On Wednesday, February 20, Sapienza University and the Italian Ministry of the Defence signed a memorandum of agreement for environmental protection. Minister Elisabetta Trenta and Rector Eugenio Gaudio signed the agreement to promote research activities and advanced education on energetic efficiency.

“Today, the Ministry of Defence, both as part of its functions and as a component of the state,” declared Minister Elisabetta Trenta, “is called to increasingly interact with the external world, by providing its dual use capabilities and by pursuing synergies to pursue its institutional objectives. The strong relation between the Department of Defence and universities is not only a consolidated reality, but also a factor for a successful national security and defence strategy, even in a delicate field such as that of energy sources.”

“Thanks to this agreement,” declaresRector Eugenio Gaudio, “Sapienza will provide its contribution to the optimization and reduction of energy consumption to reduce waste. Energy efficiency, in its various aspects, is not only a need to reduce costs, but also a concrete answer to the general need for environmental protection. It is an objective that public institutions must pursue for the national good. Studying and educating,” concludes the Rector, “provide a way to reach the emission reduction objective that is required by a number of international agreements.”

The three-year agreement, promoted by the “Ministry Energy Project” Organisation, will address advanced education in the field of renewable energy production, the correct management of the waste cycle and theoretical principles underlying smart grids and cities. In particular, the collaboration also entails the experimentation of innovative technological solutions, the implementation of best practice pilot projects and the promotion of energy auditing campaigns.

The Ministry of Defence and Sapienza will jointly promote conferences, workshops, educational and stages, as well as promote theses on issues of common interest.