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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.  

The Data Engineering Laboratory (LADE) at Area Science Park has recently published an article in Nature – Scientific Data on protein sequence annotation. Thanks to technological advances in genomic sequencing, the number of known protein sequences has grown exponentially. Many of these sequences come from metagenomic projects that analyze environmental and clinical samples. Among the most relevant datasets in this field stands the Unified Human Gastrointestinal Proteome (UHGP) catalog, with a variety of applications in medicine and biology. However, the limited annotation of these sequences reduces their effectiveness. To address this issue, the DPCfam-UHGP dataset was developed, classifying UHGP sequences into protein families that typically group proteins sharing the same biological function. The dataset contains 10,778 families, generated through DPCfam clustering, an unsupervised method that organizes sequences into single- or multi-domain architectures. This project, part of Federico Barone‘s doctoral research supervised by Alessio Ansuini and Alberto Cazzaniga, exemplifies the fruitful interaction between data management and data science. In this context, the construction of a curated database of gastrointestinal proteins enabled more refined cataloging through advanced machine learning algorithms, allowing continuous database updates in fruitful feedback loop aimed at promoting new discoveries. The DPCfam-UHGP50 dataset, accessible through a web server, was developed following the best FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) practices, with the aim of fostering new discoveries in the field of human gastrointestinal tract metagenomics. Previously, LADE had already produced the DPCfam-UR50 database, accompanied by a publication in PLOS – Computational Biology.

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.

The goal of the “Phenotypic Fingerprinting School,” inaugurated on October 14 at Area Science Park, is to explore the complex metabolic pathways involved in cellular responses to infections and drugs through the use of complementary and integrable approaches and techniques. Organized in collaboration with Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, ICGEB and CNR-IOM, the school is part of the “Pathogen Readiness Platform for CERIC-ERIC Upgrade” (PRP@CERIC) project. This project aims to develop a highly specialized research infrastructure, unique in Europe, integrating tools and expertise in biology, biochemistry, physics, bio-electronics, virology, genomics, bioinformatics, and data science to study human, animal and plant pathogens and respond quickly to new potential outbreaks. For four weeks, participants will engage in both theoretical and practical sessions, studying host-pathogen interactions from a multidisciplinary perspective. The program includes contributions from researchers of different PRP@CERIC partner institutions, as well as open lectures by internationally renowned experts, including Professor Piero Carninci, who will hold a seminar titled “My Travel from Genomic Technologies to Biology” on October 17 at Area Science Park. The project “Pathogen Readiness Platform for CERIC-ERIC Upgrade”– PRP@CERIC is funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) under Mission 4 “Education and Research,” Component 2 “From Research to Entreprise,” Investment Line 3.1 “Fund for the Creation of an Integrated System of Research and Innovation Infrastructures,” funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU.

The Data Engineering Laboratory (LADE) at Area Science Park has recently published an innovative study into Bioinformatics, opening up new perspectives in the study of proteins, the fundamental building blocks of life. In fact, Francesca Cuturello, Marco Celoria, Alessio Ansuini and Alberto Cazzaniga, the authors of the study, have demonstrated how artificial intelligence can predict the impact of genetic mutations on protein stability, helping to get a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying many diseases and potentially developing new treatments. The genome of living beings is constantly mutating due to external agents or random events and this leads us to observe changes in the sequences of the proteins they synthesise. Conducted as part of the Pathogen Readiness Platform for CERIC-ERIC (PRP@CERIC) project, the study uses AI models similar to GPT, applied to proteomics. These models are based on the analogy between a protein sequence and a sentence, with amino acids acting as “words”, allowing algorithms trained on hundreds of millions of protein sequences to be applied. Using this technique, the LADE researchers were able to predict how small variations in the amino acid sequence, such as those induced by mutations, can affect protein stability. A particularly innovative aspect is the use of the MSA Transformer model, which utilises information on the ancestral relationships between protein sequences to enhance the accuracy of predictions. The algorithm developed by LADE offers cutting-edge performance and will be made available to the scientific community to encourage further advancements in this field. “Predicting the effect of protein mutations through artificial intelligence allows us to explore, with great precision, complex biological phenomena that, until recently, were difficult to observe directly”, explains Francesca Cuturello, the study’s lead author. “This technology is a step forward towards innovative therapeutic solutions for a wide range of diseases.” The team’s work has already received widespread recognition, including Francesca Cuturello’s invitation to the prestigious Research Retreat “Physics of Biological Data Analysis” at the Aspen Center for Physics and it will be presented at other international research centres, such as the ICTP and the Leibniz Center for Informatics. For more information about LADE’s activities, click here.

This conference served as an opportunity for dialogue between G7 countries and the African Union on the subjects of training, research and innovation as tools for building skills. The “Research and Capacity Building with African Countries” conference was organised by the Ministry of University and Research in collaboration with Area Science Park, under the Italian G7 Presidency. Hosted in the enchanting setting of the Throne Room in Miramare Castle, the G7 conference highlighted the importance of developing shared pathways in higher education, knowledge transfer and support for innovation, starting right here in Trieste—a city characterised by a strong presence of international and national scientific institutions that have developed a profound cooperation and presence in various countries across the African continent over the years. “Trieste is an exceptional example of science without borders. For instance, there are four institutions under the auspices of UNESCO, including ICGEB and ICTP,” as Caterina Petrillo, President of Area Science Park, explained during her opening remarks, emphasising that “science represents a powerful form of international collaboration”. The discussions centred on the impact of knowledge, through training and research, on ensuring the sustainable development of society and economic growth. The conference featured contributions from high-level members of the G7, the African Union, the European Union and UNESCO, as well as representatives from the private sector. The event concluded with the presentation of success stories in the fields of public health, green transition and research infrastructures. The Research and Capacity Building with Africa initiative was also presented during the meeting. This initiative, which Italy intends to develop with the participation of the G7 universities involved, aims to address the structural challenges hindering the potential of research and innovation in Africa. The G7 Conference on Research and Capacity Building with African Countries took place alongside the Big Science Business Forum (BSBF), an international congress dedicated to highly innovative technologies that represent a market for major research infrastructures.

The third edition of the Big Science Business Forum, hosted by the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia at the Generali Convention Center in Porto Vecchio, Trieste, concluded with a symbolic handover led by women. Alessia Rosolen, Regional Minister for Labor, Education, Research, University, and Family for Friuli Venezia Giulia, passed the baton to Jetske Verkerk, Deputy Director of the Directorate for Innovation and Knowledge at the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands, and Marleentje Verstreken, Representative for FIT, the Belgian Regional Agency for International Trade. Among the emotional images from the four intense days and the call for a female-led future in Big Science, the impressive numbers of this Italian edition emerged. The event is Europe’s most important intersection of science, technology, and business, promoted by ten leading European Big Science Business Forum (BSOs): CERN, ESA, ESO, ESS, ESRF, European XFEL, FAIR, F4E, ILL, and SKAO. “Over 1,300 delegates from 500 organizations were welcomed in the Trieste exhibition space, with 163 stands featuring 245 exhibitors and 14 national pavilions. Thirty-two countries were represented, including Italy, and 2040 applications from young students and researchers under 40 were submitted on the EURES platform in the section dedicated to Big Science, gathered from across Europe,” noted Regional Minister Rosolen. The last day of BSBF was dedicated not only to the younger generation but also to the presence of women in Big Science. The plenary session featured speakers such as Ana Aricha from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and University; Agnes Auledas, Senior Engineer, Atkins Realis; Lars Börjesson, CESAER envoy for S&T infrastructures, Chalmers/CESAER; Raffaella Geometrante, Managing Director of Kyma SpA and Kyma Tehnologija doo; Federica Mantovani, Head of Research Infrastructures, Area Science Park; and Lucy Van Der Tas, Talent Acquisition Lead, ESA. “The Big Science Project has enormous potential not only for technological development but also for cultural and social growth, respecting gender equality,” said Francesca Fantini, coordinator of the Women in Big Science Business Forum group and an engineer at F4Energy. Andrea Illy addressed the young audience, encouraging future leaders in research, science, and business to embrace the need for cultural and social regeneration. A concrete example on stage at BSBF 2024 was the Audace Sailing Team, a project launched by a group of Engineering and Economics students from the University of Trieste. Paolo Acunzo, Director of BSBF 2024, concluded: “With the end of BSBF 2024, we have completed a journey that lasted two and a half years, which took us far and firmly established the presence of Big Science in Trieste and Italy, destined to continue over time.” BSBF, following previous editions in Copenhagen and Granada, will be hosted in Maastricht in 2026, in 2024 is hosted by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region in collaboration with ILO Network Italia, comprising representatives from CNR, ENEA, INAF, and INFN, with Area Science Park in Trieste, PromoTurismo FVG, and promoted by the ten leading European Big Science Organisations (BSOs), including CERN, ESA, ESO, ESS, ESRF, European XFEL, FAIR, F4E, ILL, and SKAO, with support from PERIIA, the pan-European network of Industry Liaison Officers (ILOs). Italy’s bid to host BSBF 2024 received the backing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, and the Ministry of Universities and Research, along with the City of Trieste, the University of Trieste, the Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce (Gorizia-Trieste), and the Central European Initiative. The event was hosted by the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia in collaboration with ILO Network Italy, consisting of representatives from CNR, ENEA, INAF, and INFN, as well as Area Science Park in Trieste, PromoTurismo FVG, and promoted by ten leading European Big Science Organisations (BSOs), including CERN, ESA, ESO, ESS, ESRF, European XFEL, FAIR, F4E, ILL, and SKAO, with the support of PERIIA, the pan-European network of national ILO – Industry Liaison Officers. The Italian bid to host BSBF 2024 was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy; the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security; and the Ministry of University and Research, as well as the city of Trieste, the University of Trieste, the Venezia Giulia Gorizia Trieste Chamber of Commerce, and the Central European Initiative.

Francesco Ortu was awarded the Artificial Intelligence Prize from the University of Trieste for his thesis “Interpreting How Large Language Models Handle Facts and Counterfactuals through Mechanistic Interpretability” as part of the Master’s program in “Data Science and Scientific Computing”. This work was developed at the Institute for Research and Technological Innovation (RIT) of Area Science Park. The study focuses on how generative language models, like those behind ChatGPT, react when presented with text containing false information. The work was published in the Proceedings of the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics and presented last August in Bangkok at one of the most important conferences on Computational Linguistics and Artificial Intelligence for Natural Language. “Research on interpretability,” explains Francesco Ortu, “aims to bridge the gap between empirical approaches and our scientific understanding of the inner workings of generative language models (LLMs). So far, most existing research in this area has focused on how models copy or recall factual knowledge. In our study, we analyzed how information propagates within the neural network, identifying the ‘neurons’ that choose whether to promote or suppress false information proposed by the user.” Congratulations to Francesco, with best wishes for pursuing exciting discoveries during his PhD, which will soon begin at the Laboratory of Data Engineering in Area Science Park.