ANSAmed
Rome’s La Sapienza University and Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco, have signed a cooperation agreement that will focus engineering students’ research on alternative sources of energy.
The accord is the first of its kind between the two universities and the two countries.
It is sponsored by Marita Group, a Moroccan holding company that works in the real estate, energy and environmental sectors; and the Italian renewable energy company Green Power Energy Group.
Once the project is running at full speed, it will bring 300 students from Italy to Mohammed V University and the same number of Moroccan students to La Sapienza, in a research and knowledge exchange to develop projects, possible patents, and initiatives for start-ups and spin-offs.
The memorandum of understanding for the project was signed at La Sapienza in the frescoed hall of the Engineering Department in Rome, by Paolo Gaudenzi, director of La Sapienza’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMA); Rahhal Boulgoute, president of Marita Maroc; and Christian Barzazi, board member at Green Power.
“We are looking with interest at Morocco’s strategic vision on the topic of alternative energy,” said Gaudenzi.
“Borders don’t exist and distances are becoming shorter, if we think in terms of opportunities for young people and innovation for the countries,” said Boulgoute.
In the coming months in Rabat, the final agreements will be established between the universities and the individual departments, with the collaboration to begin work during the current academic year.
Green Power Group (GGP) and Marita control Masdar Energy, the Moroccan company that offers improved energy efficiency and development of large power plants for public and private entities.
La Sapienza’s DIMA has 12,000 engineering students and focuses on research in mechanical and aerospace engineering as well as biomedical research and nanotechnology.
