The Future of Automotive for Intelligent Mobility Summer School is a concentrated educational experience designed for young researchers and recent graduates aiming to work in automotive R&D. Hosted in the Motor Valley region, the program blends classroom instruction with practical exposure inside leading companies to bridge academic knowledge and industrial practice. The initiative is part of the MUSE – Motorvehicle University Skills Empowerment project, co-financed by the Region of Emilia-Romagna and FSE+ 2026/2027, and it follows regional reporting obligations including Operazione Rif. P.A. 2026-22881/RER and CUP E93C24001710002.
Over two intensive weeks, participants will follow a curriculum that mixes formal lectures, hands-on workshops, company site visits and group project work. Sessions are delivered in English and are designed to expose attendees to multidisciplinary topics that will shape medium- and long-term developments in vehicle design, manufacturing and operation.
Program overview and learning goals
The goal of the school is to upskill outstanding technical profiles and to facilitate connection with MUNER partner companies. Through a combination of university sessions and industry immersion, participants will develop competence across multiple pillars: materials, powertrains, energy storage, manufacturing, and digital domains such as sensors, connectivity, power electronics, computing and artificial intelligence. Activities aim to help attendees understand both current engineering challenges and the strategic directions companies are pursuing.
What participants will experience
Activity types include 60 hours of lectures complemented by 20 hours of company visits and project activities. Lectures provide conceptual foundations while company interactions offer real-world context: touring production lines, meeting technical leaders, and observing how research transfers into products. Group projects encourage collaborative problem solving and allow participants to apply concepts to practical problems under the mentorship of academic and industry supervisors.
Practical information
The school runs for two weeks from July 20 – 31, 2026, and will be held on site in Bologna at the Department of Industrial Engineering (Unibo) as well as at participating MUNER partner companies and universities. All sessions are conducted in English to reflect the international orientation of automotive research and to support broad participation.
Who should apply and selection rules
The target audience includes students who have completed or are pursuing specialised studies, preferably at the PhD level, in areas relevant to the school. Applicants are expected to have a strong technical background—ideally a recent Master’s degree or ongoing doctoral studies in engineering disciplines related to the program topics. A minimum English level of B2 is required.
At least 14 participants must be residents or domiciled in Emilia-Romagna before registration; this residency rule does not apply to students enrolled at universities or AFAM institutes located in the region. The cohort is limited (typically around 30 places) and admission is competitive. Candidates submit an application form, a CV and a motivation letter and will be invited to an interview to evaluate technical skills, motivation and language proficiency. Acceptance notifications are sent by email.
How to apply and deadlines
Applications for the 2026 edition must be submitted by June 1, 2026. Interviews will follow during the subsequent week and applicants will receive instructions by email to join their interview. The final selection is made by the Scientific Committee, which assesses eligibility and fit with the program criteria. Accepted candidates will be provided with registration procedures and further logistical details.
To apply, candidates should prepare a concise curriculum vitae and a motivation letter explaining their research interests and expected contribution to the cohort. The selection process seeks not only technical excellence but also evidence of collaborative attitude and readiness to engage with industry.
Funding, partners and contact
The school is part of the MUSE project that aims to strengthen higher education quality, inclusiveness and international competitiveness in the Motor Valley by promoting collaboration between leading regional universities and industrial partners. This initiative converts public funding into practical training opportunities for people and companies in the region. Project identifiers include Proj n° 2 – edition 1 and approvata con atto n. 1964/2026.
For further information contact the organisers at [email protected]. Interested candidates and stakeholders can request details about the curriculum, company partners and the logistics of on-site visits. The programme emphasizes real-world exposure to the technological challenges that will define future vehicle development—an opportunity to prepare for careers at the intersection of engineering disciplines and industry needs.
