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.

This initiative, promoted by UniSMART – Fondazione Università di Padova, aims to bridge the gap between academic research and the business world, fostering the development of innovative solutions to transform cities into smart and sustainable ecosystems. Through a series of meetings and workshops, the project encourages 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 opportunity 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 focused on two crucial aspects: 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 discussed 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, offering further insights into strategies and tools for tackling the energy transition.

We are proud to have hosted an event that aligns perfectly with our vision of innovation and sustainability—core principles that drive our work at Manens S.p.A. As Eng. Finotti emphasized, fostering dialogue between research and industry is key to developing tangible solutions for the future. A special thanks to UniSMART and all participants for their contributions to this insightful day of knowledge sharing and collaboration.