GE Transportation has announced the inauguration of a centre of global excellence for leading railway signalling systems located in Sesto Fiorentino in Tuscany, near Florence.
The new centre works on the research and development of innovative technologies for the transportation sector, including software and hardware platforms for railway signalling and urban transport systems such as subways.
Such technologies are paving the way for the new generation of integrated and intelligent rail control solutions that rail operators now need to cost efficiently solve their operational and service improvement challenges.
The opening of the new centre was made possible after GE won a tender by the Region of Tuscany for strategic R&D projects in information and communications technologies and advanced mechanics.
The total investment for the Centre is equal to €15 million, including funds allocated by the Region of Tuscany.
The new centre currently employs about 30 individuals, primarily engineers, including 15 technologists already recruited from the University of Catania and from the University of Pisa and has granted 6 scholarships.
This Italian centre, which will develop new technologies for the domestic and global market, is expected to play an important role in GE’s global strategy and will work jointly with centres in the United States, Asia and Europe.
“The GE Transportation Centre in Tuscany is a project that will showcase technological excellence, not only on a national level, but worldwide, demonstrating that Italy is capable of offering enormous talent and significant innovation,” said Pierre Comte, President of GE Transportation Intelligent Control Systems (ICS).
“The initiative of the Region of Tuscany proved instrumental, as the Regional administration supported us with the utmost efficiency and speed.”
“GE Transportation is rapidly growing its capabilities in signalling software and technology to serve transportation customers around the globe with vital safety and network optimizing projects,” said Stephane Feray Beaumont, ICS Program Managing Director.
“The Tuscany centre will be a hub for groundbreaking ideas from the brightest minds in the industry.”
