STMicroelectronics and University of Catania to collaborate on power-electronics training

The University of Catania (Italy) and STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor provider, announced the signing of a framework agreement on education and research activities in power electronics. The collaboration aims to foster academic and professional training of students and nurture research for technological innovation.

The University of Catania and STMicroelectronics sign agreement to collaborate on power-electronics training and research.

Key to a sustainable energy future, power electronics manage the flow of electric energy inside all systems and applications by supplying the appropriate voltages and currents to power the electronics used in all end-products.

Addressing the challenge to improve efficiency, reduce loss, and optimize costs, ST and the University of Catania have agreed to collaborate in the development and teaching of multi-disciplinary courses — as well as the coordination of research projects, graduation theses, and post-graduate internships in Power Electronics.

“The collaboration between ST and the University of Catania has roots in the past and has produced excellent results in many sectors, while making significant contributions to growth in the Etna Valley,” said Francesco Priolo, rector of University of Catania. “Today, this new framework agreement marks a turning point in relations with ST and a further qualitative leap towards a strategic alliance in one of the crucial sectors for the trends expected in the coming years: Power Electronics.”

Priolo added: “Working side-by-side, this cooperation will contribute to significantly raise the University’s national and international profile in research areas such as power-based electronics and innovative materials.”

The joint activities are set to investigate new application topologies and the development of new power devices using innovative methodologies on both currently used materials and new ones. Moreover, it will also look at reliability analysis and advanced modelling of power modules, and manufacturing-process simulation and characterization.

“Power electronics is at the heart of sustainable technology and products across all the applications of our personal and professional lives: they enable smart mobility, industrial systems, consumer electronics and communication infrastructure,” said Marco Monti, president, Automotive and Discrete Group, STMicroelectronics. “This agreement with the University of Catania is an important step forward in promoting STEM curricula and encouraging young talents to pursue the exciting path of research and development of new power-electronics applications and devices that will help address the challenges of a more sustainable energy future.”