Research infrastructures

From 15 to 17 October 2026, Area Science Park participated in the EOSC Symposium 2026 in Florence, the annual event organised by the EOSC Association, with two contributions to sessions dedicated to the use of EOSC Nodes and technologies for making datasets FAIR-compliant (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). The EOSC Association brings together the European community involved in developing the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), Europe’s common data space supporting research and innovation, which aims to connect research infrastructures, resources and services. FORGE: integrating infrastructures and genomic data within the EOSC Federation Mariarita de Luca, Federica Bazzocchi and Valerio Piomponi from Area Science Park presented the results of FORGE – Federated Open Research Data for Genomics in EOSC, during the Usage of EOSC Nodes and related benefits session, which focused on practical experiences of integrating EOSC Nodes to support research activities. FORGE is being developed in collaboration with the Italian EOSC Node and the CERN EOSC Node. The project tests approaches to integrating infrastructures, computing services and distributed data management systems, enabling researchers to discover, access and process genomic datasets distributed across different nodes of the EOSC Federation through interoperable and reproducible workflows. The project combines Area Science Park’s ORFEO HPC/AI infrastructure with Rucio, an open-source system developed at CERN for distributed data management, and services from the EOSC ecosystem. The workflow also incorporates machine-readable FAIR-compliant metadata, improving the discoverability and reuse of scientific data. FORGE thus contributes to the development of a replicable integration model that could potentially be adopted by other research infrastructures and future EOSC Nodes to support federated data management and research activities, particularly in the life sciences. From FAIR data production to curation The Automating data FAIRification session explored technologies for making scientific data compliant with FAIR principles, both from the design stage (FAIR-by-design) and through subsequent adaptation processes (ex post FAIRification), with particular attention to scalability, economic sustainability and the transferability of solutions. Stefano Cozzini, Director of Area Science Park’s Research Institute for Technological Innovation, gave a presentation entitled FAIR from Creation to Curation: Technologies, Lab Upgrades and HPC Needs, focusing on the FAIR-by-design methodology and the application of FAIR principles throughout the entire data lifecycle, from laboratory data generation to curation and preservation. Cozzini presented experiences from the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) projects NFFA-DI and PRP@CERIC, for which Area Science Park designed the digital infrastructures. He highlighted the role of enabling technologies, upgrades to laboratory instrumentation, and HPC and AI computing resources, including the ORFEO data centre, in making scientific data genuinely reusable. The EOSC Federation enters its operational phase Organised by the EOSC Association, the symposium marked the EOSC Federation’s transition to its operational phase, bringing together leading representatives of the international research and innovation community in Florence. Speakers included Manuel Heitor, the driving force behind the Align, Act, Accelerate report and former Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education; Rosie Hicks, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Research Data Commons; and Mercè Crosas, Director of the Computational Social Science and Humanities Laboratory at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. Italy’s Minister of Universities and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, also addressed the symposium, highlighting Italy’s role in the development of EOSC and the importance of the Federation for Italian and European researchers.

From 14 to 18 September 2026, a delegation from Area Science Park made up of Mariarita de Luca and Federica Bazzocchi, researchers at the Laboratory of Data Engineering – LADE, and Federica Mantovani, Infrastructure Manager, visited the Center for Research, Development and Innovation in Digital Technologies at ESPOL (Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral), a historic public university based in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The mission is part of EU-CELAC, the European initiative that promotes scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. The visit, whose main goal was to explore cooperation opportunities in fields related to edge AI and intelligent systems, ideally represents the exchange counterpart to the study visit hosted by Area Science Park in June 2026, also under EU-CELAC, when a delegation of Latin American universities and research centres visited the ORFEO Data Center. During the week, the delegation visited several ESPOL research centres, including CIDIS – Centro de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación de Sistemas Computacionales, a centre dedicated to developing technologies based on computer vision, machine learning, robotics and energy systems, and CTI – Centro de Tecnologías de Información, dedicated to research on information and communication technologies, with activities also touching on industrial artificial intelligence and technologies for intelligent environments. The delegation also visited CIBE – Centro de Biotecnología, whose mission is to generate, apply, transfer and disseminate biotechnological solutions to support the competitiveness of the agricultural industry, and SOLCA, one of the most advanced oncology institutes in Ecuador and the region. The meetings with ESPOL’s research groups brought out several lines and areas of collaboration around which shared interests could converge and complementary activities be developed: among these, drug discovery, virology, oncology, multiomics, hydrogen, robotics and new materials. Alongside these research lines, discussions also covered programmes for sharing guidelines and best practices, pathways to support the management and definition of research infrastructure sustainability programmes, and technology transfer initiatives. The theme at the heart of the collaboration remains, in particular, data management according to FAIR principles, for which the groundwork was laid for future structured training programmes. Alongside the visit, the Area Science Park representatives spoke at the workshop “First Summer School on Research Data and FAIR Principles – Ecuador Edition“, promoted by ESPOL, Universidad Indoamerica, the Ministerio de Educación, Deporte y Cultura of the Government of Ecuador, ISTICI, Area Science Park and CEDIA, and held over two sessions: on 18 September in Guayaquil and on 21 September in Quito. During the sessions, Mariarita de Luca, Federica Bazzocchi and Federica Mantovani guided participants through the themes of Open Science and research data management, with particular attention to FAIR principles and the FAIR-by-Design approach.

Trieste, September 22, 2026 – The third edition of MDMC – Master in Data Management and Curation, the advanced training programme sponsored by Area Science Park and SISSA – Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati and designed to train the next generation of scientific data management professionals, officially kicked off today, September 22, 2026. The goal of the Master’s program is to provide participants with the conceptual and practical tools necessary to effectively, responsibly, and sustainably manage the entire lifecycle of research data: from its production to its preservation and reuse over time. MDMC is part of the scientific and international ecosystem that characterizes Trieste and stems from the synergy between two institutions of excellence in the fields of research and higher education: Area Science Park, a national research organization and one of Italy’s leading science and technology parks, and SISSA, internationally renowned institute of higher education and research. Together, the two institutions have developed a program designed to provide participants with theoretical and practical skills that can be immediately applied to research and innovation, fields in which data management and artificial intelligence are now deeply intertwined. From the application of the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) to Open Science practices, from the design and implementation of ‘FAIR-by-design’ data workflows to metadata optimisation and the use of advanced tools, standards and technologies, the MDMC advanced training course enables participants to develop skills that are increasingly in demand by universities, research organisations, scientific infrastructures and innovative companies, at a time when the quality, traceability and openness of data have become fundamental and indispensable requirements in the fields of research and innovation. The third edition of the one-year Master’s programme begins with a cohort of 17 participants (14 full-time students and 3 auditors), which fully reflects the programme’s international and interdisciplinary nature. Italy, Argentina, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland: the students’ countries of origin are diverse and varied, a factor that encourages the comparison of different methodologies and research systems, as well as the exchange of experiences amongst participants. Equally diverse are the educational backgrounds of the participants. The cohort brings together a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds, from data science to mathematics, from molecular biology and functional genomics to meteorology and climate science, and from psychology and cognitive neuroscience to graphic communication. This diversity reflects the nature of data curation, an interdisciplinary field that is fundamental to every area of science and technology. The kick-off of the third edition of MDMC, coincides with the launch of new official website of MDMC, which will serve as a hub for keeping up to date with the programme’s activities. The website features all the latest updates on the current course, the calendar of public seminars organised as part of the Master’s programme (which are also open to those not enrolled on the programme), and information on future intakes. The news website can be viewed at: http://mdmc-program.it/.

The 18th edition of the Multinational Congress on Microscopy (18MCM), one of the leading international events dedicated to microscopy and its most advanced applications, will be held in Trieste from 12 to 17 September 2027. The city was selected as the host venue following a bid submitted by the Italian Society for Microscopical Sciences (SISM), in collaboration with Area Science Park, and particularly its Electron Microscopy Laboratory, which draws on a well-established wealth of expertise, cutting-edge instrumentation and international partnerships. The congress is expected to bring more than 400 participants to Trieste, including researchers and early-career scientists from across Europe. This is comparable to the attendance recorded at the previous edition, held in Portorož (Slovenia) in September 2025. “Hosting the 18th edition of the Multinational Congress on Microscopy in Trieste is an important recognition of the scientific community in our region and further confirms the city’s role as an international research hub, built on an ecosystem of excellence and strong partnerships,” said Prof. Caterina Petrillo, President of Area Science Park. She added: “For the institution I lead, the congress is further confirmation of the excellence of the path undertaken in recent years, which has involved significant investments in infrastructures and expertise dedicated to materials science and advanced electron microscopy. This commitment has also been recognised at European level, as demonstrated by the recent success of the Microscopy Europe project, which successfully passed the European evaluation thresholds and was included in the ESFRI Roadmap 2026. Microscopy Europe will be the first European distributed infrastructure dedicated to advanced electron microscopy for the characterisation of materials at the atomic scale. Area Science Park contributed to its design and will continue to contribute to the development of its scientific programme over the next ten years.” The Multinational Congress on Microscopy is an internationally significant platform for scientific, technological and educational exchange. “The 18th edition of the Multinational Congress on Microscopy will provide an important opportunity to bring the international microscopy community together in Trieste and to discuss the latest scientific and technological developments in the field,” emphasises Regina Ciancio, Head of the Electron Microscopy Laboratory at Area Science Park and Chair of the Congress. “The programme will span from materials science to life sciences, with a particular focus on the new frontiers of advanced microscopy, instrumentation and emerging methodologies. Significant attention will also be devoted to early-career researchers, training, and dialogue among research organisations, scientific infrastructures and industry.” For further information on 18MCM, visit the 18MCM website.

Area Science Park President Professor Caterina Petrillo received Professor Andrea Lenzi, President of the Italian National Research Council (CNR), at the institution’s headquarters on the Padriciano Campus. Professor Lenzi is visiting Trieste as part of a two-day programme dedicated to gaining first-hand insight into the city’s scientific system and meeting with the leading research and higher education institutions based in the territory. Accompanied by CNR Director General Jacopo Greco, Professor Lenzi took part in a meeting attended by Area Science Park President Caterina Petrillo, Salvatore La Rosa, Director of the Research and Innovation Division, Andrea Zelco, Director of the Science and Technology Park Management and Development Division, Regina Ciancio, Head of the Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Federica Mantovani, Infrastructure Manager, and Matteo Biagetti, researcher at the Data Engineering Laboratory. President Petrillo presented the organisation’s main activities and its new strategic vision, centred on the development of research and technological infrastructures as key drivers of scientific research, innovation, technology transfer and the country’s competitiveness. She also highlighted the ongoing projects and collaborations between Area Science Park and the CNR, particularly with the Institute of Materials. The meeting was part of a broader programme that has seen President Lenzi and Director General Greco meet with several leading figures from Trieste’s scientific community, including Giovanni Comelli, President of Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste. The visit further confirms the strategic importance of Trieste’s scientific system, which is recognised nationally and internationally as an environment capable of integrating frontier research, major research infrastructures, innovation and technology transfer, while fostering collaboration among public research organisations, universities and industry.

Area Science Park is a partner in two new research infrastructures included in the 2026 Roadmap of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI), the strategic planning document that identifies Europe’s priority research infrastructures, considered essential for scientific and technological competitiveness over the next 10–20 years. The selection of research infrastructures follows a two-stage process: a rigorous scientific evaluation by international experts, followed by an approval process involving government delegates from EU Member States and Associated Countries. The two new initiatives in which Area Science Park is a partner are Microscopy Europe, the first distributed European research infrastructure dedicated to advanced electron microscopy for the atomic-scale characterization of materials, and NFFA2050, a digital nanoscience infrastructure designed to integrate experiments, simulations, and FAIR data management. Microscopy Europe originated from the joint commitment of three countries—the Czech Republic, Italy, and Germany—which first recognized the need to equip Europe with an integrated infrastructure for advanced electron microscopy in support of materials research. Under the leadership of the Czech Republic, Microscopy Europe now brings together 26 centres of excellence across 15 European countries and serves as a strategic platform for the development, understanding, and engineering of advanced materials. The initiative overcomes the current fragmentation of services through an integrated model that provides, via a single access point, access to a distributed network of state-of-the-art instrumentation supported by digital services and artificial intelligence tools. Area Science Park plays a central role in developing the infrastructure’s scientific programme through the expertise of its Electron Microscopy Laboratory (LAME) led by researcher Regina Ciancio, and acts as Italy’s national representative within the European consortium. NFFA2050 is coordinated by the Institute of Materials (IOM) of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR). The proposal was submitted by five European countries and involves twenty-seven European scientific institutions. It builds on eleven years of successful operation of the NFFA-Europe research infrastructure, also supported by the NFFA-DI project funded under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), in which Area Science Park participates. Through its Data Engineering Laboratory (LADE), Area Science Park will contribute to NFFA2050 as the Italian national node specializing in Materials Science data management. It will provide access to the ORFEO High-Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure and contribute its expertise in metadata models, interoperability, FAIR data pipelines, and artificial intelligence applied to experimental workflows. “The inclusion of Microscopy Europe and NFFA2050 in the ESFRI Roadmap 2026 represents an important recognition of the strategy pursued by Area Science Park and of the significant investments made in recent years in materials science and advanced electron microscopy,” commented Professor Caterina Petrillo, President of Area Science Park. “This achievement strengthens the institution’s role within the European strategy for research infrastructures and helps ensure the long-term continuity and sustainability of a strategic sector for both research and industry.”

More than ten million cells analysed in less than two hours, with memory requirements approximately three times lower than those of the best existing tools and processing speeds up to forty times faster on the largest datasets. This remarkable achievement was made possible by a team of researchers from the University of Trieste, Area Science Park, SISSA and Human Technopole, who developed DEVIL (Differential Expression with Variational Inference Learning), a new high-performance computational tool. The study has been published in Nature Communications. Understanding which genes are active within cells is fundamental to advancing our knowledge of disease and developing new therapeutic approaches. Today’s most advanced technologies enable researchers to measure gene activity in millions of cells from dozens or even hundreds of patients, generating unprecedented volumes of data for biomedical research. However, this revolution also brings with it two major challenges: on the one hand, the risk of errors in data interpretation, and on the other, the difficulty of analysing such large volumes of information. The first challenge is computational. Analysing millions of cells requires enormous computing power. Traditional methods are too slow and consume excessive memory when handling datasets of this scale, creating a bottleneck that risks undermining the advantages offered by modern data collection technologies. The second challenge is statistical. Cells collected from the same patient tend to resemble each other more closely than cells from different patients, as they share the same biological background, environment and individual characteristics. Ignoring this aspect—as many currently available tools do—can lead to biased statistical conclusions, with the risk of identifying cellular changes as “significant” when they are not, or conversely failing to detect genuine ones. To address both issues, the researchers developed DEVIL, successfully combining statistical rigour with computational speed in an innovative way. From a computational perspective, DEVIL, which was also developed with support from the AIRC Foundation, has been specifically designed to efficiently exploit the latest parallel computing architectures commonly used in artificial intelligence. Moreover, DEVIL is not only faster but also significantly more memory-efficient. This is a crucial advantage, as analyses previously restricted to major computing centres can now be carried out by smaller research laboratories and infrastructures. From a statistical perspective, DEVIL tackles the problem through a Bayesian approach that correctly accounts for the structure of the data, treating cells from the same patient as correlated observations and thereby distinguishing differences between patients from genuine differences in cellular activity. “This work would not have been possible without ORFEO, Area Science Park’s high-performance computing and data centre, recently upgraded through funding from Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR),” said Stefano Cozzini, Director of the Institute for Research and Technological Innovation at Area Science Park. “The availability of state-of-the-art GPUs, offering exceptional computing performance, together with the optimisation of algorithms carried out by our team for this architecture, has enabled DEVIL to tackle problems on a significantly larger scale than previously possible. This achievement is the result of a highly skilled multidisciplinary team that has been able to fully leverage the capabilities of the infrastructure and technologies available”. ”Differential expression analysis, —that is, the statistical method used to identify which genes are significantly more or less active across different biological conditions—is a mature technology,” explained Giulio Caravagna of the University of Trieste. “However, the transition to single-cell data has introduced statistical and computational challenges that make the integrated analysis of large patient cohorts particularly difficult. Our work was conceived specifically to overcome this bottleneck, combining methodological innovation with high-performance computing to enable the analysis of millions of cells from hundreds of patients”. “In the development of DEVIL, the synergy between classical and Bayesian statistical methods represents a distinctive strength within the oncology literature,” added Leonardo Egidi of the University of Trieste. “It makes DEVIL both a highly efficient computational protocol and a methodologically robust one. Future developments may involve spatio-temporal models for multiple patients and further computational approximations based on theoretical properties that are currently under investigation—a fascinating combination of statistical, computational and biological expertise”. DEVIL was validated on two real-world biological case studies. In the first, focused on the identification of immune cell populations, the tool demonstrated greater accuracy and specificity in detecting biologically relevant functions. In the second, which investigated the ageing of human muscle tissue, DEVIL identified age-related transcriptional changes in a more robust and biologically meaningful manner, reducing noise and highlighting key processes for downstream analyses. Released as free and open-source software, DEVIL is now available to laboratories and hospitals worldwide, paving the way for a new generation of large-scale genomic analyses to support cancer research, the study of degenerative diseases and the advancement of personalised medicine.  

From 15 to 19 June 2026, Area Science Park welcomed five representatives from universities and research centres across Latin America for a study visit to the ORFEO Data Center, one of five European research infrastructures selected as a “Reference Research Infrastructure” within the framework of the European EU-CELAC initiative. The study visit provided participants with an opportunity to explore the capabilities of a high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence infrastructure embedded within a research and innovation ecosystem serving both industry and research organisations, further strengthening Area Science Park’s role as a European hub for international cooperation in data-driven research and innovation. The visit took place within the framework of the scientific cooperation initiative between the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), launched in 2016 with the aim of establishing research infrastructures as one of the pillars of the Common Research Area between the two regions. In particular, the EU-CELAC Working Group on Research Infrastructures (EU-CELAC WG RI) promotes the visibility and sharing of FAIR research infrastructures — Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable — while fostering the exchange of best practices and networking activities between the two continents. The selection of ORFEO highlights the data centre’s international relevance and potential. The delegation — comprising professors, research group leaders and scientific coordinators from Argentina, Ecuador and Costa Rica — had the opportunity to learn about Area Science Park’s other major research infrastructures– PRP@CERIC and NFFA-DI, together with their associated services, while also gaining insight into European priorities for digital research infrastructures. Dedicated sessions focused on the digital tools developed within PRP@CERIC and NFFA-DI and their integration with experimental facilities, as well as on large-scale data management practices enabled by artificial intelligence, with particular emphasis on interoperability and FAIR principles. On the final day of the visit, a session was held to discuss concrete opportunities for scientific cooperation. Representatives from other Trieste-based research institutions also took part, including : OGS – Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale, SISSA – Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, ICTP – Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics e INAF – Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica. The study visit provided a valuable opportunity for exchange and mutual learning between two research ecosystems located in different parts of the world, yet united by the common goal of making HPC research infrastructures more accessible and interoperable.

Area Science Park welcomed to its Basovizza Campus an international delegation of 39 students and 3 professors from Leiden University, in the Netherlands. The group is part of the Leidse Biologen Club, the student association bringing together students enrolled in Bachelor’s degree programmes in Biology and Bioinformatics, and the Master’s programmes in Biology. The visit to Trieste is part of an annual study trip that this year also includes the cities of Vienna and Graz. The aim of the club is to allow future biologists to explore new professional opportunities and discover how academic research translates into industrial applications and practical solutions. The students were particularly impressed by the variety of projects developed within the science park, thanks to the presence of multiple companies and laboratories concentrated in one location. Presentations on the activities of Area Science Park, CNR-IOM, and the PRP Platform (Pathogen Readiness Platform), were followed by visits to the Microfabrication, Microsensing and Mechanobiology Laboratory (3M), the Genomics and Epigenomics Laboratory (LAGE), Alifax Research & Development Srl, and the Italian Liver Foundation. “For many students, this was an opportunity to closely observe laboratories and instruments that are usually found only in major international research centres,” said Federico Boscherini, Director of CNR-IOM. “It was a pleasure to welcome students from different scientific backgrounds to the campus and to see their interest in the technologies and infrastructures available here in Basovizza. The campus’s open infrastructures are designed precisely for this purpose: to share expertise, technologies, and advanced research environments with international scientific and educational communities.” The Leidse Biologen Club’s stay in Trieste concluded with excursions to the Grotta Gigante cave and the Val Rosandra nature reserve.

The ambitious project Pathogen Readiness Platform for CERIC-ERIC Upgrade – PRP@CERIC has been successfully completed, achieving all its objectives within the strict European timelines and leaving a lasting legacy for the CERIC-ERIC research infrastructure. The project significantly broadens its mission as a centre of excellence for the study of emerging pathogens. The project, worth €41 million, was coordinated by Area Science Park and developed in collaboration with CNR, the University of Naples Federico II, the University of Salerno and the University of Salento. It has created a geographically distributed and integrated ecosystem providing academic and industrial researchers with cutting-edge tools to address challenges posed by human, animal and plant pathogens. Seven key areas of scientific excellence define the new research infrastructure: Pathogen Research, Structural Biology, Advanced Microspectroscopy, Mechanobiology, Multi-omics, Artificial Intelligence and Simulations, and Bioelectronics. This interdisciplinary approach enables the study of pathogens under the most physiologically relevant conditions, from basic research to the development of new drugs and diagnostic systems. Among the most significant outcomes are the upgrading of BSL3 laboratories within the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) for the safe analysis and study of infectious agents, the implementation of innovative automated screening systems, the acquisition of a state-of-the-art cryo-electron microscope, and the strengthening of high-performance computing infrastructures for artificial intelligence applied to computational biology. The project also led to the recruitment of 32 new researchers and technologists, further consolidating Trieste’s position as an international hub for life sciences. “PRP@CERIC has represented a key milestone for Area Science Park in strengthening the organisation’s development strategy in the field of research infrastructures, based on the integration of skills and the systematisation of existing scientific and technological capabilities. The award of the project within the framework of the MUR PNRR funding marked a decisive step in this direction,” said President Caterina Petrillo. “Three years after the launch of the project, this experience has helped redefine the organisation’s mission, now focused on the development of research and technological infrastructures as enabling tools for advanced research and for supporting deep-tech innovation stemming from high-risk research. The medium-term sustainability of PRP@CERIC will be ensured through funding obtained via competitive calls, such as the INGenIO project on rare diseases, and through services offered to industry.” “The research infrastructure also makes a significant contribution to pandemic preparedness and to advancing research in combating antimicrobial resistance, acting as a bridge between biomedical sciences and physical and biophysical disciplines, thus fostering an interdisciplinary approach capable of generating new investigative methods and innovative scientific results,” explained Federica Mantovani, PRP Infrastructure Manager at Area Science Park. “Furthermore, the integration of advanced instrumentation, emerging technologies and artificial intelligence-based approaches enhances our ability to observe, model and interpret complex biological phenomena.” The project has strengthened the strategic role of CERIC-ERIC within the European research infrastructure landscape. The geographically distributed platform represents an innovative model of scientific collaboration, where the complementary expertise of different partners is integrated to deliver a unique service. The multidisciplinary approach adopted enables the challenges of pathogen research to be addressed from a holistic perspective, from molecular characterisation to clinical applications. Designed in accordance with FAIR data principles, the infrastructure will ensure access for the scientific community through CERIC-ERIC and will also provide services to the industrial sector.

Applications are now open for the new edition of the Master in Data Management and Curation (MDMC), a one-year advanced programme promoted by Area Science Park and SISSA. The course is designed to train highly qualified professionals in the management, enhancement and curation of scientific data, based on a FAIR-by-design approach. Developed in collaboration between two leading institutions in the national and international scientific landscape, MDMC is open to ITS diploma holders as well as holders of Bachelor’s, Master’s or equivalent degrees. The programme provides both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in data management and curation, with a strong focus on data quality, integrity and documentation throughout the entire data lifecycle. These competencies are essential to ensure a more reliable, transparent and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence, within the broader framework of Open Science and Data Governance practices. The programme runs for approximately 10 months and is entirely delivered in English. It combines intensive in-person teaching in Trieste with a six-month internship at research laboratories and partner organisations, during which participants develop an applied project. The programme is built around the integration of data design, quality, interoperability and the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence, preparing professionals such as Data Stewards, Data Curators, Data Engineers and Research Data Managers – roles that are increasingly in demand across both academic and industrial sectors. Students will have dedicated access to the ORFEO HPC infrastructure at Area Science Park, including a dedicated virtual machine, storage space and computing resources specifically designed to support hands-on training in data management and data-intensive research. Five scholarships funded by Area Science Park, SISSA and OGS are currently available. These cover the tuition fee and provide an additional €3,000 contribution towards living expenses in Trieste during the in-person teaching period (September–December 2026). Subject to the availability of funding through agreements with external organisations – such as the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, research institutions or private companies – additional financial support, scholarships and awards may be made available and will be announced on the MDMC website. Applications must be submitted via the PICA platform by 1:00 pm (CET) on 30 June 2026. Selection will be based on the evaluation of the applicant’s CV and motivation letter; a short online interview may also be required. Full details on the call, admission requirements and course structure are available in the official call.

On 28 February, World Rare Disease Day is celebrated worldwide, drawing attention to a major health and social challenge: today, around 300 million people globally live with a rare disease, and treatments exist for only 5% of these conditions. According to data reported by the European Commission, between 27 and 36 million patients are affected across Europe, including more than 2 million in Italy, and in 70% of cases the disease manifests during childhood. These figures highlight the need for the scientific community to strengthen its commitment to research in order to accelerate and improve the diagnostic phase, open new therapeutic perspectives and support patients along what is often a complex care pathway. This is a particularly sensitive and important research area that requires coordinated efforts and the use of tools capable of connecting highly diverse expertise and, above all, transforming heterogeneous and complex data into knowledge useful for the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases. Area Science Park remains actively engaged in this field. Through regional and national research projects and initiatives, the organisation has long contributed to advancing scientific knowledge in the area of rare diseases. Within the activities linked to the MIRA project, funded by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, the Data Engineering Laboratory – LADE is currently developing a virtual assistant based on artificial intelligence technologies to improve the timeliness of diagnosis. Artificial intelligence has the potential to speed up the identification of symptoms associated with rare diseases, suggest to physicians and researchers when further diagnostic tests may be necessary, and ultimately support specialists in formulating a diagnosis. The virtual assistant – currently being tested together with the Friuli Centrale University Health Authority (ASUFC), the project’s lead partner – is being developed by the LADE laboratory in collaboration with Aindo, an innovative company based in the Area Science Park science and technology campus and specialised in the use of synthetic data that ensure both privacy protection and data reliability. More recently, the Ministry of University and Research (MUR) announced a €21 million funding allocation in support of the INGenIO project (Next-Generation Digital Infrastructure for the Study of Rare Diseases: Target Identification Driven by Multi-Omics and AI for Precision Drug Discovery and Delivery), coordinated by Area Science Park. The project aims to develop an integrated, interoperable and distributed infrastructure for the diagnosis of rare diseases, the understanding of their molecular mechanisms and the identification of personalised therapies. By bringing together specialised expertise and advanced instrumentation across the national territory, the project will cover the entire research pipeline, from disease investigation and computational modelling to the synthesis of new candidate drugs. Area Science Park’s commitment in this field builds on the organisation’s consolidated experience in designing and implementing research infrastructures, particularly in the life sciences domain. Examples include PRP@CERIC (Pathogen Readiness Platform for CERIC-ERIC Upgrade), an infrastructure dedicated to the study of pathogens, and ORFEO, the data centre that represents the digital core of Area Science Park’s research activities, supporting advanced projects every day in artificial intelligence, materials science, computational biology and genomics.