Webuild CEO Pietro Salini: "Genoa inspiration for a new model of operation and  innovation, to support Italy's development by enhancing the value of young people"

 

Genoa, September 15, 2021 - The UniWeLab Hackathon Award starts today. This marathon for innovation, promoted by Webuild together with the University of Genoa, as part of UniWeLab, is a research lab and open innovation model that was born from the collaboration between these two realities. Students of the University of Genoa will discuss innovative and creative proposals, to make Genoa's future more sustainable, with a competition of ideas regarding the Genoa flyover, for its alternative use or improvement, with a view to the future construction of the subport tunnel that will connect San Benigno to Calata Gadda. The winners of the competition of ideas, which will be announced on September 16, will have the opportunity to undertake an internship within Webuild, leader in the sector of sustainable mobility.

Webuild CEO Pietro Salini said: "Investing in the future of young people in universities and technical institutes, for a recovery that starts with the new generations is the best way to help make Italy a more competitive system on a global scale. 43% of our direct company resources is under the age of 35, with an average age of 38 for the entire population. We are experiencing a unique moment for Italy, and Liguria is a fervent example of what the result of an effective collaboration between companies, universities and institutions can be, in an extended collaborative approach. Italy has a great opportunity to change for the better, with the resources of the PNRR and with the political will to make infrastructure investment projects throughout the country real. Webuild intends to contribute to providing creative and innovative solutions, giving young people the opportunity to have a concrete internship experience in a company. Genoa can continue to be the inspiration for a new model of operating and innovating ".

Federico Delfino, the Rector of the University of Genoa, commented: "Our University is honoured by the collaboration with Webuild, which is already close to Genoa and Liguria, with the construction of important works. The agreement, signed recently, allows us to offer our students and graduates a real opportunity to deal with the work arena, coming into contact with a dynamic reality of international prestige and closely connected with the development areas of tomorrow, and in crucial sectors like infrastructure and mobility ".

The UniWeLab Hackathon Award is a new chapter in the bond that unites Webuild to the city of Genoa, where the Group completed the construction of the Genoa San Giorgio Bridge in record time. The initiative originates from the framework agreement signed between Webuild and the University of Genoa which establishes the mutual commitment to promote and carry out research of common interest, in their respective production sectors and from which UniWeLab was born in February 2021.

The collaboration with the University of Genoa is part of the collaboration programme with universities, in addition to training activities, scholarships and talent attraction for young people, which Webuild has been carrying out for years in partnership with many universities in Italy and around the world. A sign of attention for the new generations, which translates into initiatives aimed at professional orientation, the selection of talented profiles, their inclusion in the Group's global construction sites, as well as tutoring for career paths in the construction sector. Other agreements have been made with Italian universities too: i.e. the Milan Polytechnic or Bocconi University, and with universities in countries of interest to the Group, such as the University of Technology in Sydney, and the University of Melbourne in Australia.