A place for research, study and reflection. A lively and dynamic environment where researchers, scientists and talented young people will work in a team to investigate, discover, invent and create the future, taking up the challenge of innovation.
It is a dream that will soon come true. Ecor Research International Campus: an area of over 37,000 square metres on the beautiful hills of Modena at the foot of the Apennines, in the Castelvetro di Modena municipality, in the area called “La Bolognina”.
The Campus will specifically carry out R&D activities in the field of Advanced Mechanical Engineering, Space and Defence. It will create new jobs for a highly-skilled team of up to 50 people, when running at full speed. These professionals will be committed to studying and developing new materials, as well as enabling technologies connected to them, and to the integrated designing of high-efficiency and low-cost mechanical systems. Moreover, a specific area will deal with the installation of test rigs. As you can imagine, this is not going to be a new production plant – which, it is important to point out, will always be based in Schio, at Ecor Research Headquarters- but a laboratory specifically dedicated to research activities.
The place where the Campus will rise up hasn’t been chosen haphazardly. Indeed, it will sink roots in a lively entrepreneurial activity area, nearby Modena, where several manufacturing companies operating in the automation sector are located.
The Campus will be composed of various buildings with specific functions. First of all, there’ll be some laboratories which will work independently from one-another and will be made up of three rooms and a small service unit. This layout has been developed so as to promote the independent work of the research areas, which will therefore be allowed to operate autonomously according to their needs. Secondly, a conference room will hold meetings and specialized courses. The technical and administration offices, front office, refreshment area and a guest room will be the result of the restoration of an old and abandoned farm house. As you can see, instead of building up a new facility from scratch, it has been decided to restore a historical land context, as a result of an exhaustive study and evaluation in the design phase. The designers’ report define it as a place “that seems to spread serenity and concentration, able to boost and make space for creativity in line with a sense of harmony in the workplace that can be of help when taking practical choices”.
This is why every single choice has been made as to integrate the laboratories in the land. For the same reason, environmentally-friendly materials will be used: glass, wood, stone and gravel. For example, the possibility of using an external coating in lacquered or natural wood stave, a ritter paving connecting the laboratories and a wood outdoor paving is being considered.
Works started in 2014 with the clearing and clean-up of the “La Bolognina” area. The works of renovation of the building that will hold the offices started at the end of the year and are due to finish by mid-2016. The objective is to finalise the project in two years’ time.
Ecor Research General Manager and Chief Technical Officer Fabrizio Casadei, tells his vision of the project:
«This is an ambitious investment that will lead to the creation of a high-level campus. This place will boost the development of technology for automatic machinery and precision mechanics, and at the same time it will represent a strategic moment of reflection».
This underlying strategy highlights the importance of investment in research, which is nonetheless without risks.
«Research is going to be a key factor for Ecor Research competitiveness – Casadei adds-. If we consider that a company can’t make a big profit or a sure profit margin through Research only, this isn’t a direct business. Nevertheless, we strongly believe in this dream, as we are confident it is a tool that is functional to the business. This is a policy that requires a strong expertise and organization which Ecor possesses, particularly if we consider the large number of engineers that are part of its team».
It will be, in the end, a place for research, development, to boost innovation and new ideas, a place where team work and relationship-building will be key factors.
«The Campus is an industrial initiative that will involve the academic world and the institutions too. I’m confident it will represent a real heritage of substantial national value, as well as a centre where relationships among people are built».
@EcorIntern