The Universitat Politècnica de València presented this afternoon the UPV Patronage project, a project to connect the contributions of companies, entities and individuals with the pioneering projects of the university in the image and likeness of numerous European and North American universities, “a pending subject in Spain” , points out the UPV.
The presentation event included the participation of Fernando Candela, president and CEO of IBERIA and Alumni UPV; David Salvo, CEO of Power Electronics and UPV Patron; and Marco Muñoz, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he currently serves as an advisor to the rector’s office. Additionally, Muñoz is director of strategic projects at the Ragon Institute (Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT and Harvard).
At the event, the rector of the UPV, José Capilla, and the president of the Social Council, Mónica Bragado, awarded the Great Patron 2024 recognitions to four companies and entities whose contribution has had a “significant positive impact on the university and society “. They are the energy company bp, the multinational Bayer Crop Science, the Spanish Association of Ceramic Tile and Flooring Manufacturers (ASCER) and Banco Santander. Both have presented these awards, while Bragado has emphasized that “patronage is an investment in the future and a commitment to innovative projects.”
Likewise, the rector of the UPV has announced the creation of a new line of patronage: Net Zero UPV, whose purpose is to contribute to the carbon neutrality of the university. “The UPV wants to lead by example, since these efforts not only benefit our university community, but also society as a whole,” said the rector.
Among the actions planned in Net Zero UPV are the installation of new photovoltaic panels, as well as the construction of rest spaces that will have solar charging points and shaded areas with vegetation adapted to climate change. New outdoor fountains will also be installed to reduce bottled water consumption, as well as parking spots for bicycles and electric scooters. Also recognized at the event was David Salvo, CEO of Power Electronics and first patron of Net Zero UPV, whose initial donation to the project consisted of five electric vehicle chargers installed on the UPV campuses.