Institutional

With a project that combines environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and technological innovation, Area Science Park has won first place in the FVGreen Award – Friuli Venezia Giulia Sustainability Prize, Energy and Climate category, Public Bodies, Consortia and Administrations section. The award recognises public institutions, companies, and organisations committed to ecological transition and the development of projects with high environmental, energy, and social value. The recognition, presented on 8 November at the Teatro Verdi in Trieste, honours Building X — a new construction on the Basovizza campus — designed to host the Electron Microscopy Laboratory (LAME) and serve as a model of sustainable public architecture. The jury’s motivation stated: ” The building, by its intended use, requires large interior volumes, high rates of air exchange, and stable temperature and humidity conditions. These demanding performances are achieved through advanced dry construction techniques and a careful selection of materials (especially wood and steel). The design, construction, and management of the spaces follow rigorous criteria of energy efficiency and circular use of materials. The building consists of demountable and recyclable components and is designed to be reversible and modular, ensuring long-term durability. To guarantee high energy performance – class A1 – both passive and active systems have been adopted. The heating, cooling and hot-water systems use exclusively heat pumps powered by electricity produced by photovoltaic panels installed on the roof. This building is a model of how the climate challenge can be turned into an opportunity for innovation and the creation of high-performance architecture”. The award was accepted by Regina Ciancio, Head of the Electron Microscopy Laboratory (LAME) at Area Science Park, and Andrea Zelco, Director of the Management and Development Division of the Science and Technology Park. “The strengthening of the organisation’s research activities dedicated to the analysis of functional materials through advanced electron microscopy required investments both in innovative instrumentation and in new, dedicated laboratory spaces. Hence, the need for a building designed with the necessary technical specifications — a project that, of course, could not disregard sustainability, bio-compatibility and energy efficiency,” explained Caterina Petrillo, President of Area Science Park. “This project was made possible through the organisation’s own financial resources, complemented by important support from the Ministry of University and Research, earmarked for laboratory infrastructure. The expansion and modernisation plan for our campus does not end with Building X: we are already designing a second facility in Basovizza dedicated to research activities, and planning a series of green renovation projects for the existing assets of the science and technology park”.   Features of Building X Currently in an advanced phase of construction and scheduled for completion in spring 2026, Building X has a total volume of approximately 3,000 cubic metres and has been designed with strict modular and precision criteria. It combines functionality and sustainability, providing highly controlled environments in terms of thermal, acoustic and vibration stability — essential for high-precision scientific instrumentation. The new facility is a tangible example of sustainable, decarbonised architecture. It is undergoing certification under the LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design protocol, with the goal of achieving the “Silver” level, becoming one of the first public buildings in Friuli Venezia Giulia to obtain this prestigious certification. The entire project was conceived to minimise the environmental impact throughout the building’s entire life cycle: Zero fossil fuels: heating, cooling and hot-water production rely exclusively on heat pumps powered by renewable electricity. Clean energy generation: the roof hosts a 62.4 kW photovoltaic system capable of covering a substantial portion of the building’s energy needs. Sustainable and recyclable materials: the glulam-wood and steel structure, built with lightweight prefabrication techniques, ensures precision, waste reduction, and the possibility of disassembly and reuse at the end of its life. Energy efficiency: the building achieves Class A1 energy performance — an outstanding result for a high-tech scientific laboratory. Environmental integration and comfort: the south-facing roof overhang provides solar shading in summer and passive heating in winter; the use of local materials such as Aurisina stone reduces transport-related emissions and enhances the surrounding landscape. Thanks to these solutions, the building makes a concrete contribution to the decarbonisation of regional public infrastructure and serves as a replicable model for other scientific and administrative facilities. The Electron Microscopy Laboratory (LAME) at Area Science Park is equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation capable of imaging and characterising materials down to sub-Ångström resolution. Its activities support research on advanced materials and the development of new technologies in the fields of functional materials, energy and nanotechnology. The laboratory operates in support of scientific research and technology transfer, strengthening the region’s competitiveness and fostering collaboration among public institutions, universities and enterprises. Beyond research, the new building will also provide spaces dedicated to training, scientific outreach and the promotion of a culture of sustainability, fully aligned with Area Science Park’s mission to combine science, innovation and environmental responsibility.

Area Science Park with the Council of Presidents shares the feelings of horror, grief, indignation, and anguish over the dramatic humanitarian crisis suffered by the Palestinian population as a result of the military actions undertaken by the Israeli Government in the territory of the Gaza Strip. The brutal terrorist attack carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, can in no way justify what is being inflicted upon Palestinian civilians, who are victims of continuous attacks, bombings, and famine. It condemns the actions that have caused and continue to cause thousands of civilian deaths, including a very large number of children. It also condemns the obstruction of humanitarian aid access, in blatant violation of international humanitarian law, and the destruction of essential civilian infrastructure. This tragedy has led the International Court of Justice to declare the risk of a violation of the Genocide Convention, a conclusion confirmed by a special United Nations commission, which stated that Israel’s conduct of war in Gaza “bears the characteristics of genocide.” It recalls that the fundamental principles enshrined in the Italian Constitution and in international law require respect for human rights, the rejection of war, and the promotion of peace and cooperation among peoples. It reaffirms the steadfast commitment of the scientific research community to peace, as expressed in recent weeks by the staff of Public Research Institutions and Universities, as well as by various scientific and academic institutions. We endorse the words of the appeal issued by the National Academy of the Lincei, calling to “recognize the non-negotiable sacredness of the lives of children, women, and men, even in the Gaza Strip.” It expresses appreciation for the positions taken by the Israeli Academy of Sciences and Humanities and by the rectors of the main Israeli universities, who have called on the Israeli Government to undertake clear and decisive initiatives to preserve human lives in the Gaza Strip. It affirms that dialogue and diplomacy are the means for resolving conflicts and emphasizes the importance of the role of scientific and cultural diplomacy as tools for building international cooperation in favor of peace. Area Science Park therefore commits itself to promoting and strengthening specific support measures for students and researchers from Palestine, as well as from other areas affected by conflicts; to encouraging initiatives of scientific and educational cooperation with institutions from all countries in order to contribute to the affirmation and strengthening of a culture of peace, dialogue, and inclusion; to reaffirming the role of the scientific community as dedicated not only to the advancement of knowledge but also to the protection of fundamental rights and the building of conditions for peaceful coexistence among individuals and peoples; and to upholding the very nature and foundation of science as a space of cooperation, dialogue, and peaceful and collaborative exchange among individuals and peoples, beyond any border, diversity, or conflict.