event provided a valuable platform for discussion among businesses, researchers, and industry experts, exploring both the challenges and opportunities of energy transition.
The session opened with remarks from Eng. Giorgio Finotti, CEO of Manens S.p.A.; Fabio Poles, Director of UniSMART; and Fabrizio Dughiero, Director of the Department of Industrial Engineering (DII) at the University of Padova.
This was followed by a roundtable discussion, moderated by Paolo Giardullo, featuring contributions from Daniele Carniello, EcoStruxure Technology Advisor at Schneider Electric; Roberto Zecchin, Advisor & Consultant at Manens S.p.A.; Andrea Taffurelli from Energy S.p.A.; and Marco Vanzetto from AcegasApsAmga. The debate centered on two critical issues: strategies to navigate the energy transition in a landscape marked by urgent challenges and inefficient buildings, and the role of end-users in driving change. Speakers examined how new technological paradigms can enable a transition that is not only environmentally sustainable but also economically and socially viable.
The discussion continued with workshops led by the MARTES Group and Professors Francesco Lucchini and Arturo Lorenzoni from the DII, providing further insights into strategies and tools for tackling the energy transition.
Bringing together experts and stakeholders for this event was a meaningful opportunity to advance our shared vision of innovation and sustainability—principles that define our mission at Manens S.p.A.
A special thanks to UniSMART and all participants for contributing to this insightful day of knowledge-sharing and collaboration.
