OREANDA-NEWS. Eni and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative (MITEI) announced the launch of the Eni-MIT Energy Society during the "Italianissimo!" event held at the Boston Public Library.

Eni is a founding member of MITEI and its largest energy research sponsor. As part of its commitment, Eni supports ten Eni-MIT Energy Fellows per year on energy and environmental projects. Sixty Eni-MIT Energy Fellows and more than one hundred graduate students have been supported by Eni since 2008 and are now the inaugural members of the Eni-MIT Energy Society. The Society establishes a forum for long-term relationships between Eni and the MIT students, past and present, who have benefited from Eni’s support and who have contributed to a diverse array of energy research projects and innovations.

For Eni’s CEO Paolo Scaroni, "the creation of the Eni-MIT Energy Society is an example of how energy, culture and relationships can come together. It also provides a robust new opportunity to unite Eni’s skills with MIT’s excellence in scientific and technological research".

Of the Society, MITEI Director Bob Armstrong said, "Eni’s support for MIT energy students has been an important contribution to bringing the best and brightest students to address the world’s energy challenges. The Eni-MIT Energy Society brings a new dimension to our partnership by strengthening the network of students connected to Eni and its vital energy research agenda".

Earlier this year, Eni and MIT renewed their long-term strategic partnership. MIT President Rafael Reif and Eni CEO Paolo Scaroni celebrated the successes of the first five years and established the path forward for this highly successful energy research collaboration.

Eni’s research projects at MIT span the entire energy spectrum, from solar energy, to traditional hydrocarbons, to methane hydrates. Advanced solar research has also been a significant focus of the Eni-MITEI partnership. The Eni-MIT Solar Frontiers Center established in May 2010 serves as a central hub for this research drive and many Eni-MIT Energy Fellows work on these projects. The Eni-MIT Solar Frontiers Center is home to many notable innovations, including the development of solar cells printed on paper. It will also explore flexible photovoltaics, biologically inspired technology and solar concentrators in the coming years.

"Italianissimo!", of which Eni is a presenting sponsor, is an event dedicated to Italian style and culture, enters its second year this month. This initiative is a chance for people to fully immerse themselves into Italian culture, and aims to raise funds for the creation of an Italian Cultural Center in Boston. This year’s Italianissimo is part of the 2013: Year of Italian Culture in the United States events, of which Eni is a Corporate Ambassador. The event was organized in collaboration with the City of Padova and a portion of the funds will go towards supporting Boston Marathon victims.