Institutional

Trieste is a “city of science, research, and innovation”. These were the words of Martin Briens, French Ambassador to Italy, who visited Area Science Park and the Elettra Synchrotron Light Laboratory last week. The Ambassador and his delegation, consisting of Rachel Caruhel, Deputy Consul General, Pauline Le Louargant, Political Advisor, and Capucine Louis, Business Economics Expert, have been accompanied to Area by Riccardo Illy, Honorary Consul of France in Trieste. Welcoming the delegation were Area Science Park President Caterina Petrillo, General Manager Anna Sirica, and Director of the Research and Innovation Division Salvatore La Rosa. The first part of the meeting was dedicated to presenting the Institution and its strategic activities, focusing on Artificial Intelligence and Life Sciences; in the second part, Ambassador Briens had the opportunity to meet and engage in discussions with representatives of Aindo, an innovative startup using AI to generate synthetic data based on real data. Later, the French delegation visited the Elettra Synchrotron Light Laboratory at the Basovizza campus.    

During the second National Week of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), scheduled from 4 to 11 February 2025, the fundamental role of women in research and innovation is a crucial issue and one to which Area Science Park has always paid special attention. At our Research Institute, 57% of employees are women, with a female presence of 54.8% among researchers and technologists. Women play a leading role in the top positions and positions of responsibility within the Institute: both the President and the General Manager are women, while 62.5% of Office Managers are female. Area Science Park has 2,800 employees, 37% of whom are women. Three-quarters of the science park’s staff hold a university degree or a PhD. All the figures mentioned are particularly significant in a scientific sector that is still predominantly male and they demonstrate Area Science Park’s commitment to encouraging gender equality and promoting female leadership and growth paths in STEM disciplines. Through collaborations with universities, companies and research centres, Area supports the entry of young women into scientific careers, thus helping to create a fairer and more innovative future. STEM Week 2025 represents another opportunity to reinforce this commitment and inspire new generations of female scientists, engineers and technologists. As in previous editions, Area joins many national research institutions in supporting the MUR’s communication campaign for STEM Week and the ‘International Day of Women and Girls in Science’.

Adina Lovin, Consul General of the Republic of Romania in Trieste, visited Area Science Park to gain a deeper understanding of the region’s scientific landscape and to identify and promote new collaboration models. Accompanied by Sabrina Strolego, Honorary Consul of Austria in Trieste, Adina Lovin was welcomed by Caterina Petrillo, President of the national research institution, who presented the key activities currently being developed at Area Science Park: from research and technological infrastructure development to investments in the hydrogen sector. Part of the meeting to the Institution’s initiatives supporting enterprises, both in digital transformation and in the development of new deep-tech companies. Afterward, the Consul General of Romania visited the Elettra Synchrotron Light Laboratory and met with some Romanian scientists working at Area Science Park campuses. During the visit, Adina Lovin expressed her commitment to supporting and promoting scientific exchange projects and collaboration between the two countries.

The research infrastructure for pathogen studies and the development of green hydrogen projects were key topics of the visit to Area Science Park by the Australian Deputy Ambassador to Rome, Siddhartha Chakrabarti. Accompanied by Marco Lazzarino, science attaché of the Italian Embassy in Canberra, Siddhartha Chakrabarti was welcomed in Area Science Park by the Director of the Research and Innovation Division, Salvatore La Rosa, who presented the institution and its main strategic activities. Following this, Alberto Soraci outlined the hydrogen-related projects (Nahv,  I-CAMPUS-H2 and H2SmartLab) and Stefano Cozzini introduced  “Pathogen Readiness Platform for CERIC-ERIC Upgrade” PRP@Ceric, a research infrastructure funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and coordinated by Area Science Park in partnership with CNR – National Research Council (Institute of Materials and Institute of Crystallography), University of Salerno, University of Naples and University of Salento. Additionally, Deputy Ambassador Siddhartha Chakrabarti had the opportunity to visit ICGEB, CNR-IOM, and the Elettra Synchrotron Light Laboratory.

During the end-of-year holidays, please be informed that our offices will be closed on the following days: 27, 30 and 31 December 2024; 2 and 3 January 2025. Due to reduced activity at the Area Science Park campuses, the cafeteria and bar services will undergo some changes: Cafeteria and Bar Closure Days: From 25 to 27 December 2024 1 and 6 January 2025 Pizzeria Closure Days: From 23 December 2024 to 3 January 2025 Bar Service Hours: On 24 and 31 December 2024, reduced hours will apply: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. We wish you a wonderful holiday season and a 2025 filled with joy and success! The Area Science Park Team

Scientific collaboration between Italy and Serbia is being strengthened. The Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, and the Serbian Minister of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation, Jelena Begović, inaugurated the second Italy-Serbia Scientific Forum in Trieste at Area Science Park, with the participation of over 100 researchers from both countries. Following a bilateral meeting, the ministers signed a joint declaration confirming the importance of cooperation in research and innovation, based on the MoU signed in Belgrade in 2023, as well as the promotion of researcher mobility, support for joint research programs, and bilateral scientific events. The document also highlighted the great success of the first call for joint research projects focused on the following areas: High Performance Computing and Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Agri-food Technologies, and Sustainable Economy. Over 80 applications were received and are currently under evaluation. The selected projects will be co-financed by both countries (for a total of 2 million euros) at the beginning of 2025. Today’s event continues the path started in March 2023 in Belgrade when Area Science Park participated in the first edition of the Science Forum. In December 2023, during the Innovation Forum, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the capital between Area Science Park and the science and technology parks of Belgrade, Niš, Čačak, and Novi Sad. This memorandum further develops a longstanding cooperation with Serbia that began in 2015, focusing on technical assistance in the fields of technology transfer and economic development. The goal is to pool scientific and technological capacities, such as those generated by research infrastructures and technological platforms, for example, on topics like life sciences, energy transition, and innovative materials. “The Italy-Serbia scientific forum represents, for Area Science Park and for the entire Scientific and Innovation System of Friuli Venezia Giulia, an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration between the two countries and create new opportunities for the exchange and sharing of knowledge and best practices,” said Caterina Petrillo, President of Area Science Park. “In particular, for the institution I lead, hosting, and especially participating in the forum, means expanding the areas of exchange and dialogue with research centers, universities, and science and technology parks, with which we have previously developed innovation projects. Today, our attention is focused on research and technological infrastructures, where Area has been investing in recent years, which by their nature are places for aggregation and sharing of knowledge.”

An international forum dedicated to the value and role of large research infrastructures in scientific progress and their economic, social and geopolitical impacts on a global scale. These were the central themes of the G7 conference “Large Research Infrastructures: Synergies and Impact on Science and Society”, organized by the Ministry of University and Research in collaboration with the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) under the Italian G7 Presidency, and held in Sardinia from October 28th to 30th in Su Gologone (Nuoro). The rich three-day program featured four thematic sessions, dedicated to exploring the key role of large research infrastructures in generating knowledge and value for society, promoting the sharing of ideas and best practices among policymakers, researchers, and socio-economic stakeholders. The opening remarks were delivered by the Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, and the President of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, Alessandra Todde. Among the nationally and internationally prominent speakers was also the President of Area Science Park, Caterina Petrillo, who contributed to the roundtable The Socio-Economic Benefits of Large Research Infrastructures. Here, speakers discussed the role of large infrastructures: not only centers for scientific knowledge production and high-quality FAIR data, but also true catalysts of innovative processes, which include training new generations of scientists, transferring technology to industry, and fostering regional development. During her speech, the President highlighted the importance of integrating these infrastructures into innovative ecosystems, scientific, and technological hubs, both public and private, where collaboration and shared projects can thrive. The objective of the G7 Conference on Large Research Infrastructures: Synergies and Impact on Science and Society is to stimulate dialogue to facilitate collaboration among the G7 countries, in order to optimize resources and maximize the complementarity of these large infrastructures, aiming toward a future of shared and sustainable innovation.