CSR in Romania

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a concept that gives a positive score in the eyes of the general public on the business in question. The concept is implemented naturally by most companies, but there are also some doing it only from the perspective that “it looks good in the eyes of the public”. Most of the companies from the energy sector believe in CSR and the proof is represented by the results of their efforts. Besides the activities previously presented in the pages of the magazine, new initiatives are added.

Through CSR programs, philanthropy, and volunteer efforts, businesses can benefit society while boosting their brands. As important as CSR is for the community, it is equally valuable for a company.

Today there are many socially responsible energy companies whose brands are known for their CSR programs.

 

CSR at KMG International: Cultural events

Understanding and maintaining corporate social responsibility is imperative for KMG International.

The Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Romania, in partnership with KMG International (formerly Rompetrol Group) has presented the Kazakh Film Days, event at the fifth edition. Two art films released in 2019, representative works for Kazakh cinema, were presented to the Romanian public, during one of the largest events of this type, hosted by the Elvire Popesco cinema at the end of last year.

“Cultural cooperation is essential for the development of relations between the states. This event is a very good opportunity to present our Kazakh culture, history and traditions to the Romanian cinephile audience. By organizing this Kazakh Film Days on the eve of the celebration of 28 years of independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, we aim to bring the two nations closer together,” stated His Excellency Mr. Nurbakh Rustemov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Romania.

“The Romanian-Kazakh cultural partnership is one of the main directions of involvement that our company has developed in the last 11 years. We have supported many cultural projects related to the Romanian and Kazakh culture and we continue to contribute to the harmonious development of future generations by supporting education through culture,” added Alexey Golovin, Director of the Legal and Corporate Affairs Department of the KMG International Group.

For more than 12 years, KMG International has been developing projects promoting the Romanian culture and identity in Kazakhstan (through the partnership with Dacia Association – founded by Kazakh of Romanian origin, who live in the Karaganda region of Kazakhstan), as well as the Kazakh culture in Romania, through events such as the Kazakh Film Festival (fifth edition in 2018), the Astana City Festival, hosted by the Dimitrie Gusti Village Museum. The group supports and promotes, through its partnership with the organizers of the George Enescu International Festival – the young talents of Kazakh origin, laureates of the George Enescu International Competition.

 

National dental health program

Between October 2019 and October 2020, KMG International the Merci Charity association to improve rural families’ access to dental health services for children. Thus, 1,000 children from 40 localities from Constanta, Prahova and Galati counties will receive free dental care with the help of the first mobile dental office in Romania.

“We have celebrated 40 years of activity for the largest asset of our company, Petromidia Navodari refinery. For 40 years we have been equally involved in the community, contributing to the healthy and harmonious development of future generations. On this occasion, we launched the partnership with the Merci Charity association, which aims to support children from disadvantaged environments in the region and not only, through a national dental health program developed in 40 localities in Romania,” said Alexey Golovin.

13% of the total number of dental offices in the country are located in rural areas, although 46% of the population of Romania lives in rural communities. The mobile office developed in 2017 will offer oral prophylaxis and dental treatment services with the support of the dentists who are part of the association’s volunteer program.

Through this partnership, KMG International and Merci Charity aim to improve the lives of children aged 4 to 14 years from 40 rural communities through oral care education, prophylaxis and nutrition advice: improving the oral health of 1.000 children through oral prophylaxis interventions in the association’s mobile dental office, dental brushing and nutrition sessions conducted in schools with the support of volunteering dental practitioners; informing 2.000 parents and members of the beneficiaries’ families about the rights of the child to free interventions in dental offices that have contracts in place with the County Health Insurance Funds in the three targeted counties; improving the quality of life in 40 communes by facilitating access to free dental care and treatment services; offering 1,000 dental consultations, 2,000 treated caries, 3,000 dental seals and 5,000 saved teeth.

 

Scholarships for high school and university students passionate about the oil and gas sector

KMG International also grants each year 100 scholarships to high school and university students passionate about the oil and gas industry with outstanding results from Bucharest, Constanta and Prahova. “The KMG International scholarships program is one of most important educational projects developed by our company, in order to support quality education in Romania. We know that education is the key to the sustainable development of communities and we believe that young people with good results need to be supported, especially when their resources are limited. That is why we continue the scholarships program, precisely to bring our own contribution to the growth of the next generation of oil and gas professionals,” says Alexey Golovin.

The scholarships, worth USD 1,000 each, are offered for one year of study and will be awarded following a rigorous jury evaluation: 50 will be awarded to students enrolled in the internship program of the company, based on their performance evaluation, and the remaining 50 will be offered through an assessment process. The eligibility criteria include the average academic score over 8 (for all the years of study), involvement in volunteering activities and a strong desire to develop their career in the energy sector (described in a motivational essay). The targeted specializations are chemistry, mechanical and electrical engineering, energy, oil and gas (oil and gas engineering, oil technology and petrochemistry, oil processing and petrochemistry), constructions.

 

CSR at OMV Petrom: ‘Romania plants for tomorrow’ campaign

Another excellent example of CSR is OMV Petrom, the largest energy company in Southeastern Europe.

OMV Petrom and 7 environmental NGOs have completed the campaign of planting 71,000 trees on a surface of 13.5 ha in several localities in the country. Almost 3,000 volunteers, including 650 OMV Petrom employees, planted over 15 species of trees that help absorb CO₂, as part of the ‘Romania plants for tomorrow’ campaign, which supports objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. OMV Petrom started the afforestation campaign in 7 counties in the country, together with the NGOs: Act for Tomorrow, Mai Mult Verde, Padurea Copiilor, Plantam Fapte Bune in Romania, Viitor Plus, Pro Eco Tur and Parcul Natural Vacaresti, thus managing to plant over 70,000 seedlings, in the following locations: Corbu (Constanta), Bistret (Dolj), Vanatorii Mici (Giurgiu), Grindu (Ialomita), Parcul Vacaresti (Bucharest), Marsani (Dolj), Tinosu (Prahova), Videle (Teleorman).

Forests have an important role in absorbing and storing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere, therefore planting trees as a way of protecting and establishing forests is a key nature-based solution to the risks of climate change.

In the following 3 years, the partner NGOs will ensure maintenance of the planted areas. OMV Petrom will continue the initiative this year, in spring, when it intends to exceed the number of seedlings planted last autumn. Since 2008, over 700,000 trees have been planted within OMV Petrom campaigns.

“OMV Petrom has a long tradition of supporting important causes for all of us. We want to thank to all the 3,000 volunteers, both OMV Petrom employees and other companies’ employees, who joined us in this campaign for climate action. Their enthusiasm is motivating us to continue the tree plantings also next year, with a larger campaign at national level,” said Alina Petrescu, Communication & Sustainability Director at OMV Petrom, who attended the tree planting in Vacaresti Park.

 

‘Petrom Olympics’ program continues

The ‘Petrom Olympics’ program, project initiated by Petrom National Trade Union, supported together with OMV Petrom, continued in 2019. Among the activities carried out we mention: NASA Space App Challenge (with the participation of 25 Petrom Olympics and 100 other young people, in which Diana Nitescu was a mentor in the competition, in which 4 projects of the Romanian Olympics participated: Internet in the Ocean, Trans-Neptunian Way, Solutions for the ocean stains , green traffic solutions); Asian Table (visit to Shanghai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo, an event promoting educational opportunities, jobs and business in Asia, in countries such as Japan, China, Singapore, Malaysia, with 46 beneficiaries); UiPath event (contact visit between the Romanian unicorn UiPath and the IT Olympics, with 43 participants); NTT Data event (visit for job and internship offers for the technology Olympics, with 13 participants); Zoom Call (online calls zoomed in/out on career topics: career coaching – 21 people), Jobs 2030 – 50 people, Global job application – 80 people and practical data analytics exercises – 20 people); Information campaigns: #TopMinds (16 high performance Olympics promoted), with an impact of 80,200 people; #RoPower (15 Romanians/successful Romanian companies promoted, with an impact of 54,873 people; #backinRomania (3 Romanians returning with projects in Romania, with an impact on 9,400 people; #AItechnology (11 artificial intelligence projects promoted, with an impact for 2,797 people.

 

CSR at Lukoil: Involvement in community life

During its activity in Romania, Lukoil was directly involved in the life of community, through education, learning, culture, environmental protection events, in accordance with the values of the company. Thus, in the over 18 years of activity of Lukoil Romania, humanitarian associations and foundations, hospitals, homes for the elderly, schools, cultural centers, sports clubs, churches and monasteries, as well as numerous individuals have benefited from financial support.

Lukoil Romania has granted financial support to several local organizations in Valcea and Gorj counties, areas strongly affected by the floods at the end of June 2014. Also, locally, the company has supported every year several local authorities in the country on the occasion of organizing ‘City Days’ events, considered traditional among the inhabitants of the respective towns (Iernut, Tarnaveni, Teius, Harsova).

In the health field, Lukoil Romania has granted financial support to several hospitals and medical centers. Noteworthy is the support granted, for several years in a row, to the Medical Center for Diagnosis, Outpatient Care and Preventive Medicine Bucharest for the acquisition of medical equipment and devices, as well as the material support provided to the Pediatric Clinic of Fundeni Clinical Hospital.

At cultural level, the company has supported the play ‘Niste Olteni’, staged by director Constantin Fugasin, a reworking of the book ‘La Lilieci’, by Marin Sorescu. Lukoil has believed and invested in the revival of this show, which enjoyed a resounding success, having performances on several of the Romanian scenes.

Another segment where Lukoil Romania has been involved over time is education. Thus, through the financial support granted, students from the Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti have benefited from private scholarships granted throughout the studies.

 

CSR at Romgaz: Environment, health, education, culture and sports programs

Romgaz has achieved many of its CSR milestones since it opened its doors. Its social responsibility activities are performed voluntarily, beyond legal responsibilities, for the company is aware of the role of corporations in society. CSR means for Romgaz a business culture that includes business ethics, customer rights, economic and social equity, environmentally friendly technologies, fair treatment of workforce, and transparent relationship with public authorities, moral integrity and investments in community. Romgaz also supports the sustainable development of the society and community, through financial support/full or partial sponsorship of actions and initiatives in the following main areas: education, social, sports, health and environment. Supporting such social projects, within the budgeted financial resources, Romgaz was pro-active in the field of social responsibility and increased the awareness of parties involved as regards the importance and benefits of social responsibility.

Romgaz provides support for the implementation of projects improving health services and for health specific projects, identified as a priority of the interested parties, especially in communities where the company operates without excluding broadening the intervention area.

‘Pretuieste Viata’ foundation involves in humanitarian and social campaigns, medical, psychological, psychiatric counselling and awareness programs, offering social support to persons in difficulty, regardless of their age, gender and social status. This foundation carries out campaigns on health, education, human rights, advocacy and quality journalism, in order to help people in need or talented people, with high cognitive abilities.

The sponsorship aimed at a program dedicated to underprivileged patients, in urgent need of complex body reconstruction surgeries due to different conditions or unfortunate accidents for whom volunteer doctors of ZETTA Clinique involved pro bono and the medical consumables necessary for these interventions were provided through this project. Complex surgeries were performed in congenital malformation cases, replanting performed under the microscope, body reconstruction surgeries after burns or major accidents, facial or mammary reconstructions as a consequence of cancer, brachial plexus paralysis surgeries, etc.

Benefits for the community: Facilitates the access for a large number of patients to complex reconstruction operations; this campaign became a national aid facility improving life quality in the communities.

‘Polisano’ foundation carries out projects in the healthcare field, facilitating access to medical care for the most vulnerable categories. These programs are aiming individuals, groups as well as communities, the programs dedicated to children suffering from congenital heart malformations being long-established, facilitating access to medical care within paediatric hospitals, informing and training through first-aid trainings, access to awareness campaigns regarding heart diseases, as well as promoting health in rural areas.

The assisted project was initiated based on the fact that in Romania there is very limited infrastructure regarding paediatric heart surgery and 1 of 100 children is born with a heart malformation, which could endanger life especially if is not timely diagnosed; moreover, in practice, late diagnose occurs often in disadvantaged rural areas, which do not have permanent medical personnel available. It is estimated that, in Romania, more than 2000 heart surgeries for children are necessary annually while only a maximum of 500 are actually performed. There are only 2 public centres in Romania that are performing heart interventions on children.

The ‘Healthy Hearts’ project focuses on 2 directions: tracking down children suffering from heart malformations and giving the possibility to children from vulnerable categories suffering from complex heart diseases to benefit from surgical interventions performed by foreign specialists, the children having pro bono surgeries at Polisano European Hospital in Sibiu which ensures the hospital infrastructure and equipment. The hospital does not gain any profit from these surgeries, the costs are limited to consumables and other expenses directly related interventions for children who come from all over the country.

This program brings its contribution through raising awareness and educating families with regard to congenital heart malformation risks and the warning signs of these diseases, parents integration in the project through registration of children for whom there are concerns regarding congenital heart malformations and facilitating access to specialized medical examinations and appropriate treatment for children needing surgical interventions and care, according to availability of medical teams as well as boosting the specialized education system in order to build Romanian autonomous teams in the field of paediatric heart surgery.

 

CSR at Transgaz: Aiming to increase the efficiency of the management act and the value of the company

Pursuing the implementation of principles of the Corporate Governance Code of the Bucharest Stock Exchange, to which Transgaz adhered in 2008 following the listing on the stock exchange of company’s shares, the company aims to gradually adopt and integrate into its business model the best practices in the field of CSR, so that it increases both the efficiency of the management act and the value of the company, by strengthening the degree of confidence of employees, shareholders, partners and community in its economic and social potential. The company follows the main directions of the social responsibility strategy established following an active dialogue with the interested parties, in areas such as environment, community, health, education, culture and sports.

 

CSR at Electrica: Supporting the ‘George Enescu’ International Festival

Electrica Furnizare, part of Electrica Group, has continued the partnership with the ‘George Enescu’ International Festival, the most important international cultural event organized by Romania. Already reaching the XXIV edition, the ‘George Enescu’ International Festival brought to the public in Romania more than 2,500 of the most appreciated musicians in the world, in 84 concerts and recitals held only in the halls of Bucharest.

“Electrica is a successful, responsible Romanian company, which naturally wants to bring to light the true Romanian values. Therefore, we continue the tradition of being together with the ‘George Enescu’ Festival, an event representative for Romania, which brings together the most important names of international classical music,” said Corina Popescu, General Manager, Electrica.

“We are honored to be together with the ‘George Enescu’ International Festival, a true cultural landmark for Romania. Tradition is the common element that the festival and the company Electrica Furnizare have, an element that brought us together and which, at the same time, brings us closer to Romanians,” added Darius Mesca, General Manager, Electrica Furnizare.

 

CSR at Nuclearelectrica: The most important sponsor of BookLand

Nuclearelectrica has become the most important sponsor of BookLand Association, supporting the continuity of its cultural and educational approaches. In Romania, the number of students has decreased by over 30% since the Revolution, with 50,000 children giving up their studies (one in five young people aged between 18 and 24 years old) every year, according to the latest data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS). Only three in five students who have successfully completed the final years of high school have managed to obtain the baccalaureate diploma, 42% of them being basically functionally and socially illiterate, compared to the European average of 20%.

To convince the young people of the importance of education, parents and teachers have been joined over the recent years by various non-governmental organizations implementing specific programs and actions. Among these, BookLand Association, which over the last 9 years – through book fairs, conferences and cultural camps – has consistently provided young people in 23 cities with an excellent opportunity for development by means of free discussions, based on direct interaction with dedicated professionals, who encourage and motivate them through personal example to make the right choices in life, telling them about the challenges that await for them, but which should not stop them from following their calling.

To be able to engage with the young people with the help of guest speakers, the BookLand Association attracts on its side in every city, the management of educational institutions, non-governmental partners, local media and opinion makers, also investing in social communication platforms. At the 6th edition, over 2,000 speakers interacted with over 100,000 high school pupils and students present in the county residences where the BookLand Evolution Conferences are being held. The meetings are extremely lively, as the dialogue is sprinkled with games and trivia, many young people choosing their mentors from the speakers invited. In addition to the personal example provided, the speakers guide the children to get involved in extracurricular activities, to support volunteer or internship activities and to read papers on their favorite topics.

“The only way for a state, an industry to secure its future skills, put simply, to ensure its performance, is to get involved directly in programs supporting and educating young people. The expectation that they will come on their own is one that is profoundly wrong. Efforts should always be top-down, from the industry towards the young people. We operate in a competitive environment, one where skills are hunted, and attracting and training them should become a priority. Investing in young people, in their education and growth is the only solution. Direct involvement, one that meets needs and interests, may transform a migration trend into a pool of smart and competent young people involved in Romanian projects,” said Cosmin Ghita, CEO, Nuclearelectrica.

Admission to BookLand Evolution Conferences is free of charge, the concept being born in 2011, as the first urban book fair in malls, markets and parks. It has grown into a national caravan that visits over 40 cities every year.

Also, Nuclearelectrica was the official sponsor of the 11th edition of the Rasnov Film and History Festival.

 

CSR at Hidroelectrica: The first partnership agreement for the vocational training of students by dual education

Hidroelectrica and Ramnicu Valcea Energy College have recently concluded the first partnership agreement, in a series of 7, for the vocational training of students by dual education. The agreement provides for the qualification of young people, during the 3 years of study, in the fields of electrician for appliances, electrical and energy equipment, electrical mechanic for machinery and industrial installations.

During the 3 years of study, Hidroelectrica will grant monthly scholarships of RON 500 for each student enrolled in the educational program, will provide occupational health examination and the mandatory medical tests for performing the internships within the hydropower objectives and provide work and protective equipment.

“Training a specialist in the hydropower field involves a long period of theoretical knowledge and practical instruction. It is an area with many challenges, but where beautiful and stable careers can be built. We want to be training partners for young people involved in this project, but we will not limit to this. At the right time, we will give them the opportunity to join our team, in the trades for which they have been trained,” said Bogdan Badea, president of Hidroelectrica’s Management Board.

Hidroelectrica in 2019 approved, in the General Meeting of Shareholders, the company’s involvement in supporting dual education, by setting up 7 classes in the 7 areas where the company has branches. This is a strategic decision and it aims at ensuring the qualified staff to cover the necessary positions in the areas of activity specific to Hidroelectrica. The amount allocated to support the students enrolled in the dual education form for a 3-year cycle is RON 3,397,796.

The institutional partners in the field of education were selected in correlation with the number of employees of the branch operating hydropower plants and the average age of employees, the needs for the rejuvenation of the operative staff in each branch starting from the estimates regarding staff retirement in 2023.   The educational achievements/experience of educational institutions and the experience of teachers and the specialized modules have also been analyzed.

Therefore, Hidroelectrica has focused on 7 educational institutions, certified or pending certification, which are training students in the main trades in the operation of hydropower plants (electrician and machinist): Vasile Sav Technological High School in Roman (44km from Piatra Neamt), for Bistrita Branch; Ramnicu Valcea Energy College, for Hidrocentrale Ramnicu Valcea Branch; Cluj Napoca Technical Energy College or Traian Vuia Technical College, Oradea, for Hidrocentrale Cluj Branch; Ferdinand I High School in Curtea de Arges, which requires certification, for Hidrocentrale Curtea de Arges Branch; Sebes Technological High School and/or Independenta Sibiu, for Hidrocentrale Sebes Branch; Domnul Tudor High School in Drobeta Turnu Severin, which requires certification, for Hidrocentrale Portile de Fier Branch; IC Bratianu National College in Hateg, which requires certification for the electrical mechanic trade, for Hidrocentrale Hateg Branch.

Hidroelectrica is leader in terms of electricity production and the main supplier of technological services necessary in the National Energy System, being a vital company for a strategic sector with national security implications.

 

CSR at Conpet: The project of Give Life Association

Conpet has joined the construction of the first Pediatric Oncology and Radiotherapy hospital in Romania, a project carried out by Give Life Association. This NGO – which is building, exclusively from donations and sponsorships, the first public hospital of oncology and radiotherapy for children diagnosed with cancer in Romania – announces that they are working on a masterplan for the restoration from scratch of the Marie Curie Hospital in Bucharest. The old hospital will be transformed into a hotel unit, after all the sections will have been moved to the new buildings.

Also, Conpet has successfully completed a social campaign started last summer, offering to children from the Secondary School ‘Prof. Eugen Corbu’ in the commune of Tataru, Prahova County, schoolbags and supplies for the pupils to cross the threshold of the school better equipped and with more confidence.

“We are starting the year 2020 with the thought that the activity we carry out turns 119 years of history and 29 years of modernity and we are proud that only one year separates us from the great anniversary of the 120 years, respectively 30 years of activity of a company that enjoys a tradition of great importance for the Romanian economy, a present characterized by success and performance and at the same time a future that we, each and everyone together, are building today, with each action, principle and attitude. Conpet is currently a stable and successful company that offers services to the highest safety standards and an economic landmark at national level, and this is undoubtedly due to its people. Because the most beautiful principles that are professionalism, loyalty, honor, respect for the work done responsibly and the ambition to constantly improve were transmitted from the first generations of oilmen, to the first generations of Conpet employees, and so on until today, when the story continues,” company representatives say.

 

CSR at MOL Romania: Collecting used cooking oil

MOL Romania is the first network of filling stations that, in August 2012, initiated a program for the collection from population of used cooking oil, in order to contribute to environmental protection and civic education on this issue. Used cooking oil, once it has reached the sewerage system and/or the trash, is a harmful element, since its deposition on the walls of the sewerage system causes blockage of the pipes, and if it is thrown together with the household waste, it appears later on the place of waste storage in the form of a hardly degradable substance. When fried oil is spilled out of negligence or intentionally into natural waters, the effects are disastrous – floating on the surface of water in lakes or rivers, waste oil prevents the transfer of oxygen, destroying the life in the water. A single drop of used cooking oil can pollute even a thousand liters of natural water. The oil collected by MOL Romania from the population is delivered and enters the management of the specialized company Conceptoil, which ensures the transport and delivery of the collected amount to an authorized recycler. The recycling process consists of several stages: the collected oil goes through a purification process, and after this stage of elimination of impurities, the resulting liquid reaches a production plant. The processing of used cooking oil leads to the production of biofuel (the bio component for diesel).

Also, MOL Romania has joined the Every Can Counts initiative, for the selective collection of cans of aluminum, through a partnership with Alucro Association, where it has installed in 35 stations in the country with containers for the selective collection of these cans. The presence of the Every Can Counts program in MOL Romania stations benefits the environment, by saving the raw materials and energy needed to produce new cans. The aluminum the cans are made from is the most valuable recyclable material, which can be reused endlessly without losing its properties. A recycled aluminum can gets back on store shelves within about 60 days. The resources used to manufacture it from the used cans are 95% lower than if it were produced from non-recycled raw materials. The entire quantity of aluminum cans collected at the MOL stations will be collected by authorized companies and sent to the recycling plants in Europe, from where it will return to Romania in the form of aluminum sheets from which new cans will be produced.

 

New donations in the field of health

MOL Romania and the Children’s Heart Association sponsor the endowment of the Emergency County Hospital in Giurgiu with medical equipment worth EUR 110,000, an initiative that will ensure an increased level of care and an additional chance to the patients in serious condition.

“We are excited to be able to support another health project that addresses the real needs of the community. The endowment of Giurgiu County Hospital with this modern equipment will help increase the level of medical care. Throughout its 25 years of activity in Romania, MOL has assumed the mission not only to contribute to the economy of the communities where it activates and to provide jobs, but also to get involved in other important aspects of the community’s life, such as health. MOL Romania has had several successful collaborations with the Children’s Heart Association, so we are happy to be partners again in a project that directly and efficiently contributes to a better life for the community,” said Camelia Ene, CEO & Country Chairman of MOL Romania.

Within this project, the pediatric and neonatology sections, as well as the anesthesia and intensive care (ATI) unit will be endowed with the following equipment: a transport ventilator, 4 vital function monitors, a defibrillator, a C-reactive protein determination device, 2 newborn vital functions monitors, 2 neonatal resuscitation tables and 2 open incubators.

The donation to Giurgiu County Emergency Hospital follows two other major initiatives to support the health system carried out by MOL Romania last year: the project to build the Marie Curie Hospital heliport in Bucharest and the donation of medical equipment to the Miercurea Ciuc County Emergency Hospital.

 

CSR at Honeywell: Investment in a pilot laboratory of the Polytechnic University of Bucharest

At the end of last year, Honeywell and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering within the Polytechnic University of Bucharest inaugurated a state-of-the-art laboratory, fully equipped with the latest technologies used by the company at global level in projects for the automation of industrial processes. The university laboratory, the first in Romania to be equipped with Honeywell state-of-the-art technologies used in automation processes, will provide university students with access to many of the innovative software-based solutions used by the company in the industrial field around the world to increase productivity, efficiency and safety of operations.

Honeywell’s investment, materialized in a sponsorship of approximately USD 50,000, will allow students to simulate and test the company’s technologies to optimize the results of a wide range of control, maintenance and automation activities used within industrial processes. By using the most advanced interconnected technologies, based on software, students will have the opportunity to put to practice their technical knowledge and prepare for a career in engineering, a specialization that becomes increasingly digitized and automated.

“At Honeywell, we understand that the industrial sector is in an accelerated change, made possible by the Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things. In this ever-developing environment, future generations of engineers will need a new set of abilities entirely different from those required so far, new knowledge that will complete the traditional foundations of engineering. The new laboratory represents an initiative through which we want to provide students with technologies used so far in the business environment to help them develop their skills and be well trained for a career in engineering and in technical areas that have the potential to bring a significant contribution to the world we live in,” said Ronald Binkofski, President of Honeywell for Central and Eastern Europe.

The new space of study is the fifth university laboratory inaugurated by Honeywell starting with 2015, the company completing other such educational spaces through partnerships concluded with three top technical universities in the country: Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, Polytechnic University of Timisoara and Polytechnic University of Bucharest.

Investments in providing state-of-the-art solutions for university laboratories in the country are part of Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company’s social responsibility program. This initiative was launched over five years ago, to contribute to the development of the new generation of professionals in Romania. One of Honeywell’s global commitments is to be permanently involved in strengthening STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) in the countries where the company is present. Based on this objective, in Romania, the company provides the resources and practical framework that teachers and students need in the process of teaching, studying and practicing to improve technical skills.

 

CSR at Ducati Energia: Supporting the music industry

The concert of the master Nicola Piovani ‘Italy in the energy of music’, one of the greatest pianists, composers and conductors of Italy, represented a true feast of music of the highest quality offered to the public present in the Auditorium Hall of the National Art Museum of Romania. The event, honored by the presence of HE Ambassador of Italy in Bucharest, Marco Giungi, was organized by the Italian Institute of Culture in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in Bucharest, with the support of Ducati Energia Romania.

In the first part of the concert there was a recital of singer Silvia Mezzanotte, former soloist of the Italian band Matia Bazar, winner of the San Remo Festival in 2002, one of the most appreciated voices of the Italian music scene. At the end of Silvia Mezzanotte’s recital, the ‘Leonardo The Immortal Light’ Award was awarded for the first time in Romania, an international award that aims to commemorate 500 years since the death of the Italian genius Leonardo da Vinci, offering recognition “to those who with their extraordinary genius followed in the footsteps of the great master.”

Ducati Energia Romania received the award for Power Engineering, an award raised by the President of Ducati Energia, Guidalberto Guidi, “because he led with determination and tenacity the group, founded in 1926, to assert itself as one of the most important global companies in its sector; able to face the challenges, promoting research and innovation, always focusing on energy development.”

Ducati Energia Romania is one of the main suppliers of Enel Romania, paying special attention to energy efficiency, providing an important technological and productive contribution. In addition, Ducati Energia Romania pays particular attention to quality and safety at work, in a time of great crisis due to lack of workforce in the country, this sensitivity to the safety of employees being one of the fundamental values of the company. In the new industrial wing of the Romanian factory, thanks to the recent investment of over EUR 1.5 million, capacitors and smart meters are produced, which allow the Romanian families to raise awareness and control consumption behaviors.

 

CSR at Michelin: Relying on electricians

The Michelin Corporate Foundation, part of the Michelin Group, supports the local community and invests in the development of a class dedicated to train students in the dual education system, launched in September 2019, in partnership with Campina Energy Technology High School. Ten of the 26 students, together with their parents, have already visited the Michelin factory in Floresti and will start the internship in the factory, preparing to become electricians. Thus, a space has been created that will be developed in 3 stages, between 2019 and 2021: rehabilitation of the workshop with the support of the Campina local authority; preparing the space for new equipment; the progressive endowment of the workshop, starting with basic materials and ending with complex equipment, useful for completing the 3-year study cycle. The workshop will benefit from dozens of technical equipment, including mock-ups and work benches, electrical wiring teaching systems, electrical component kits, tool kits and measuring sets.

“We were pleased to hear that the Michelin Corporate Foundation is joining our efforts to train a new generation of graduates of the Low Voltage Electricity specialty. The goal is that, every year, at least 20 new students will be enrolled in this class and practice both in our factory or in another partner company, but also in a workshop refurbished and endowed with the necessary equipment for training the future electricians. We have a great need for specialists and we believe that the dual education system is very useful because it gives us the opportunity to actively contribute to the development of the community in which we have been active for more than 80 years,” said Isabella Candescu, Human Resources Manager at the Michelin factory in Floresti.

Campina Energy Technology High School was founded in 1948 under the name of the Energy School, as a natural and necessary step for the preparation of those who wanted to become electricians and thus respond to the needs of the industry in Prahova Valley.

In conclusion, regardless of the chosen field, involvement in CSR brings great benefits to the community, and also the confidence and motivation to move on.

Also, CSR activities can help forge a stronger bond between employees and corporations; boost morale; and help both employees and employers feel more connected with the world around them.