Millechili

“Mille Chili” Laboratory inaugurated with Ferrari contribution at Engineering department at University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 17th February 2009 – Related to the research and development projects of new models, weight reduction has always been a major goal for Ferrari, which also leads to less fuel consumption and reduced emissions. Numerous technological innovations in this direction have been incorporated in the Ferrari models over the last years. Recently a project called “MilleChili” has been presented. The symbolic target of this project is the overall weight of the car (mille chili = 1,000 kg), which represents a stimulus to direct the technical decisions, which go against the possibilities of lightness.
Today the project takes a step forward in its development, thanks to collaboration with the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, especially with its Engineering department. Today the Mille Chili” Laboratory has been inaugurated at the department. It is a lecture room equipped with hardware, software and chassis from Ferrari to study research projects developed by the faculty’s undergraduates, aiming at a weight reduction. Eight undergraduates will work at the “MilleChili” laboratory. They can rely on the support of their teaching staff and some Ferrari engineers.
The inauguration was held in the presence of the students, the teaching staff and the President of the faculty Professor Giuseppe Cantore, while for Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa and Mario Mairano, Head of Human Resources and General Secretariat, were present.
Engineer Felisa said: “It is a great pleasure to inaugurate this laboratory, which will work on a very important issue for the future. The experience confirms that constant collaboration between private industry and University is a fundamental part, and contributes to growth for both parties: the University has to work with not exclusively theoretic issues, while the industry can confront itself with new ideas.” On the subject of University and innovation Amedeo Felisa reminded that “Ferrari will finance six scholarships in the area of research by young graduates/undergraduates in Engineering, Physics, Architecture and Human Studies at Italian and international Universities. This shows the attention our Company has for the young to increase the value of creativity and competence.”