Michele Bianchi, CEO of RDM Group and President of Federazione Carta e Grafica, while attending the event, said: ‘It is a great pride for me to be here in Lucca, the city where I grew up and where I was able to build the foundations for my professional career in the paper industry. I have always felt tied to this world even since I was a child when I used to visit paper mills with my father. Therefore, I am twice as proud to carry on this family tradition and add new and significant experiences to it, such as being CEO of RDM Group and President of Federazione Carta e Grafica. However, please allow me to make at least two more personal remarks: as an engineer myself, I cannot help but be pleased with the success of the Master’s Degree Programme in Technology and Production of Paper and Cardboard, a demonstration of how paper is still relevant – even in a digital era such as ours. Moreover, as a native Tuscan, I firmly believe in the craftsmanship that our region has been developing up to the creation of a paper district in Lucca, one that is vital for both the Italian and international markets.’
The official opening ceremony, promoted by the Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering of the University of Pisa and co-financed by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca, was held on Tuesday, October 8th, at the Confindustria headquarters in Lucca.
‘We had the privilege of tackling some of the themes concerning the future of our region, but not limited to it,’ explained Prof. Marco Frosolini, President of the Master’s Degree Programme. ‘Climate change, renewable energies, and more general issues of raw material use are all subjects that concern both companies and the young people who are investing in training and research.’ ‘We must not forget that this is the only Master’s Degree Programme in Italy that focuses on the paper and papermaking sector and that we enjoy the support of Assocarta right from the very beginning,’ the President added.
We wish all students a wonderful new academic year!