Distinguished U.S. Students Win Italian Technology Award to Study Advanced Engineering in Italy
 
NOVEMBER 2015 – The Italian Trade Agency (ITA) is pleased to announce the U.S. winners of the twelfth Italian Packaging Technology Award (IPTA) and sixth Italian Machine Tool Technology Award (IMTTA). ITA will honor recipients for their outstanding theses submission and academic scholarship with a one-week, respectively, educational trip to Italy commencing November 29, 2015 and concluding on December 5, 2015.
 
The 2015 winners will join distinguished students from five countries in an intense education program at the Università Carlo Cattaneo – LIUC to discuss innovations and best practices in machinery and technology sectors.
 
The program will not only provide academic growth, but an excellent opportunity for practical experience in international collaboration. After which, students will tour top Italian machinery manufacturing factories and discover firsthand innovative technologies which have made Italian manufacturers recognized world leaders. Students will also be extended cultural and historic tours of various Italian cities while in Italy.
 
The initiative’s fundamental mission is to enrich the engineering education of U.S. students. ITA-Chicago sponsors IMTTA in collaboration with UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE (Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machine Tools, Robots, Automation Systems & Ancillary Products) and with the lent support of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Education Foundation (SMEEF). IPTA is sponsored in conjunction with the Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association (UCIMA), a number of leading US unversities and ITA-Chicago. As collaborative partners in the initiative, each organization is motivated to support ITA’s mission to advance knowledge globally within the machine manufacturing industry for the next generation of engineering professionals.
 
Faculty from participating Universities will accompany each delegation. This year’s US faculty includes esteemed South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Dr. Duane Abata for the machine tool element and from the Rochester Institute of Technology, Dr. Carlos Diaz-Acosta per the packaging element.

On December 1^st, 2015 in Italy, outside Milan, the students and professors from this year’s award programs will be acknowledged at a special ceremony hosted at Varese’s Centro Congressi Ville Ponti.
 
2015 International Italian Technology Award U.S. Recipients:

Machine Tool Award      
Daniel Nix, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Jena Kreuzer, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Matthew Goelz, Indiana State University
David Kriesberg, University of Maryland
 
Packaging Award          
Joshua Diblin, University of Florida
Karen Aranha, Rochester Institute of Technology
 
The Italian Trade Agency:
The Italian Trade Agency is the Italian government agency entrusted with the promotion of trade, business opportunities and industrial co-operation between Italian and foreign companies. It supports the internationalization of Italian firms and their consolidation in foreign markets. The Agency's educational programs are based on the following pillars: research, innovation, communication and quality control of training processes. The Agency has agreements and programs with Italian Regions and local governments for the education and training of technical personnel, students and firms. Visit http://www.italtrade.com/usa.  
 
UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE (Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machine Tools, Robots, Automation Systems and Ancillary Products):
The objective of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, the Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machine Tools, Robots, Automation Systems and Ancillary Products, has always been to promote the interests of the industry and the growth and spread of an entrepreneurial culture through the supply of services that are constantly updated to meet the requirements of the companies operating in this particular sector. Visit www.ucimu.it/.   
 
Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association (UCIMA):
UCIMA groups the Italian Manufacturers of Automatic Packing and Packaging Machinery. Its members represent 70% of the total Italian production and, on average, 80% of Italian exports. One packaging machine out of every four in the world bears the wording “Made in Italy.” The worldwide success of the Italian packing and packaging industry is firmly rooted in a consolidated technological tradition and in the ability to find customized packing solutions. Visit www.ucima.it.
 
SME Education Foundation:
The SME Education Foundation is committed to inspiring, preparing and supporting the next generation of manufacturing engineers and technologists in the advancement of manufacturing education. Created by SME in 1979, the SME Education Foundation has provided more than $33 million since 1980 in grants, scholarships and awards through its partnerships with corporations, organizations, foundations and individual donors. Visit the SME Education Foundation at smeef.org. Follow @mfgeducation on Twitter or facebook.com/SME.Education.Foundation.
 
Università Carlo Cattaneo - LIUC:
LIUC is an independent, state-recognized institution situated in the small town of Castellanza, within easy reach of Milan. The University is an important example of the tradition for initiative and entrepreneurship in this part of Italy. It was founded on the initiative of the Industrial Association of the Province of Varese and was immediately recognized for its close relationships with the business world. The university is organized in three Faculties (Business & Economics, Business Law and Management Engineering). In 1999, the university was the first non-public university to offer a bachelor in Management Engineering in Italy. Visit www.liuc.it.