Three students from the University of Pisa won second place in the Switch Competition, one of the most prestigious international challenges dedicated to sustainable energy solutions. Samuel Worku Demise, Yonas Girma Tekele and Abij Kinfle Assefa were the protagonists of this success. They are enrolled on the Master’s degree course in Paper and Cardboard Engineering, based in Lucca, in the 2023 and 2024 academic years. Their project stood out for its innovative and realistic ten-year energy transition strategy in Ethiopia, demonstrating how the engineering skills acquired in the Lucca district can be applied to solve complex energy crises in international contexts.
The Switch Competition is a multidisciplinary competition organised by the Switch Energy Alliance, a non-profit organisation based in the United States. The significance of this award is highlighted by the scale of the competition, which has recently attracted over 3,600 participants from 58 countries. It showcases the best international university talent. Its mission is to train the next generation of energy leaders by challenging students to address real-world issues such as energy poverty, sustainability, and equitable access to resources. Through its rigorous case study and live presentation format in front of a jury of industry experts, the competition offers an unparalleled global showcase.
In addition to prestigious recognition and cash prizes of up to $10,000 for the winners, success in the competition opens up networking opportunities with professionals and partner companies worldwide. This confirms the high value of the University of Pisa’s academic training on the international stage.
“This result highlights the ability of the Lucca master’s degree course to train professionals capable of leading the energy transition and proposing concrete solutions for a more sustainable and equitable future,” commented Professor Marco Frosolini, president of the EPC degree course. “The success of our students is a source of great pride and highlights their skills and competencies, which they have also developed through the work carried out in the classroom by our lecturers. We congratulate the three students on the project they presented.”
