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The second edition of the Master in Data Management and Curation (MDMC), organised by Area Science Park and SISSA – International School for Advanced Studies, started on 22 September. This post-graduate advanced training course provides young researchers as well as professionals with advanced skills in managing research data according to the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). This approach has become essential to ensure the quality, integrity and reusability of scientific data and to promote a culture of open science at the international level. The programme was recently presented at CERN by Mariarita de Luca and Federica Bazzocchi from Area Science Park during the Open Science Fair 2025, held in Geneva from 15 to 17 September. On that occasion, the theme of FAIR data and the advanced skills required for their management was discussed as a key element in supporting the next generation of researchers. “Today data drive discovery, innovation and decision-making,” explain the researchers from Area Science Park. “For this reason, the ability to manage and curate them responsibly is crucial. Ours is a pioneering training programme that embraces the ‘FAIR-by-design’ paradigm, going beyond theory: instead of retrofitting datasets to FAIR criteria, MDMC students learn to integrate the FAIR principles from the earliest stages of data planning within the broader context of Open Science. This innovative approach is made possible thanks to the strong collaboration between Area Science Park and SISSA, which provides a dynamic ecosystem of research and innovation”. The second edition of the Master brings together 15 students from 7 different countries, with academic backgrounds ranging from Genetics to Electronics, Physics to Data Science, as well as Linguistics, Psychology, Economics and Mathematics. The 2025–2026 class also stands out for its diverse backgrounds: 3 students already hold a PhD, 7 have a Master’s degree and 5 a Bachelor’s degree. The programme lasts ten months and combines lectures, laboratory activities and internship periods at research centres and high-tech companies. Its aim is to train professionals capable of working as Data Stewards, Data Curators, Data Engineers and Data Managers in both scientific and industrial contexts. More specifically, the structure of the course includes eight intensive weeks of in-person lectures and hands-on exercises, followed by six months of internship in cutting-edge research laboratories or data-intensive institutions. During this period, students implement FAIR-by-design workflows and pipelines in real scientific contexts. This model provides a unique opportunity to work closely with researchers, develop tailored data management strategies and face the practical challenges of semantic interoperability, metadata standards and sustainable infrastructures. By training versatile, practice-oriented data professionals, the MDMC contributes to shaping a new generation of researchers capable of transforming data from a mere research product into a strategic asset, crucial for both academic excellence and data-driven innovation. For further details, see the course’s scientific programme. Watch the video featuring testimonials from students of the first 2024–25 edition.

From September 7 to 12, 2025, Portorož hosted the 17th Multinational Congress on Microscopy (17MCM), a key meeting point for scientists and industry experts. Held biennially, the event serves as a showcase of excellence for the latest breakthroughs achieved through advanced microscopy techniques, while also highlighting the newest theoretical and instrumental innovations.  Within the special session “IMPRESS: Shaping the Future of Interoperable TEM”, which gathered 80 experts, Regina Ciancio, IMPRESS Project Coordinator at Area Science Park, outlined the main objective of the initiative: to develop an interoperable and standardized platform for transmission electron microscopy (TEM), with the potential to transform the field.  IMPRESS aims to create modular components designed with open and standardized interfaces, a promising pathway to revolutionize the way electron microscopy is conceived and used. These prototypes, developed in close collaboration with SMEs in the sector and the scientific community, are designed to be adaptable to different instruments, ensuring maximum flexibility for diverse research needs.  “This is how we can innovate in the field of TEM: by promoting interoperability by design, flexibility in practice, and co-development that turns ideas into concrete solutions, addressing the needs of different communities,” emphasized Regina Ciancio during her talk. “Everything we develop is born open and is enriched through user contributions.”  The discussion clearly underscored the need to strengthen the link between electron microscopy and the broader scientific ecosystem. The creation of shared standards, the dissemination of open knowledge, and the joint involvement of SMEs and researchers are key levers to ensure that projects like IMPRESS can change not only how instruments are designed and used, but also how collaboration between scientific and industrial communities takes shape.  In the exhibition area, Area Science Park also presented a poster on the RIANA project, which aims to provide academic and industrial researchers with transnational, integrated access to a strategic set of European research infrastructures, fostering the development of multidisciplinary projects in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology.

The first edition of the ScaleUp Lab Summer School, an initiative promoted by Area Science Park to support innovative startups in their growth journey and developed within the IP4FVG-EDIH project, has officially come to a close. The Summer School, dedicated to startups in the digital and deep-tech sectors, was created to help newly established companies define their business development strategies, with a particular focus on growth, scalability and resilience. The programme, which involves startups from all over Italy, is structured in three stages. The first stage, which has just concluded today in Trieste, consisted of a one-week residential Summer School. The programme combined contributions from Area Science Park experts with talks delivered by internationally renowned speakers, including: Alexander Osterwalder, CEO of Strategyzer and co-creator (together with Yves Pigneur) of the Business Model Canvas, recognised as one of the most influential management tools worldwide; Alberto Di Minin, Professor of Management at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa; and Alvise Bonivento, Director of the venture capital fund Indaco Venture Partners. The second stage will involve business development experts from Area Science Park acting as coaches for the startups, providing an additional three-month field validation focused on testing and iterating their business models. This work is designed to guide the startups towards the third stage: a Pitch Day attended by leading Italian investment funds, where startups will have the opportunity to engage directly with market players and test the soundness of their ideas. “The Summer School is a high value-added activity for Area Science Park,” emphasised President Caterina Petrillo, “as it forms part of an ongoing process of continuously updating models and strategies for innovation in support of enterprise generation—fields in which our organisation has a long and consolidated track record. This programme, truly unique in its kind, combines theoretical and practical training and provides participating startups with direct access to tools and specialised knowledge thanks to interaction and dialogue with international experts.” “Without a working business model, even the best technology will not reach the market and certainly will not scale,” explained Alexander Osterwalder. “The first business model you come up with will probably be wrong, which is why you need to test it and put it under constant trial and scrutiny. Without the right tools, this is very difficult. That’s where the Business Model Canvas comes in: a very simple visual tool to map out and bring to light the logic of your company’s business, making ideas very concrete and visible so they can be shared with investors and team members. The Business Model Canvas is a universal tool, and I believe that in the technological and deep-tech fields in particular, its use is even more important.” “To prepare for investors, there are two fundamental things,” stressed Alvise Bonivento: “having a very clear idea of your business—not only your technology but also your go-to-market strategy—and learning to understand the investor: knowing who they are, what their needs are, and how they can support you. Every venture capitalist always looks at three things: competitive and technological advantage, the presence of an outstanding team—both technically and managerially—and the existence of a market ready to absorb that new technology or innovation.” “Deep-tech companies need to work with players who believe in integrating their technologies with those of others,” recommended Alberto Di Minin, “in order to align business models and jointly develop an open innovation strategy. Open innovation is crucial for a deep-tech startup for one very simple reason: it is needed to complete an innovation pathway that is also being developed within other companies.” Concluding this first step of the ScaleUp Lab pathway, Roberto Pillon, Head of the Enterprise Generation Office at Area Science Park, remarked: “We created ScaleUp Lab in full awareness of the importance of working on developing the skills of new innovative companies, which need to grow and equip themselves with all the necessary tools to face the market and bring innovation to life. After the Summer School, the programme will continue over the next three months, providing startups with support, coaching and mentoring in developing their business projects, and culminating in a Pitch Day event with a group of investors.” The IP4FVG-EDIH project is financed under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) – Mission 4, Component 2 (M4C2), Investment 2.3 – “Strengthening and expanding the thematic and territorial scope of technology transfer centres for industrial segments.” It is funded by the European Union’s Next Generation EU programme, with the goal of fostering the adoption of digital and green technologies by businesses and public administrations.