Fiat Automóveis and Fiat
Powertrain Technologies (FPT) have just established in
Brazil a cooperation agreement with CETEC Cetec,
Fundação Centro Tecnológico de Minas Gerais
(Technological Center Foundation of Minas Gerais), with
the intervention of the Sectes, Secretaria de Estado
de Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (State
Secretary for Science, Technology and Higher Education).
The objective of the agreement is to promote
technical-financial-scientific cooperation and joint
development of technological innovation projects related
with the field of mobility.
Among the priority
projects are the development of resin and plant fiber
composites for new applications in automotive vehicle
components and the synthesis of new nanotechnology
structured ceramic materials and the development of
processes of their application as thermal barrier and
low friction surfaces in internal combustion engines,
aiming at the increase of energetic efficiency. Another
concern of cooperation is the study of behavior of
mineral diesel and soy biodiesel and bovine lard
mixtures and assessment of effects of their uses in
engines for application in collective transportation
vehicles.
The cooperation
is developed within the scope of protocol of intents
that the State of Minas Gerais signed, on November 19,
2008, with CRF – Centro Ricerche Fiat SpA, Fiat’s
research center located in Italy, through which the
signatories defined their intention of developing
efforts for execution of projects of common interest,
involving proper research structures and also
Universities, Research Centers and other Centers of
Excellence. The agreement is signed by Cetec President,
Alfredo Gontijo, Fiat and Fiat Group president,
Cledorvino Belini; the superintendent of FPT –
Powertrain Technologies, Franco Ciranni, and the State
Secretary for Science, Technology and Higher Education,
Alberto Duque Portugal.
Incentive to research
In partnership as well with the Secretary for Science,
Technology and Higher Education and Fapemig (Research
Protection Foundation of the State of Minas Gerais;
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais),
Fiat launched, last August 5, an invitation to bid for
studies on consumer behavior. With this initiative, the
automotive company expects to contribute towards the
generation of scientific knowledge in relation to new
behavior trends of the Brazilian consumer and the impact
of social changes on his business. With an initial value
of BRL 500,000, Fiat expects to receive projects in five
thematic lines: anthropology of consumption, measurement
of results, semiotics towards communication, electronic
trade and social networks.
In August 31, Fiat
promoted a technical seminar for presentation of the
research lines and all details of the invitation to bid
to interested investigators. The meeting counted on the
participation of 70 investigators, masters and doctors.
At the occasion, Fapemig president, Professor Mário Neto
Borges, and the adjunct secretary of Science, Technology
and Higher Education of Minas Gerais, Evaldo Vilela,
talked about the partnership’s contribution for the
development of the state of Minas Gerais. The
Relationship Marketing and Publicity Director, João
Ciaco, presented Fiat to the investigators and talked
about the importance of the agreement to the company:
“Partnership with Fapemig enables the closer tie between
Fiat and the state’s educational institutions, which
allows us to boost the generation of applied knowledge,
promoting innovation. The success of the Seminar
surprised our expectations. Renowned masters and doctors
showed to be engaged with the project, presenting
questions and intentions of extremely relevant proposals
and in harmony with what we expected”, Ciaco says. The
proposals will be received electronically by Fapemig
until September 30.
Fapemig and FPT
FPT – Powertrain Technologies maintains partnership with
Fapemig since August 2009, aiming at technical and
financial cooperation for summoning of masters and
doctors for joint work for the development of new
technologies, in search of energetic efficiency in
products and processes in the field of mobility. With
the partnership, it is allowing the execution of greater
closeness between FPT and universities through
integration with common activities and practical use of
academic scientific know-how’s. Besides this, FPT is
expanding the qualification of its professionals with
the exchange of know-how’s and experiences, as well as
increasing the search for innovations through academic
expertise of masters and doctors and generating an
increasingly larger number of patents.
