Italian Machine Tool Technology Awards
For Immediate Release: CHICAGO (USA) - The “Italian Machine Tool Technology Award” program was recently announced by the Italian Trade Commission (ITC) in partnership with UCIMU – SISTEMI PER PRODURRE (the Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machine Tools, Robots, Automation Systems and Ancillary Products) and in cooperation with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers’ Education Foundation. The award program will ask students from a number of premier North American engineering programs to write technical papers addressing the metalworking industry.
The program’s goal is to strengthen awareness of Italian technology and innovation within various metalworking-related engineering research and education programs of the participating schools.
The competition is open to students in junior-, senior- or graduate-level degree programs. Eligibility will further be determined by each university’s faculty based on criteria such as grade point average, transcripts and co-op program activities. The submitted papers must be on topics relating to either “technical innovation in metalworking machinery manufacturing industry” or “innovation in material applications for the metalworking industry.”
The faculty may decide to integrate this competition into current academic courses, allowing students accreditation for their work. Each university program director/co-coordinator will select one student paper for submission to the SME Education Foundation. The Education Foundation panel of judges, chosen in accordance with guidelines established by the ITC and UCIMU, will make the final selection of papers that best exemplify the criteria established by these two organizations.
Winners will be awarded a trip to Italy, hosted by the ITC and UCIMU and chaperoned by representatives of the organizations. Planned for June 2006, the trip will include tours of Italian metalworking machinery manufacturers’ offices and facilities, a visit to the ITC’s headquarters in Rome and/or UCIMU’s offices in Milan, and other related activities.
“The program will allow North American mechanical engineering students to experience firsthand Italy’s new metallurgical technologies and marketing strategies,” said Paola Bellusci, Trade Commissioner of the ITC-Chicago Office. “In addition, Italian metalworking machinery manufacturers will have the opportunity to showcase their technology in action to these future decision-makers and end-users.”
Upon their return, students will submit a summary of the program and its impact on their engineering education. The 2006 edition winning papers will be officially announced in mid-April.
Media Contacts:
Italian Trade Commission - Chicago Office
Tel: (888) 482-5872 (ITALTRADE), Fax: (312) 264-6209
info@italtradeusa.com
UCIMU – SISTEMI PER PRODURRE
Dr. Alberto Nicolai
Tel: +39 02 26255358, Fax: +39 02 26255885
marketing.america@ucimu.it
SME Education Foundation
Mr. Bart Aslin
Tel: (313) 245-3302, Fax: (313) 425-3411
communications@sme.org
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS
The Italian Trade Commission (I.C.E., Istituto nazionale per il Commercio Estero) is the Italian government agency entrusted with the promotion of trade, business opportunities and industrial co-operation between Italian and foreign companies. It supports the internationalization of Italian firms and their consolidation in foreign markets. The Commission’s educational programs are based on the following pillars: research, innovation, communication and quality control of training processes, agreements and programs with Italian Regions and local government for the education and training of technical personnel, students and firms. www.italtrade.com/usa
The objective of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, the Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machine Tools, Robots, Automation Systems and Ancillary Products, has always been to promote the interests of the industry and the growth and spread of an entrepreneurial culture through the supply of services that are constantly updated to meet the requirements of the companies operating in this particular sector. www.ucimu.it
For the 25 years since it was formed by SME, the Education Foundation has supported the Society's mission by promoting an increased awareness of manufacturing career options among young people, helping them develop needed hands-on skills, and expanding and improving curricula and educational programs to better prepare tomorrow's leading engineers and technologists for the challenges of keeping their manufacturing operations competitive. www.sme.org/foundation
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Italian Trade Commission