Monday, 2 October 2017

Sergio Marchionne Doctor of Mechatronic Engineering

A speech on cars and new technologies: there’s a turning point ahead

Versione stampabile

At the honorary degree ceremony at the University of Trento, Sergio Marchionne praised the University for its achievements in research and teaching, and Polo Meccatronica for its capacity to create innovation.
His speech focused on electric and self-driving vehicles. The Department of Industrial Engineering proposed the award of the degree with these words: “For his exceptional professional achievements and his commitment and dedication in different industrial settings at top level internationally”.

The awarding ceremony took place this morning at Polo Meccatronica in Rovereto. Many people attended, including professors and students from the University of Trento and representatives of local institutions and companies with which the University of Trento has business relationships.
The award of an honorary degree is an important event for the University, that highlights the teaching and research work that the University has been doing in the area of mechatronics in close cooperation with Trentino Sviluppo and with the most active companies and innovation businesses at local level.

Rector Paolo Collini presented the award with these remarks: “We confer the degree of Doctor of Mechatronic Engineering to Sergio Marchionne for his merits in the industry sector”. A brief note on the location chosen for the event: “We are here at Polo Meccatronica because this place looks to the future and from here we see the impact of research and innovation on our region and its industrial sector”. Innocenzo Cipolletta, President of the Board of Directors of the University, underlined that: “Marchionne was able to transform a company that was in trouble into a large international corporation.” Ugo Rossi, President of the Autonomous Province of Trento, focused on local aspects: “We are working for the advancement of Trentino, to make it more open and internationally-oriented but, most of all, we want it to be a land of opportunity, especially for young generations”, and the challenge for our region is “to create a strong link between education and employment”.

The grounds for the award were given by Dario Petri, Director of the Department of Industrial Engineering. The nomination for the award of the title of Doctor of Mechatronic Engineering was submitted by the Department of Industrial Engineering to the Academic Senate of the University of Trento, which gave its approval. “The nomination - as stated in the department’s formal decision - has been approved because of the exceptional professional achievements and commitment and dedication of Mr. Marchionne in different industrial settings at top level internationally”. A clear strategic vision, timeliness, and independent thinking have marked his career. Thanks to these qualities, and to his professional competencies, he was able to face and to successfully conduct very complex negotiations, facilitating the comeback of the automotive industry in Italy and hence supporting innovation and development in mechatronic engineering”.

“We have decided to give this honoris causa degree to Sergio Marchionne - commented Mauro Da Lio (Department of Industrial Engineering) in a key part of the laudatio, the speech honouring the awardee - because he understood the challenges the automotive sector had to face, the technological advancements that was necessary at the time and the opportunities and risks associated with it, and led the development of a sector of the industry that is key from a social, economic and technological perspective”.

All the details in the press release (in italian).