From our campuses

For the first time, direct evidence of the use of psychoactive substances during rituals in the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Ancient Egypt has been provided. The discovery, published in the journal Scientific Reports, is based on the analysis of a ritual vase over 2,000 years old, which revealed traces of psychoactive plants used in religious and spiritual practices. The vase is adorned with the head of the Egyptian god Bes, a grotesque but benevolent deity often used as a protective amulet for the home. The research, coordinated by Professor Enrico Greco from the University of Trieste, in collaboration with the Tampa Museum of Art, the University of South Florida and the University of Milan, was made possible thanks to the crucial support provided by Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, which contributed with advanced techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (SR µ-FTIR) coupled with synchrotron radiation. Chiaramaria Stani, CERIC-ERIC researcher at Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste’s SISSI beamline, explained: “These analyses made it possible to identify the ceremonial content of the vase, although the residual traces were minimal, but well preserved in the porosity of the pottery”. This technology made it possible to analyse the residual traces inside the vase, revealing the presence of plants such as Peganum harmala (Syrian rue), Nymphaea nouchali (blue lotus) and species of the Cleome genus, all known for their psychoactive properties. The analysis also indicated that the vase was used in rituals involving the achievement of altered states of consciousness, probably a means for communicating with the divine and facilitating mystical-ritual experiences. The research not only confirms previous hypotheses based on texts and iconography but it also provides solid physical evidence of the sophisticated use of natural substances by the Egyptians. The multidisciplinary approach, combining science, history and culture, was essential for solving this ancient mystery, confirming the importance of collaboration between research institutes like Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste and the universities involved.

An international study, involving the Italian National Research Council (CNR – Istituto Officina dei Materiali) and the Universities of Trieste and Milano-Bicocca for Italy, along with the University of Vienna, has unveiled a simple and innovative method for creating a new category of materials. These materials combine the exceptional properties manifested by individual metal atoms with the robustness, flexibility and versatility of graphene, for potential applications in the fields of catalysis, spintronics and electronic devices. The study is published in Science Advances: the method involves depositing metal atoms, such as cobalt, in a controlled manner, during the formation of the graphene layer on a nickel surface. Some of these atoms are incorporated into the carbon network of graphene, forming a new material with exceptional robustness, reactivity and stability. The method was developed at the CNR-IOM laboratories in Trieste: “This is still a preliminary result, but it is already very promising and the result of an original idea that arose in our laboratory and initially seemed unfeasible,” says Cristina Africh, a researcher at the CNR-IOM who led the team. The material’s ability to detach from the substrate while maintaining its original structure makes it potentially usable in various applications. “The methodology has been tested for trapping nickel and cobalt atoms, but our calculations suggest that it could be extended to other metals for different applications,” explains Cristiana Di Valentin, professor of General and Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Milano-Bicocca. Moreover, the material has proven to be stable even under critical conditions. “We have demonstrated that this material remains intact even in critical conditions, including the electrochemical environments used for applications in fuel cells and batteries,” adds Jani Kotakoski of the University of Vienna. The study, which is the result of international collaboration, made use of different and complementary skills. “This aspect was decisive in demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach, which is simple and powerful at the same time,” concludes Giovanni Comelli from the University of Trieste.

Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste has announced the launch of ElettraBot, an innovative digital assistant based on artificial intelligence, designed to support researchers using the beamlines and laboratories of Elettra and FERMI. The first prototype has been successfully implemented for the TwinMic beamline, named TwinBot. This beamline, one of the 28 beamlines at the Italian synchrotron located in Trieste, specializes in X-ray microscopy, offering sub-micrometric spatial resolution. Thanks to its ability to combine transmission imaging and X-ray spectroscopy, TwinMic enables multidisciplinary studies ranging from biology to materials science. Its main applications include studying nanoparticle accumulation in cells and understanding chemical mechanisms related to asbestos in human tissues. TwinBot represents a significant innovation in basic research, providing immediate and intuitive access to the technical and experimental information offered by the TwinMic beamline. Leveraging artificial intelligence, TwinBot provides real-time responses to inquiries made in natural language, facilitating the preparation of proposals and experiments. TwinBot provides quick and accurate answers, significantly enhancing their operational efficiency, therefore researchers no longer need to spend long hours manually searching through technical documents. This tool has the potential to be extended to other beamlines and services at Elettra, further strengthening the scientific ecosystem of the institution. No other synchrotron has yet adopted similar technology for these purposes, making TwinBot a unique innovation. The project not only positions Elettra at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence into scientific infrastructures but also establishes new standards for supporting basic research. Artificial intelligence is not limited to automating repetitive tasks, it goes far beyond that: it analyzes large volumes of data, identifies complex patterns, and can contribute to generating new insights that lead to innovative hypotheses, often based on extensive datasets or complex models that are difficult to analyze manually. This radically changes research methods, allowing scientists to focus more on creative and analytical aspects. Thus, artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming an essential element of modern scientific research, with applications that extend well beyond automation.

Monsieur François Bonet, Consul General of France in Milan, visited Area Science Park accompanied by the Honorary Consul of France in Trieste, Riccardo Illy. In Trieste to participate in G7 Education, scheduled to be held at this time in the Friuli Venezia Giulia administrative centre, the French Consul was welcomed by the President of Area Science Park, Caterina Petrillo, and by the Director of the Research and Innovation Structure, Salvatore La Rosa. President Petrillo illustrated the main activities of the national research body and the ongoing strategic projects: from the “North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley” project to IP4FVG-EDIH, the European Digital Innovation Hub to IMPRESS, in which French scientific entities are participating. A small focus was devoted to the research and technological infrastructures, which Area Science Park has been developing recently. The Consul expressed great interest during the meeting, in particular towards the scientific vocation of Trieste and the numerous institutions that operate there. François Bonet, previously ambassador to El Salvador, was appointed Consul General of France in Milan in August 2023. Then, Monsieur Francois Bonet and Riccardo Illy visited the Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste light laboratory accompanied by Andrea Locatelli, line group coordinator, and Claudio Masciovecchio, Director.

Thanks to Data Science, today we can analyse and manipulate an enormous amount of data, derived from the most disparate platforms: From social networks to medical records, from geolocators to streaming services. All with the aim of extracting new knowledge and value. The data scientist uses advanced mathematical and physical techniques to find correlations, causal relationships, and interactions among data, developing hypotheses to test, and gradually improving analysis algorithms. Many of the techniques used are inspired by the results of fundamental physics, ranging from the physics of complex systems to high-energy physics. These fruitful correlations and their repercussions on society, the economy, the world of work, and industry will be explored during the international conference “Data Science in Fundamental Physics and its bridge to industry & society”, which will be held in Santiago De Compostela (Spain) from 3 to 7 June. It is organised by the Galician Institute of High Energy Physics (Instituto Galego de Fisica de Altas Enerxias, IGFAE). Matteo Biagetti, a research physicist at LADE – the Data Engineering Laboratory active in Artificial Intelligence and Data Management, will represent Area Science Park and his research activities in the field. The conference will highlight career opportunities within the field of fundamental physics and its synergies with the job market. It will also include a session where companies can present their needs related to Data Science. By bringing together both aspects, this occasion aims at creating a framework for the mutual exchange of knowledge and will allow the development of practical synergies from Data Science to fundamental physics and from Data Science to industry. More information on the event: Data Science in Fundamental Physics and the Bridge to Industry (usc.es) Find out about the LADE and its team of researchers

A team of Italian researchers published a study in the Annals of Hepatology that represents a significant advancement in transplant medicine. The study sheds light on the molecular mechanisms that influence the success of liver allografts. The Italian Liver Foundation Onlus, the Liver Transplant Centre of the “Friuli Centrale” University Health Authority and Area Science Park with the Genomics and Epigenomics Laboratory worked together to write the article. It gives a thorough look at how genomics and epigenomics affect transplanted liver. Allograft – the transplant of organs or tissues between two individuals of the same species – involves rejection risks due to the recipient’s immune system recognising the transplanted tissue as foreign. The study focuses on how variations at the genomic and epigenomic levels – the latter is a field that examines changes in gene expression that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence – can influence the recipient’s response and the outcome of the transplant. The results of the study provide new insight into how transcriptomic changes, that is, changes in the transcription of DNA into messenger RNA, can contribute to the initial damage to the transplanted liver, the recurrence of chronic disease, or organ rejection. This research opens up new perspectives for preventing these complications, thus improving the chances of the success of liver allografts and the quality of the patients’ life. “The project – states Pablo Giraudi of the Italian Liver Foundation – involved the collection, at the time of surgery, of liver biopsies and blood samples from patients who have undergone a transplant due to various chronic liver diseases (including liver cirrhosis due to viral infections such as hepatitis C and B, alcoholic cirrhosis, cirrhosis associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and cryptogenic cirrhosis) and the use of DNA and RNA obtained from the respective biopsies. Analyses with specific bioinformatic platforms allow us to obtain information on the expression of genes that is useful in a personalized therapy and diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers”. “This project – explains Danilo Licastro, head of the Genomics and Epigenomics Laboratory of Area Science Park – allowed us to apply our research knowledge in an integrated and organic way. Our laboratory produced and analysed information regarding RNA sequence and the status of DNA methylation for all the samples provided by our partners. The result of this scientific project was only possible because of the high degree of collaboration between the two research structures, and it constitutes a fundamental step towards continuing on from research towards clinical-diagnostic application on a large scale. We are confident that the results of this experimentation will be the starting point for further studies also involving other international institutes”. “This is a pioneering experimental research project – affirms the scientific Director of the FIF, Claudio Tiribelli – which, by generating big data, will make it possible to create databases that will be useful for initiating collaboration in digital health based on artificial intelligence models towards a more personalized type of medicine, such as, for example, the use of immunosuppressants which are more suitable to the patient, in order to avoid rejection of the transplanted organ. It is also proof that the interaction between scientific and clinical realities makes it possible to achieve high-level results.” “Area Science Park’s choice to enhance investment in cutting-edge laboratories and technologies increases internal skills in the Life Sciences sector and strengthens collaboration with research institutions on large projects of common interest that have a significant social impact, ” declared the President of Area Science Park, Caterina Petrillo. “The achievement of the established objectives – states the President of the FIF, Decio Ripandelli – will lead to the continuation of the important relationships among the various bodies involved, for the definition of new directions in national and international research and the training of highly specialised human resources, with a consequent increase in local and foreign collaboration”.

As part of the initiatives on the occasion of the 7th edition of the “Italian Research Day in the World”, the Italian Embassy in Sweden organised a scientific exchange meeting between researchers of Area Science Park and the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, a prestigious Swedish university specialising in biomedical disciplines. The meeting at Karolinska, which followed an invitation from the Italian Ambassador to Sweden, Michele Pala, and his scientific attaché, Augusto Marcelli, to the President of Area Science Park, Caterina Petrillo, was the final stage of an institutional visit to Sweden that started on Monday 8 April in Lund and which included, in addition to the participation of researchers and technologists from Area Science Park, also representatives of some research centres and startups located in the science and technology park – CNR-IOM, ICGEB, Elettra Sincrotrone and Aindo – as well as other centres of prestige operating in Trieste – Sissa and IRCSS Burlo Garofolo. The aim of the visit is to strengthen scientific cooperation with the research centres of a country that offers many opportunities in the fields of life sciences and materials sciences, to build possible new cooperative ventures and to strengthen some already existing ones. “The Italian collaboration with Swedish research centres is long-standing. Italy has been, in fact, one of the partner countries of the European Spallation Source (ESS) since the design of the facility with important contributions to the construction of the accelerator and instrumentation. Even with MaxIV, there are several joint projects with our research institutions also thanks to the numerous Italian researchers who work there”, declared the President of Area Science Park Caterina Petrillo, who added: “With this visit, we hope to consolidate and enhance collaboration in the high-tech sectors of materials and life sciences.” In Lund, the delegation led by President Petrillo visited MaxIV, the Swedish national laboratory for research with synchrotron radiation hosted by the University, the European Spallation Source (ESS), a strategic European facility, of which Italy is among the founding countries, and the second largest European project in the field of accelerators, and Nano Lund, one of the most important Swedish laboratories for the development of nanotechnologies for the academy and industry. The visit to the three research centres was also an opportunity to present activities and laboratories in the scientific and technological park of Area Science Park and that are active in the study of materials. In addition to President Petrillo, the following people were present at Lund: the director of the CNR-IOM, Giancarlo Panaccione; the head of the Electron Microscopy laboratory, Regina Ciancio; the head of the Fermi machine, Luca Giannessi. Following the presentations, there were valuable moments of discussion for in-depth study and support for the cooperative project with the aim of generating new perspectives and seizing opportunities. In Stockholm, the institutional visit was concentrated at the Karolinska Institutet, where the following speakers presented their research and principal ongoing projects in the life sciences: Lawrence Banks, Director of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology – ICGEB, spoke about cancer and infections; Mathew Diamond, professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at Sissa, illustrated the activities and research of the School and the Sensory Experience (SENSEx) Lab; Lisa Vaccari, coordinator of the beamlines group and IDEAS laboratories, presented studies and analysis possibilities that can be carried out at the Elettra and Fermi laboratories; Pio D’Adamo, geneticist at the IRCSS Burlo Garofolo and professor at the University of Trieste, presented the studies conducted on genetics and rare diseases. Alberto Cazzaniga, head of the Data Engineering Laboratory of Area Science Park, spoke on the applications of Artificial Intelligence and data science techniques in the field of life sciences, in particular for the study and diagnosis of rare diseases, followed by Sebastiano Saccani, co-founder of Aindo, a startup specialized in the use of synthetic data founded in Sissa and established in Area Science Park. Finally, a parallel session was devoted to innovation models applicable to deep tech innovation and the generation of innovative businesses and included talks by Salvatore La Rosa, director of Research and Innovation of Area Science Park, and Fabrizio Rovatti, Innovation Manager of Area Science Park. Karolinska’s researchers, professors and innovation experts were constant participants in the various meetings, illustrating the activities carried out in the sectors of interest. The day ended with a visit to the hospital, a centre of excellence and one of Europe’s most technologically advanced hospitals. “Scientific-technological cooperation is one of the Embassy’s priority areas of activity – declared Ambassador Michele Pala on the occasion of the three-day event – so we are particularly pleased with the success of the visit of the prestigious delegation from Area Science Park. Their presence has made it possible for us to promote Italian excellence here in Sweden and to commemorate the 7th day of Italian Research in the World in a meaningful way. The meetings made it possible to consolidate existing relationships and lay the foundations for new and promising cooperation in the fields of Life Sciences, materials, ICT energy and the environment, areas particularly well-represented by Italian researchers who participated in the visits that the embassy organised in Lund and Stockholm”.

The most important European scientific journal on lung diseases, the European Respiratory Journal, has just published the results of a multidisciplinary research project carried out at Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, which demonstrated how, thanks to the unique characteristics of the X-rays produced by the Elettra source, it is possible to obtain a significant improvement in X-ray images of the lung compared to a CAT scan made at a hospital. The study, coordinated by Dr. Giuliana Tromba from Elettra, involved the collaboration of Prof. Marco Confalonieri, Director of the Struttura Complessa Pneumologia (Complex Pneumology Structure) of the Cattinara University Hospital in Trieste, and doctors Christian Dullin and Willi Wagner, researchers from the Universities of Göttingen and Heidelberg in Germany. Currently, with the latest high-resolution CAT machines, it is possible to observe details of the human lung down to the limit of about 0.5 millimeters; however, extending visibility to smaller details would result in a significant increase in the radiation dose administered to the patient. At Elettra, the German-Italian research team demonstrated that, thanks to the innovative ‘phase contrast’ technique, which takes advantage of the peculiar characteristics of synchrotron light (such as monochromaticity and spatial coherence), a view of lung tissue can be obtained with effective resolutions of 0.067 millimeters, i.e., much higher, with a radiation dose to the patient reduced by 2-3 times compared to CAT. Practically speaking, with this technique it is possible to produce an image of a significantly higher quality by discriminating the various anatomical components and structures much better than with a conventional CAT scan. This makes potentially very useful information available for early recognition of pathological lesions such as tumors and pulmonary fibrosis. The experiments at Elettra were carried out at the SYRMEP (SYnchrotone Radiation for MEdical Physics) beamline and on an animal model, i.e. pig lungs, which have the property of being the most similar to human lungs. The lungs, obtained as waste from pig slaughtering in Germany, were transferred to Italy and exposed to the Elettra synchrotron light. The newly published results have made it possible to explore the morphology of lung tissue with an unprecedented level of resolution. With the new Elettra 2.0 light machine currently under construction, which will achieve much higher X-ray energies, these studies can be extended to patients in hospitals in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. In the examinations of patients, the new technique will allow the densitometric and structural changes caused by different pathologies to be highlighted very effectively, recognising the nature of the pathological lesion more quickly. According to Prof. Marco Confalonieri “The research work carried out in Trieste will soon allow us to study the human lung as if we had a huge microscope available to us, maximising resolution and mimimising the radiation dose. I am extremely satisfied that our multidisciplinary research work has received this important European recognition. It is the result of the multi-year collaboration between the School of Specialisation in Respiratory Diseases of the University of Trieste and Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste with which we have had an agreement since the opening of the School of Specialisation”. Dr. Giuliana Tromba is also delighted with the work done and the results obtained, which have been appropriately recognised and enhanced in value by this prestigious publication: “The research team hopes to soon be able to make available to the Trieste healthcare system an innovative way of viewing the alterations created in the lung by serious diseases such as tumors and pulmonary interstitial fibrosis.” The first lung CAT clinical protocol will be aimed primarily at cases where traditional diagnosis leaves interpretive doubts. These are the situations in which the potential of synchrotron light proves crucial in understanding and characterising tissue abnormalities. The President of Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, Prof. Alfonso Franciosi, expressed great appreciation for the research carried out, announcing that “from 2026 onwards, when the new Elettra 2.0 light machine becomes operational, a dedicated radiology clinic will be set up on the new SYRMEP-Life Science line which will be able to accommodate patients from all over the Region and will be a unique worldwide resource for medical research”. Download the research study here

Contrary to the widely held belief that Dengue is severe in Secondary infections, a new collaborative study from ICGEB New Delhi has found that a substantial number of primary dengue infections also carry severe disease conditions. Published in Nature Medicine this week, an analysis of severe dengue cases in a cohort of children in India has shown that more than half could be attributed to primary rather than secondary infection. Over the past two decades, Dengue infections have greatly increased in India and India now has one of the largest number of dengue cases globally. With 4 serotypes of the dengue virus, typically, Dengue patients fall into two categories- one, those experiencing the infection for the first time, known as primary infections and those, who get re-infected after a previous exposure, known as secondary infections. Traditionally, the prevailing belief has been that only secondary infections pose significant risks, leading much of the research into vaccine development and treatment to focus on this group. But now this widely held perception seems to loose its ground. A new study carried out in India and based on a wide sampling approach has shown that it is not just the secondary infections but the primary infections as well which can be severe and could jeopardise the life of the patients. This finding suggests a need to reevaluate our understanding of Dengue and the strategies employed to combat it. Dr. Anmol Chandele, Group Leader of the ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Program, ICGEB New Delhi, India, in collaboration with Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA, the All India Institute Of Medical Sciences AIIMS, New Delhi, and St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, India authored the paper on “Severe disease during both primary and secondary virus infections in pediatric populations.” Dr. Chandele states: “Dengue virus infection is a huge public health problem in India. Many patients develop severe disease that can also be sometimes fatal. However, much of the ongoing vaccine intervention research is based on the currently widely held global belief that primary dengue infections are not usually dangerous and that the severe dengue disease is mainly due to secondary dengue infections.” She continues: “Our study questions this currently widely held belief and shows that primary infections constitute a substantial fraction of severe disease cases and fatalities.” This finding has important implications for public health and in developing and implementing effective and safe vaccine strategies for controlling dengue. These findings are highly relevant not only in the Indian context but also on a global scale since dengue viruses continue spreading worldwide. Italy is a striking example of the expansion of dengue as also evidenced by a recent study being published on which Dr. Alessandro Marcello, head of the ICGEB Molecular Virology laboratory operating in the Area Science Park in Trieste, Italy, collaborated. “During 2023,” he tells us, “In Italy we had the highest number of cases and autochthonous transmissions of dengue so far. Climate change, above all, but also the movement of people, are the biggest contributors to the circulation of dengue in new areas. The study by our Indian colleagues shows us the need to protect our population also from the first encounter with the virus.” The Chandele lab studies human immunology of infectious diseases, vaccine research and therapeutics. The ICGEB-Emory Vaccine program is a unique partnership established to facilitate international collaborations in vaccine research for tackling diseases of public health importance in developing countries.

Two new quantum physics laboratories have been inaugurated at the University of Trieste: the ArQuS (Artificial Quantum Systems) laboratory, where artificial quantum systems will be studied through the control of single atoms, and the QCI (Quantum Communication and Information) laboratory where research on and technological development of new solutions for quantum communications on optical fiber and in free space will be developed. The laboratories are located in the CNR spaces within the Area Science Park, Basovizza Campus, and are directed by Francesco Scazza, associate professor in Physics of Matter at the University of Trieste’s Physics department, and by Alessandro Zavatta, senior research scientist of the National Institute of Optics at the National Research Council (INO-CNR). Laboratories devoted to frontier research are thus enriching the new master’s degree curriculum in Quantum Sciences and Technologies, the curriculum in Physics of Matter and the three-year Degree course in Physics. The University of Trieste boasts a well-respected tradition in the field of quantum mechanics, supported by interactive and collaborative efforts with important international research bodies. The Friuli Venezia Giulia region, and in particular Trieste with its university, is a leader in the field of quantum communications thanks to the “Quantum FVG” and “QuFree” projects financed by the Region and coordinated by the University of Trieste. The former aims at developing a regional fiber optic network for secure data transmission via quantum technology, with the QCI laboratory joined to it. The latter, however, is an ambitious research programme on quantum communication in the air and aims at paving the way for secure connections via satellite. ArQuS Laboratory – Cold atoms for quantum sciences and technologies The ArQuS (Artificial Quantum Systems) laboratory, the only one of its kind in Italy, was set up to create artificial quantum systems through the precise control of individual ytterbium atoms. Via laser beams and magnetic fields, atoms, which are by nature identical to each other and very delicate (to the point that their wave-like quantum nature could be destroyed by any external disturbance) can be slowed down in their movement and thus be thoroughly observed, offering a precious “magnifying glass” for the study of otherwise inaccessible processes and phenomena. This is made possible by a cutting-edge experimental apparatus within which atoms are isolated from the external environment and cooled to a temperature of only one-millionth of a degree above absolute zero, capturing them in real traps based on laser light. Laser radiation, also a wave, if appropriately synchronised with the internal oscillation of the atom, can in fact be used to control particles in an extremely precise manner without destroying their quantum nature, but on the contrary, harnessing it for new technological applications. QCI Laboratory – Quantum networks for maximum security of information systems The QCI laboratory was created to serve the research on and technological development of new solutions for quantum communications on optical fiber with the added purpose of training physics and engineering students at the University of Trieste and collaborating with the major research and training institutions in the field. The field of quantum information, a new subject born from the intermingling of computer science and quantum mechanics, is in fact a promising area that has made important progress in recent years. Thanks to the equipment present in the laboratory, which makes it possible to generate quantum cryptographic keys and experiment with ultra-secure communications, the researchers aim at laying the foundations for creating real quantum networks for the manipulation and transmission of data capable of guaranteeing maximum security. The QCI quantum communication laboratory was funded by the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region through the “Quantum FVG” and “QuFree” projects. The ArQuS laboratory, however, has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) within the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research and innovation (Grant Agreement no. 949438) and from the Ministry of Universities and Research within the FARE (FastOrbit project) and PRIN 2022 (CoQuS project) programmes.

After the latest positive experience with the Danish artist Sissel Marie Tonn, Area Science Park repeats the experimentation of artists’ residencies, moments of the physical presence of artists within scientific institutions to give life to contaminations of ideas and quality planning in art and science. Again this year, thanks to the collaboration with MEET Digital Culture Center of Milan, Area hosted Studio Above&Belove, the artist duo, winner of challenge no. 6 of the “S+T+ARTS in the City” call on December 6th and 7th. The challenge launched to artists from all over the world, in fact, asked them to investigate and narrate, through their own language and poetics, one of the most critical passages that the world must face at the moment: green and digital transformation require the use of an imposing amount of resources that the EU has defined as critical raw materials, i.e. a series of raw materials that are difficult to find or that have a high environmental impact when extracting or recycling them. With the Regenerative Symphony project, Daria Jelonek, German, and Perry-James Sugden, English, from Studio Above&Below were the winners of the residency in Area Science Park. Their project is to create an interactive audiovisual installation generated by an artificial intelligence model that uses self-analysis, monitoring of minerals and market analysis of the northern region of Italy as input data, to recognise, decide and predict the output of an immersive modular installation. The public will have the opportunity to interact by creating new objects starting from the recycling of others and thanks to sustainable energy sources. The AI model reacts to requests, identifying different solutions, including recycling critical materials from unused e-waste or alternative design decisions. During computation, the digital experience in space is reorganised, leading to a new immersive environment. “Our Regenerative Symphony project focuses on critical materials, various artificial intelligence systems and e-waste recycling. – explain Daria Jelonek and Perry-James Sugden – We are particularly interested in using a variety of artificial intelligence tools useful for identifying new materials or new ways of recycling electronic waste, an issue that currently represents a major problem. Ours will be an audiovisual installation made up of a computational system and a variety of 3D-generated elements that we will create, with the idea of working on different minerals or critical materials, imagining how they can be reorganised and reused. What will be of key importance is sound, which is why we called the project Regenerative Symphony, creating a special soundscape. The visit to the laboratories of the Area Science Park will help us learn more about innovative materials and the different types of databases that can help us become familiar with innovative materials, thanks to discussions with scientists and researchers”. Area Science Park, as co-host institution of the residency, has the task of inspiring artists through access to resources, open data and technological platforms focused on material, data and life sciences. In the first two days of live residency, Daria Jelonek and Perry-James Sugden visited the laboratories and had discussions with researchers working as part of the Innovative Materials Platform, which includes the Electron Microscopy Laboratory and the Data Engineering Laboratory, and with expert technologists who deal with research and innovation projects in the field of the circular economy and the enhancement of research. The discussion with the artists was then also extended to researchers from other entities in the Area Science Park system, such as Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, where the artists had the opportunity to visit and learn about the main ongoing research on the topics of “critical materials” and their importance for the green and digital transformation we are facing nowadays. The artists will have 9 months to create the work which will be exhibited at Sonar in Barcelona and by Ars Electronica in Linz.

Generative AI startup Aindo, which has developed and patented synthetic data generation technology, announces a €6 million Series A round led by United Ventures, with a participation from existing investor Vertis SGR through the fund Vertis Venture 3 Technology Transfer. This new funding will allow Aindo to grow the team by 10 more employees, and continue developing solutions that facilitate the use of artificial intelligence in strategic sectors such as healthcare, finance, and public administration. Synthetic data is data that is created artificially as opposed to generated by real-world events. It’s manufactured algorithmically and is used as a substitute for testing purposes and to train machine learning (ML) models. Aindo’s team aims not only to consolidate its position as a leader in synthetic data but also to revolutionize the concept of data mobility, understood as the secure exchange of information, with particular attention to privacy protection. United Ventures, a venture capital company focused on investments in high-tech companies, leads the investment round, a testimony to the growing role of synthetic data in promoting secure information exchange. Vertis, which invests in innovative Made in Italy projects, is betting on the strategic dimension of the technology. According to Gartner, synthetic data is among the emerging trends in AI. By 2024, 60% of the data used in AI projects will be synthetically generated compared to only 1% in 2021. A study by Grand View Research forecasts that the global synthetic data market will be valued at €1.79 billion by 2030. The technology is in high demand from sectors ranging from healthcare and finance, to banking, and insurance. Notably, in the healthcare sector, Aindo’s synthetic data generation technology is already widely applied, from improving predictive analysis of pharmacological therapies in rare diseases to optimizing patient care in a hospital setting, to monitoring remote healthcare by anticipating potential risk situations. “We’re thrilled to announce this new funding round, which will fuel our growth at a crucial phase of the company’s development.” says Daniele Panfilo, co-founder and CEO of Aindo. “When we launched Aindo, Generative AI was barely known outside academic environments. In record time, it’s grown into the next billion dollar category in tech, thanks to its mind blowing capabilities that have captivated the world’s imagination. Our goal is to make data-driven innovation increasingly secure and ethically responsible for entire industries. Most organizations possess valuable structured information stored within their databases that cannot be used due to privacy protection. Creating synthetic data with generative AI solves that: the data Aindo regenerates behaves similarly to real data while fully protecting individuals’ privacy.” Giulia Giovannini, partner at United Ventures, comments, ” The AI revolution still faces many obstacles, including data inaccessibility, long processing times, privacy concerns, and ethical issues related to data collection. Synthetic data is an answer to these problems, offering companies a tool of great importance to fully exploit the potential of artificial intelligence while ensuring the necessary privacy in data anagement. We believe that Daniele and his team have the right ambition to scale the platform internationally in the field of synthetic data, and we are excited to contribute to this round, as our very first investment from UV3, United Ventures recently launched fund.” Roberto Della Marina, operating partner of Vertis SGR and managing partner of Venture Factory, adds, “Synthetic data tech is undeniably one of the most promising emerging trends in AI. It’s what we call a horizontal innovation. In the coming years, the demand for synthetic data will be ubiquitous for all sectors relying heavily on data, particularly in healthcare, finance, and insurance. Aindo’s technology has the potential to impact millions of people’s lives.” Aindo was born from the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) in Trieste. Aindo’s Synthetic Data Aindo’s synthetic data is not collected empirically but generated artificially through machine learning models. These models can create artificial data that faithfully reproduces the characteristics and behaviors of real data. The synthetic data generated by Aindo thus maintains the statistical utility of the original data. Being artificial, they are devoid of sensitive information and can be safely exchanged and analyzed. Applications of Synthetic Data Synthetic data enables the application of Artificial Intelligence in high-impact social and business areas, such as healthcare research or developing technologies for financial markets. Healthcare Sector – Synthetic data finds application in training artificial intelligence models necessary for developing prognostic and predictive tools in the healthcare field, aimed at improving diagnostics and treatment of numerous diseases. Patient health data is highly confidential and generally cannot be shared; however, their analysis can lead to new diagnostic and pharmacological knowledge for treating specific pathologies or identifying risk factors. Aindo’s synthetic data aligns with GDPR, allowing the use, mobility, and exchange of synthetic health data. Financial Sector – Synthetic data is critical in developing personalized solutions and services in the financial world. For example, a bank could use synthetic data to build accurate risk prediction models to identify patterns and behaviors typical of companies likely to encounter financial difficulties. Additionally, synthetic data can be successfully employed to improve anti-fraud systems through data augmentation possibilities. Infrastructure and Energy – In the infrastructure and energy sectors, synthetic data is instrumental in data sharing between the public and private sectors. This facilitates the combination of supply and demand in infrastructure and network management optimization. Think of smart cities, smart buildings, and physical infrastructure monitoring such as bridges, viaducts, and road networks to assess wear and tear, traffic management, and structural monitoring. Properly calibrated synthetic data would enable the evaluation of multi-risk scenarios, such as static, seismic, and hydrogeological risks, by simulating different damage or optimal management scenarios.