Smitec promotes university-industry collaboration

In Smitec working on joint projects with academics
is an estabilished best practice

Academic-industry collaborations are paramount for the social and economic growth of a country. While universities and their industry partners have different missions, they also have complementary skillsets.

In fact, both parties can mutually benefit from these collaborations. Academics have the opportunity to see their research have tangible impacts, thus narrowing the gap between education and employment. For companies, partnering with universities provides access to expertise and research, extends their resources, and sharpens their competitive advantage.

Understandably university-industry collaborations have been on a steady rise over the past few years. Even more so in Smitec, with senior students from local universities providing innovative ideas while drawing from the precious know-how the company has acquired on field.

An educational partnership is currently underway with a graduate student from Politecnico di Milano, who is earning a master's degree in Automation & Control Engineering. The subject of his dissertation is the development of a control system for smart filling applications.

The case-study experience in the company represents for the student - supported by Smitec skilled engineers - the phase of practical learning and consolidation of the theoretical notions assimilated in the classroom. The company also benefits from this exchange, drawing from it stimuli for the development of new technologies.

Meanwhile the knowledge exchange between Smitec and the University of Bergamo has successfully continued for over two years at the Point of Dalmine, a pole for technological innovation managed by Bergamo Sviluppo. The research project is focused on devising new solutions for predictive maintenance, from sensors design to the development of dedicated algorithms.

As of now Smitec engineers are working on a joint project with two research fellows from UniBg. The objective is developing new algorithms to control the movement of motors according to PLCOpen standard.