Pirelli to open ‘digital centre’ for software development

Bari, Italy – Pirelli is investing in a new software development and digital solutions centre in the southern Italian port city of Bari, in the Puglia region, the tire maker has announced.

The €9-million investment aims to create 50 new hires by 2025 from among recent graduates and managers specialised in the development of software, said Pirelli 20 May.

In particular, the tire maker will seek professionals in computer science, software engineering, data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning and smart manufacturing.

These new team will be part of part of Pirelli’s digital team in Italy, which already employs 160 people.

The unit will focus on the development of software and algorithms of machine learning and artificial intelligence in support of areas of sales & marketing, product development, smart manufacturing & industrial IoT as well as integrated business planning.

As part of the investment, Pirelli has also launched a cooperation programme with the University of Bari – in particular with its degree course in computer science and data science – to create joint research & development initiatives.

Bari, according to Pirelli, has in a relatively short time become “a pool of skills linked to innovative disciplines such as data science, artificial intelligence and cyber security.”

The development of the new centre consolidates the links between Pirelli and the academic world.

The tire maker pursues "an open innovation model" that currently sees that company working on 40 projects with 12 universities.

The Italian manufacturer currently operates 13 R&D centres, where it employs over 2,000 people.