I am a transportation engineer with a keen interest in all things touching innovation and environmental sustainability. After several years as a consultant in the freight transportation and logistics industry, I have been putting the perfect combination of technical skills and development into practice at Gruber Logistics for about a year by now. In this new role as manager of sustainable innovation projects, I am following ZEFES and EMPOWER two EU co-funded projects that will lead Europe to take a big step towards more sustainable logistics.
What was your original motivation to become a researcher/project manager?
My experience in the transport sector began several years ago now and it has always been curiosity that has guided me to new experiences. The world around us is constantly changing and only with research can you expect to keep up with the times. In one word then, curiosity.
What is your (main) research area today?
In Gruber Logistics I am in charge of innovation projects related to sustainability, mainly in what concerns new technologies for the decarbonization of transport. I also take care of the GHG accountability in Gruber Logistics.
What is the main focus of your team in ZEFES?
We are responsible to support the manufacturers to deploy effective and performant vehicles, able to address the challenges of the future of logistics. Within the project we will be responsible for testing the new Fuel Cell Scania Truck in 2026 along the most relevant corridor between Italy and Germany though the Brenner Pass.
From all your activities within the project, what are you the most proud of/keen to share with the public?
We like research but we like even more put it into practice. We are next to run a pilot test along the Brenner axis to collect data and information together with our colleagues at RICARDO AUTOMOTIVE & INDUSTRIAL, FRAUNHOFER INSTITUTE and TNO. At the same time we are deeply involved at European Level fostering the right way for decarbonizing the transport sector.
How do you expect the ZEFES results will impact your organisation and the transport sector in Europe?
We are acquiring new skills and training our experts toward new technologies, and this will help us to introduce sustainable innovations more quickly and effectively. Through the actions of ZEFES, we would lay the foundation for the development of electric freight transport in Europe.
