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International cooperation and the “North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley” project has been focus in the context of the GeoAdriatico symposium at Area Science Park, organised by the non-profit organisation Vitale. In attendance at the symposium was Ambassador Fabio Cassese, Director General for Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, among others. There were two events on the agenda, the first of which was attended by representatives from the ICGEB, OGS, Elettra Sincrotrone and Area Science Park. President Caterina Petrillo opened the meeting in the morning. Marianna Maculan, Head of External Relations at the ICGEB, explained how the ICGEB is an international organisation centred around research, training and technology transfer in the life sciences. It was set up to promote global sustainable development and its work is in line with several of the UN’s 2030 Agenda goals. Sustainable development – through studying the seas and oceans and understanding geological processes – is, in turn, one of OGS’s key missions, as explained by president Nicola Casagli. The OGS is also very active in scientific and environmental diplomacy in many parts of the world. Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste is an international multidisciplinary research centre of excellence, specialising in the generation of synchrotron light and free-electron lasers for studying materials, with applications spanning physics, chemistry, life sciences, environmental sciences, cultural heritage conservation and more. As Chief Scientific Officer Giorgio Paolucci pointed out, internationality is an intrinsic part of the lab’s work, as evidenced by its involvement in the CERIC-ERIC consortium and by the training of researchers from developing countries.  Deputy General Manager Stephen Taylor outlined Area Science Park’s main focuses, including on generating business, implementing innovation processes, and providing cutting-edge technology platforms to science and industry in the fields of genomics, advanced computing services, materials and advanced microscopy, as well as on participating in projects, international networks and innovation diplomacy work. “Area Science Park is based in Friuli Venezia Giulia which is a border region and, as such, has always paid particular attention to international cooperation,” explained Area Science Park President Caterina Petrillo. “This allows for a privileged dialogue with countries in central, southern and eastern Europe which then become natural partners for research and innovation collaborations and projects. One recent example is the work going on to create the ‘North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley’: the first transnational project aimed at developing a dedicated hydrogen valley, involving Croatia, Slovenia and the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia”. Ambassador Fabio Cassese stated that, “Trieste’s science hub is an outstanding example of both internal and external cooperation and integration, with an international outlook that demonstrates how science can be a driver of sustainable development for countries around the world, and one which has a positive impact on business and society. Trieste’s multi-level integrated set-up is capable of generating collaborations with the Ministry in various different fields.” The “North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley” project was the subject of an in-depth discussion held in the afternoon, with the participation of representatives from the Slovenian and Croatian governments, the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Area Science Park, the University of Trieste, and the Port Authorities of the Eastern Adriatic. The “North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley” is the first transnational project aimed at developing a dedicated hydrogen valley. The project came about following an agreement between Croatia, Slovenia and the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, with the aim of establishing a framework for cooperation in developing environmentally friendly hydrogen-production technologies. This collaboration will not only contribute to transitioning to an integrated ecosystem involving the energy, industry and transport sectors, but will also allow cooperation in research and innovation, to develop a hydrogen supply chain.

Digital Innovation Hub IP4FVG’s Internet of Things (IoT) lab is based in Amaro (Udine), on the Carnia Industrial Park. The lab is home to hardware and software tools and tech including automated systems for visual product control, and sensors and data-transmission technologies for production monitoring and predictive maintenance. These are examples of “Industry 4.0” technologies, which can be used for digital transformation in business, made available to entrepreneurs, technicians and professionals, as well as university students and high-school pupils. The IoT living lab – one of four set up in the region by IP4FVG, each with a different specialisation – is the centre of activity for IP4FVG’s base in Amaro. The hub was set up in September 2018 with the founding of the “Associazione Temporanea di Scopo” [Temporary Purpose Association], which included the Carnia Industrial Park (coordinator and lead partner), Eurotech S.p.A., InAsset Srl now Retelit Group, the Regional Cluster for ICT – DITEDI, Friuli Innovazione and Area Science Park. In February 2021, they were joined by Confindustria Udine (already lead partner at Udine’s Data Analytics & Artificial Intelligence IP4FVG hub). The lab in Amaro, presented today, expands the overall offer of 4.0 technologies available to entrepreneurs in the region. It has recently been added to with innovative solutions, thanks to collaborations with local universities and businesses in both the ICT and manufacturing sectors, including Gortani, Akuis, FAM, Fill in the Blanks, Video Systems, Fec Italia, and Progetto Nachste. A new site was needed to accommodate the equipment for the expanded living lab facilities and be more accessible to visitors. This is how the decision was made to set up the lab at the entrance to Amaro’s Technology Park. Having the living lab on the Carnia Industrial Park is also a way of facilitating new digitisation projects for local businesses. The aim over the coming months is to increase take-up among companies of the IP4FVG living lab facilities and to increase the number of ‘use cases’, thanks to the support already shown by numerous manufacturing companies, and collaboration with university labs. Caterina Petrillo, President of Area Science Park, commented “IP4FVG is a model that successfully implements forms of collaboration between companies, public institutions and the world of research.  Through the network of four regional hubs, IP4FVG is able to create an effective dialogue between the private and public sectors, driving the study of solutions that facilitate innovation processes in different business areas. Thanks to this opportunity to experiment with the latest technologies at the labs and work with experienced technologists, we can optimise resources and speed up the digital transformation of processes. At the IP4FVG hubs based across the region in Amaro, Trieste, Udine and San Vito al Tagliamento, the living labs showcasing innovative solutions offer companies the chance to test technology before investing in it. The site in Amaro is the ideal place to develop ‘smart mountain’ technologies that have a social and economic impact on the local area, as well as a direct return for businesses.” IP4FVG is Friuli Venezia Giulia’s Digital Innovation Hub, coordinated by the national research institution Area Science Park. The hub was set up to support the digital transformation of local enterprises. It is a strategic project within the Argo System, an initiative supported by the Italian Ministries of University and Research (MUR) and Economic Development (MISE), as well as the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. Thanks to IP4FVG, four 4.0 living technology labs have been set up in the region (in Amaro, San Vito al Tagliamento, Udine and Trieste), open to companies that want to learn about and test some of the most innovative technological solutions before applying them in house.

The International Summer School on Artificial Intelligence is returning to Udine this year from 4 to 8 July, following two years online. AI-DLDA 2022 – From Deep Learning to Data Analytics is a regular event in the calendars of researchers, PhD students and ICT professionals interested in learning about developments in academic studies, applications in industry and new trends in artificial intelligence (AI). Now in its fifth year, the event will take place in Udine’s prestigious Palazzo Antonini university building and will also be live-streamed and accessible remotely. The hybrid format for this year’s summer school includes morning plenary sessions with a panel of international speakers and afternoon workshops during which participants will be split into two tracks: academia and business (for business people, ICT professionals, etc.). From big data to computer vision, and biomedical informatics to human-computer interaction: lecturers from internationally renowned schools and universities will be exploring a wide range of topics. Speakers at the event will include: Alexandre Alahi of the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland), Alfredo Canziani of New York University (USA), Jan Peters of the Technische Universität Darmstadt (Germany), Giorgio Giacinto of the University of Cagliari (Italy), Marcello Pelillo of the University of Venice (Italy), and Primo Zingaretti of the Polytechnic University of the Marche (Italy). In the four previous editions to date, the summer school has welcomed some 176 researchers and ICT professionals from all over the world. The event provides not only an opportunity to learn about the latest developments in AI-related topics, but also a chance to hear from experts in the field. AI-DLDA 2022 – From Deep Learning to Data Analytics is organised by the University of Udine, the Digital Innovation Hub IP4FVG, DITEDI and Area Science Park, in collaboration with DIH Digital Innovation Hub Udine; CVPL – Italian Association for Research in Computer Vision, Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning; AI REGIO; and COMET Cluster Metalmeccanica FVG. Registration is now open. Early bird discount available until 12 June for in-person tickets – valid for researchers, as well as ICT professionals and business people. For more information and to register: www.aidlda.it    

Area Science Park is providing concrete support to the Ukrainian population by funding two training/research grants for those fleeing the country, which has been in a state of emergency for months. The institution has recently published a call for expressions of interest in two training/research grants in the areas of genomics and data management, digitisation and artificial intelligence, and sustainability and business innovation. The grants will be awarded to people who were residing or domiciled in Ukraine before 24 February 2022, are at least 18 years old, have a good level of Italian or English, and have completed at least one cycle of technical level III higher education (according to the Ukrainian education system). Training and research will be carried out on-site at Area Science Park in Trieste over the course of 12 months. The grants include on-site accommodation at Area Science Park’s Padriciano campus and personalised support from the Welcome Office for managing the administrative procedures for staying in Trieste. The grants are to be paid monthly and will be awarded once the call for expressions of interest has closed. “With these two study and training grants, we want to offer concrete support to young people and welcome them to our campus,” says President of Area Science Park Caterina Petrillo. “It’s important for them to be able to continue their education and we want to help them settle in to a new study and work environment.” She went on to say that, “These grants are a first step. Should we receive a high number of applications, we will work with local research centres and businesses in the region to increase the allocated funds.” To submit an expression of interest, fill in the form available on Area Science Park’s website and send it, along with a signed CV, by 19 June 2022.

From 16th to 20th May, Danish artist Sissel Marie Tonn has been guest at Area Science Park’s labs to work on her art residency project “The Sentinel Immune Self”. She is the winner of the “Preserving co-evolution” challenge organised as part of the European S+T+ARTS programme. S+T+ARTS (Science + Technology + Arts) is a European Commission initiative launched under the Horizon 2020 programme which encourages hybrid collaboration between science, technology and art. The art residency is organised as part of the research work carried out by the institution and some of the centres in the system. Organised in collaboration with Milan’s MEET Digital Cultural Center, it is one of 21 fellowships funded across Europe by the programme. The theme for the challenge was Preserving sustainability and inclusiveness in the co-evolution, that is: “How can we preserve the evolution of species by improving the ability of communities to be resilient?”. The greatest challenges of our time – issues such as mass extinctions, viral pandemics and climate change – serve as a reminder that we are intrinsically connected to our ecosystems. In her arts research, Sissel Marie Tonn has been exploring the relationship between our immune system and our constantly changing environment for some years, including with the help of immunologists and toxicologists. She has been talking to a number of researchers from Trieste’s research hub since March of this year. Among them are Alessio Ansuini and the research team working on data science and computing infrastructures at Area Science Park; Jacopo Grilli, a researcher at the ICTP working on theoretical and mathematical models to define the factors impacting terrestrial biodiversity; and Lisa Vaccari, an experimental scientist at Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste who uses various techniques in her research, from spectroscopy to microscopy, applying them to different study topics, from materials science to biology. Through the lens of an immersive, interactive animation, the artist will use the information gleaned from researchers and her upcoming visit to the labs at Area Science Park, to reconstruct a science-fiction universe in which humans share their immune response with all other species affected by microplastic pollution. As an allegory of the process of evolution, the project is intended to warn us against the profound consequences pollutants have on us and our ecosystem. The artist’s works will be on display to the public from October 2022 at the Maxxi Museum in Rome, the MEET Digital Culture Center in Milan, Ars Electronica in Linz (Austria) and ZKM, Center for Art and Media in Karlsruhe (Germany). “Researchers today have to be able to explain their research findings in a clear and understandable way to reach as many people as possible,” says Area Science Park President Professor Caterina Petrillo. “This requires exploring new languages, stimulating contamination between different disciplines – one of which is, without doubt, art, which has the same creative path as science. Bringing together these two seemingly disparate worlds stimulates new ideas and thought processes on both sides, which leads to new forms of innovation.”

As part of the programme of initiatives organised within the Enterprise Europe Network, Area Science Park welcomed a delegation of around 50 Austrian companies, accompanied by the Carinthian Chamber of Commerce and Advantage Austria. Companies working in the fields of energy efficiency, software development, new materials, logistics and transport, and infrastructure projects expressed interest in finding out more about Area Science Park as a driving force promoting development in the local area and beyond. Representatives from other companies based at the Park, including Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, Tellus and Esteco were also in attendance. They presented their cutting-edge solutions, showcasing expertise in areas such as digitalisation and sustainable development and offering a taste of the research and innovation talent on site.   The fact that representatives from the Carinthian local government were also part of the delegation may lead to new opportunities to cooperate with Austria’s Carinthia region.       https://www.areasciencepark.it/wp-content/uploads/2022051703272307565.mp4