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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.”

A robotic device that uses ultrasound technology to treat liver cancer, one of the world’s leading causes of death, with over 900,000 cases every year. The Pisa-based startup Soundsafe Care has won first prize in the 2024 Startup Marathon. The startup competition, promoted by Area Science Park, UniCredit and Fondazione Comunica, ended on Tuesday, 26 November, with an event hosted at the UniCredit headquarters in Milan. Ten finalists were selected by a jury of entrepreneurs, investors and industry experts, from a pool of over 60 startups and innovative SMEs, enrolled in the competition by incubators, accelerators, research centres and universities all over Italy. Awards for Startups Operating in the artificial intelligence, innovative materials, nutraceutical, agritech, healthcare, gaming, electric mobility and medical innovation sectors, the ten startups competed for access to the UniCredit Start Lab acceleration programme. The overall winner, Soundsafe Care, is a company supported by the Navacchio Technology Hub. Using focused ultrasound, the device developed by the startup provides a non-invasive and drug-free alternative for the treatment of liver cancer, reducing complications and hospital costs. Thanks to advanced imaging and automation technology, the device improves treatment precision and reduces intervention times. Soundsafe Care also received the award for the best predominantly female startup, guaranteeing participation in the BoostHerUp internationalisation programme, promoted by Area Science Park. In second place was another med-tech startup, Impavid from Turin, nominated for the contest by G-Factor, the Fondazione Golinelli business incubator. Impavid develops an innovative biodegradable cardiac patch to combat post-ischaemic heart failure. This biomimetic and bioresorbable patch recreates the structure of myocardial tissue, promoting cell recovery and adapting to the heart’s rhythm. Initially designed for bypass procedures, it offers a safer and less invasive solution to improve patients’ quality of life. With strong potential in the US and European markets, the product responds to the growing demand for advanced cardiology technologies. Ranked third, the Lecce-based BeadRoots – supported by Eatable Adventures – develops a natural and biodegradable hydrogel derived from algae. This hydrogel efficiently retains and releases water to improve agricultural productivity and reduce water wastage, especially in areas affected by drought. Unlike synthetic products, the gel is eco-friendly and supports soil microorganisms without negative impacts. The startups on the podium will have the opportunity to enjoy privileged access to the pre-selection stage for the national mission at CES in Las Vegas. Awards for support organisations The top three business support organisations that nominated startups for the event were also rewarded. Points were assigned based on the ranking of the startups, with a bonus for the placement of predominantly female startups. The first prize went to the Polo Tecnologico di Navacchio, followed by G-Factor in second place and Eatable Adventures in third place. All three were granted privileged access to the Executive MBA in Business Innovation created by the MIB Trieste School of Management. This same recognition was awarded individually to all 10 finalist startups. The 2024 edition also introduced the Open Innovation B2B competition, which challenged startups and innovative SMEs to respond to specific innovation needs indicated by corporate partners of the initiative. “We are very pleased with this fifth edition of Startup Marathon”, said Roberto Pillon, head of the Business Generation Office at Area Science Park. “The startups selected for the finals operate in very diverse sectors, showing how innovation is a cross-cutting element in every market and how initiatives like this can support its development. Today, the transformative capabilities of technology, with the even greater potential of the deep-tech sector, have an enormous impact on every industry: a scenario that can be expressed in full through close collaboration between producers of innovation and businesses capable of leveraging it.” Renzo Chervatin, head of Territorial Development for UniCredit North Est, stated: “There are many reasons to feel satisfied with the 2024 edition of Startup Marathon, particularly the creation of a virtuous ecosystem made up of corporate companies, investors and numerous accelerators and incubators at the national level. As UniCredit, we have made available the know-how gained in over a decade as pioneers and leaders supporting the world of Italian startups, with the intent of reaffirming, in practice, our commitment to work alongside those who want to invest in innovation, by proposing growth opportunities to businesses and jobs to young people.” Gianni Potti, President of Fondazione Comunica and founder of DIGITALmeet, added: “This is a brilliant demonstration of digital literacy, one of the biggest challenges for the country. In addition to this, there are also innovation and entrepreneurial skills, requirements that the Jury used for the 2024 edition of Startup Marathon: as of September, there were 16,500 innovative startups in Italy; at the same time, there were nearly 200 thousand in Europe, concentrated in the technology, sustainability, digital health and artificial intelligence sectors. Startups are a fundamental driving force for the future, thanks to their ability to innovate, adapt and transform entire sectors.” “This is yet another demonstration of an idea that turned out to be spot on”, commented Antonio Bassi and Maurizio Caradonna, founders of Startup Marathon, “The Startup Marathon final, attended by a high-profile audience, showcased entrepreneurial ventures with great opportunities for development and teams with high-level skills and technological knowledge, supported by organisations that aim to create high-potential businesses throughout the nation. We are proud to have contributed, even in a small way, to encouraging the growth of this innovation ecosystem”.  Startup Marathon was founded in 2020 and, over the years, it has selected and rewarded innovative companies operating in sectors such as artificial intelligence, diagnostics, IoT and sustainability. Winners of past editions include Katakem, a spin-off of the University of Catanzaro, that accelerates the development of new molecules, CAEmate, a company that has developed software for the predictive maintenance of infrastructures, Aisent, which provides services based on AI, machine learning and computer vision, and M2Test, a spin-off of the University of Trieste that has created an innovative method for diagnosing osteoporosis. Partners In addition to the three promoters, several partners support Startup Marathon, including Angel For Women, ASAC, Avvio Capital, Bando Easy, Camst Group, Carel, Chiesi, CRCLEX, DBA Group, Eatable Adventures, ELIS Innovation Hub, Eurotherm, Fastweb, FITT, Galdi, Giordano Controls, HiRef, Italian Angels for Growth, Italian Business Angels Network, LIFTT, Manni Group, Master Builders Solutions, Mastercard, Maxfone, MIB Trieste School of Management, MITO Tech Ventures, One Factory, San Marco Group, Star Tech Ventures, Step, Unicorn Trainers Club, Venture Factory and WDA.   The Finalist Startups and their Supporting Organisations BeadRoots, Lecce, supported by Eatable Adventures Cartesia Solutions, Pisa, supported by Digital Hub Impavid, Turin, supported by G-Factor InnoItaly, Codognè (Treviso), supported by Trentino Sviluppo Joule, Campodarsego (Padua), supported by Seedble Northern Light Composites, Monfalcone (Gorizia), supported by TEC4I FVG NuHpro, Rimini, supported by CesenaLab SoundSafe Care, Pisa, supported by Polo tecnologico di Navacchio Weabios, Pisa, supported by Polo tecnologico di Navacchio Witty Power, Bolzano, supported by NOI Techpark   Startup Marathon is a competition for innovative businesses, open to startups, innovative SMEs and university spin-offs nominated by business incubators and accelerators. Promoted by Area Science Park, UniCredit and Fondazione Comunica, it has been selecting the most significant innovative Italian companies since 2020, accelerating their go-to-market journey.

An international study, involving the Italian National Research Council (CNR – Istituto Officina dei Materiali) and the Universities of Trieste and Milano-Bicocca for Italy, along with the University of Vienna, has unveiled a simple and innovative method for creating a new category of materials. These materials combine the exceptional properties manifested by individual metal atoms with the robustness, flexibility and versatility of graphene, for potential applications in the fields of catalysis, spintronics and electronic devices. The study is published in Science Advances: the method involves depositing metal atoms, such as cobalt, in a controlled manner, during the formation of the graphene layer on a nickel surface. Some of these atoms are incorporated into the carbon network of graphene, forming a new material with exceptional robustness, reactivity and stability. The method was developed at the CNR-IOM laboratories in Trieste: “This is still a preliminary result, but it is already very promising and the result of an original idea that arose in our laboratory and initially seemed unfeasible,” says Cristina Africh, a researcher at the CNR-IOM who led the team. The material’s ability to detach from the substrate while maintaining its original structure makes it potentially usable in various applications. “The methodology has been tested for trapping nickel and cobalt atoms, but our calculations suggest that it could be extended to other metals for different applications,” explains Cristiana Di Valentin, professor of General and Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Milano-Bicocca. Moreover, the material has proven to be stable even under critical conditions. “We have demonstrated that this material remains intact even in critical conditions, including the electrochemical environments used for applications in fuel cells and batteries,” adds Jani Kotakoski of the University of Vienna. The study, which is the result of international collaboration, made use of different and complementary skills. “This aspect was decisive in demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach, which is simple and powerful at the same time,” concludes Giovanni Comelli from the University of Trieste.

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.

Science and training can effectively contribute to developing the strategic partnership between Italy and Africa, also in light of the new Mattei Plan for Africa promoted by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. This is demonstrated by Friuli Venezia Giulia, which, with the significant amount of experience gained and success stories, can play a central role in deepening the already fruitful collaborations. This is what emerged from the annual conference of SiS FVG, the Scientific and Innovation System of Friuli Venezia Giulia, held on Wednesday, 26 June, at Trieste’s Area Science Park and which explored the connections between international cooperation and scientific diplomacy. “The Scientific and Innovation System of Friuli Venezia Giulia has anticipated many of the topics in the Mattei Plan. The very topic of scientific diplomacy has gone hand in hand with the history of this territory, anticipating the debate we are facing at a national and European level”, declared Alessia Rosolen, Councilor for work, training, education, research, university and family of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. “Our added value has concerned, in particular, the training courses in support of research, in the relationship between new professional figures, in the construction of the higher education system and ITS (Higher Technical Institutes). In this area, among other things, we have two national excellences: The exchange programme of the “Malignani” Institute of Udine with Egypt and that of ITS “Alto Adriatico” of Pordenone with Ghana. During the conference, there were talks by numerous speakers, making contributions to and discussing the topic. Among these, Vincenzo Lorusso, in charge of the European Union’s Cooperation in Research and Innovation with the African Union at the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission, spoke about the key role that Research & Innovation have in the development of the partnership between the European Union and Africa. Lorusso also confirmed the investment (equal to 150 billion euros), announced at the EU-AU summit last February, aiming to support Africa for a strong, inclusive, ecological and digital recovery and transformation. The role of science as an effective tool for consolidating transnational relations was already reiterated in the 2019 Trieste Declaration, signed by the ministers of 17 countries of the Central European Initiative (CEI), who designated as priorities themes such as scientific diplomacy, the mobility of researchers, the exchange of staff, and the promotion of transnational collaborative networks. Among the best practices presented are the MITS Academy/Egypt project and Alto Adriatico Confindustria’s training project with Ghana. The former, stemming from the collaboration between the ITS Academy of Udine and the Istituto Paritario Don Bosco of Cairo, and illustrated by Paola Perabò, Vice President of the MITS Malignani Istituto Tecnico Superiore Foundation of Udine, aims at reducing the misalignment between supply and demand of qualified personnel in the manufacturing sector and promoting cooperation between Italy and Egypt. The latter, presented by the President of the Alto Adriatico Confindustria, Michelangelo Agrusti, has the objective of training young Ghanaians, already enrolled in technical and professional schools in that country, to fill the labour shortage in the industrial system of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The President of Area Science Park, Caterina Petrillo, opened the meeting, focusing on the strategic importance of the topic of the Conference, shared by all the representatives of SiS FVG, “a fundamental theme for Trieste, a centre of excellence where numerous entities were created and operate and are active in research and higher education at an international level”. The President then remembered the G7 Research event on 2 October, organised in the context of the BSBF 2024, devoted to building skills and transferring knowledge in order to strengthen collaboration between Italy and Africa. Alessandro Garbellini – Office Manager of the Space, Multilateral Scientific Cooperation and Intellectual Property Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, then spoke, and affirmed: “The SiS FVG model certainly represents a lever for our foreign policy and is proof of how much a functioning infrastructure combined with proactivity of the institutions brings benefits to the nation’s system. Trieste has invented a new model of scientific cooperation: pooling skills, allowing access and ensuring that brains produce regardless of their origin. The Ministry is promoting the Trieste model around the world.” This was followed by a speech by Francesco Ciardiello, of the Technical Administrative Office of the General Directorate of Research at the Ministry of University and Research, who reiterated Trieste’s central position and the role that it can play in the development of international cooperation. The final part of the conference was dedicated to a round table moderated by Nico Pitrelli, director of the Master’s Programme in Science Communication of the “Franco Prattico” SISSA. The discussion focused on cases of scientific cooperation and diplomacy presented by various institutions of the SiS FVG. Speakers: Alessandro Lombardo, Senior Executive Officer CEI – Central European Initiative; Marianna Maculan, External Relations Manager for ICGEB – International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology; Atish Dabholkar, Director of ICTP – International Centre for Theoretical Physics; Tonya Blowers, Programme Coordinator of OWSD – Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World; Claudia Baracchini, Senior Project Manager of TEC4I FVG – Technologies for innovation FVG; Peter Mc Grath, Coordinator of the Scientific Diplomacy Unit for TWAS – The World Academy of Sciences; Mounir Ghribi – Director of International Cooperation and Research Promotion for OGS – National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics. Councilor Rosolen concluded the work. SiS FVG is an initiative of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Ministry of University and Research, to enhance the Scientific and Innovation System of Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Regenerative Symphony, the installation created following the artist residency in Area Science Park, was presented during the fifth edition of the New Atlas of Digital Arts, an international event that took place from 20 to 21 June at the MEET Digital Culture Center in Milan, and which aims at promoting and investigating digital creativity scenarios, highlighting the potential of immersive creative experiments as possible drivers of cultural, social and economic innovation. During the event, part of the S+T+ARTS in the City project, in addition to the presentation of the work, a series of European institutions and actors participated, offering an overview of the state-of-the-art and technological developments related to immersive experiences. With Regenerative Symphony, the German artist Daria Jelonek, and the Englishman Perry-James Sugden, of Studio Above&Below created an interactive audiovisual installation generated by an artificial intelligence model that uses self-analysis, mineral monitoring, and market analysis of the northern region of Italy as input data to recognise, decide on, and predict the output of an immersive modular installation. The work was created thanks to the direct involvement of Area Science Park researchers who collaborated with the artists during the weeks of residency, providing them with inspiration, materials and resources starting from their own research. In particular, the teams from the LAME Laboratory were involved; they illustrated their research results in the field of innovative materials and nanotechnologies; Francesca Cuturello and Tommaso Rodani from the LADE Data Engineering Laboratory were also involved, and along with them, the artists actually elaborated the mathematical model underlying the immersive work. Furthermore, during the weeks of residency in Area Science Park, the artists drew inspiration from a visit to the Elettra Sincrotrone laboratories, where they heard from the researchers about the Institution’s most challenging research projects in the materials sector. “Regenerative Symphony is a work of art that explores a future (2030-2050) in which critical minerals, rare elements essential for modern technologies, are recycled instead of extracted – explain the authors – This scenario challenges current difficulties in the recycling of these minerals. The installation uses a model of artificial intelligence that works with data from synthetic and natural materials to visualize this regenerative future. The work of art manifests itself as a generative projection, which reveals the beauty of reuse through the metaphor of sound symphonies. Visitors can interact with the installation, adjusting the view through predictive data of material resources on an iPad.” The public can, in fact, interact with the work by creating new objects, starting with the recycling of others and thanks to sustainable energy sources. The AI ​​model reacts to requests, identifying various solutions, including recycling critical materials from unused e-waste or making alternative design decisions. During computation, the digital experience in the space is rearranged, leading to a new and different immersive environment. Confirming how our every gesture can have a concrete impact on the health of our Planet.

A team of Italian researchers published a study in the Annals of Hepatology that represents a significant advancement in transplant medicine. The study sheds light on the molecular mechanisms that influence the success of liver allografts. The Italian Liver Foundation Onlus, the Liver Transplant Centre of the “Friuli Centrale” University Health Authority and Area Science Park with the Genomics and Epigenomics Laboratory worked together to write the article. It gives a thorough look at how genomics and epigenomics affect transplanted liver. Allograft – the transplant of organs or tissues between two individuals of the same species – involves rejection risks due to the recipient’s immune system recognising the transplanted tissue as foreign. The study focuses on how variations at the genomic and epigenomic levels – the latter is a field that examines changes in gene expression that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence – can influence the recipient’s response and the outcome of the transplant. The results of the study provide new insight into how transcriptomic changes, that is, changes in the transcription of DNA into messenger RNA, can contribute to the initial damage to the transplanted liver, the recurrence of chronic disease, or organ rejection. This research opens up new perspectives for preventing these complications, thus improving the chances of the success of liver allografts and the quality of the patients’ life. “The project – states Pablo Giraudi of the Italian Liver Foundation – involved the collection, at the time of surgery, of liver biopsies and blood samples from patients who have undergone a transplant due to various chronic liver diseases (including liver cirrhosis due to viral infections such as hepatitis C and B, alcoholic cirrhosis, cirrhosis associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and cryptogenic cirrhosis) and the use of DNA and RNA obtained from the respective biopsies. Analyses with specific bioinformatic platforms allow us to obtain information on the expression of genes that is useful in a personalized therapy and diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers”. “This project – explains Danilo Licastro, head of the Genomics and Epigenomics Laboratory of Area Science Park – allowed us to apply our research knowledge in an integrated and organic way. Our laboratory produced and analysed information regarding RNA sequence and the status of DNA methylation for all the samples provided by our partners. The result of this scientific project was only possible because of the high degree of collaboration between the two research structures, and it constitutes a fundamental step towards continuing on from research towards clinical-diagnostic application on a large scale. We are confident that the results of this experimentation will be the starting point for further studies also involving other international institutes”. “This is a pioneering experimental research project – affirms the scientific Director of the FIF, Claudio Tiribelli – which, by generating big data, will make it possible to create databases that will be useful for initiating collaboration in digital health based on artificial intelligence models towards a more personalized type of medicine, such as, for example, the use of immunosuppressants which are more suitable to the patient, in order to avoid rejection of the transplanted organ. It is also proof that the interaction between scientific and clinical realities makes it possible to achieve high-level results.” “Area Science Park’s choice to enhance investment in cutting-edge laboratories and technologies increases internal skills in the Life Sciences sector and strengthens collaboration with research institutions on large projects of common interest that have a significant social impact, ” declared the President of Area Science Park, Caterina Petrillo. “The achievement of the established objectives – states the President of the FIF, Decio Ripandelli – will lead to the continuation of the important relationships among the various bodies involved, for the definition of new directions in national and international research and the training of highly specialised human resources, with a consequent increase in local and foreign collaboration”.

As part of the initiatives on the occasion of the 7th edition of the “Italian Research Day in the World”, the Italian Embassy in Sweden organised a scientific exchange meeting between researchers of Area Science Park and the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, a prestigious Swedish university specialising in biomedical disciplines. The meeting at Karolinska, which followed an invitation from the Italian Ambassador to Sweden, Michele Pala, and his scientific attaché, Augusto Marcelli, to the President of Area Science Park, Caterina Petrillo, was the final stage of an institutional visit to Sweden that started on Monday 8 April in Lund and which included, in addition to the participation of researchers and technologists from Area Science Park, also representatives of some research centres and startups located in the science and technology park – CNR-IOM, ICGEB, Elettra Sincrotrone and Aindo – as well as other centres of prestige operating in Trieste – Sissa and IRCSS Burlo Garofolo. The aim of the visit is to strengthen scientific cooperation with the research centres of a country that offers many opportunities in the fields of life sciences and materials sciences, to build possible new cooperative ventures and to strengthen some already existing ones. “The Italian collaboration with Swedish research centres is long-standing. Italy has been, in fact, one of the partner countries of the European Spallation Source (ESS) since the design of the facility with important contributions to the construction of the accelerator and instrumentation. Even with MaxIV, there are several joint projects with our research institutions also thanks to the numerous Italian researchers who work there”, declared the President of Area Science Park Caterina Petrillo, who added: “With this visit, we hope to consolidate and enhance collaboration in the high-tech sectors of materials and life sciences.” In Lund, the delegation led by President Petrillo visited MaxIV, the Swedish national laboratory for research with synchrotron radiation hosted by the University, the European Spallation Source (ESS), a strategic European facility, of which Italy is among the founding countries, and the second largest European project in the field of accelerators, and Nano Lund, one of the most important Swedish laboratories for the development of nanotechnologies for the academy and industry. The visit to the three research centres was also an opportunity to present activities and laboratories in the scientific and technological park of Area Science Park and that are active in the study of materials. In addition to President Petrillo, the following people were present at Lund: the director of the CNR-IOM, Giancarlo Panaccione; the head of the Electron Microscopy laboratory, Regina Ciancio; the head of the Fermi machine, Luca Giannessi. Following the presentations, there were valuable moments of discussion for in-depth study and support for the cooperative project with the aim of generating new perspectives and seizing opportunities. In Stockholm, the institutional visit was concentrated at the Karolinska Institutet, where the following speakers presented their research and principal ongoing projects in the life sciences: Lawrence Banks, Director of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology – ICGEB, spoke about cancer and infections; Mathew Diamond, professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at Sissa, illustrated the activities and research of the School and the Sensory Experience (SENSEx) Lab; Lisa Vaccari, coordinator of the beamlines group and IDEAS laboratories, presented studies and analysis possibilities that can be carried out at the Elettra and Fermi laboratories; Pio D’Adamo, geneticist at the IRCSS Burlo Garofolo and professor at the University of Trieste, presented the studies conducted on genetics and rare diseases. Alberto Cazzaniga, head of the Data Engineering Laboratory of Area Science Park, spoke on the applications of Artificial Intelligence and data science techniques in the field of life sciences, in particular for the study and diagnosis of rare diseases, followed by Sebastiano Saccani, co-founder of Aindo, a startup specialized in the use of synthetic data founded in Sissa and established in Area Science Park. Finally, a parallel session was devoted to innovation models applicable to deep tech innovation and the generation of innovative businesses and included talks by Salvatore La Rosa, director of Research and Innovation of Area Science Park, and Fabrizio Rovatti, Innovation Manager of Area Science Park. Karolinska’s researchers, professors and innovation experts were constant participants in the various meetings, illustrating the activities carried out in the sectors of interest. The day ended with a visit to the hospital, a centre of excellence and one of Europe’s most technologically advanced hospitals. “Scientific-technological cooperation is one of the Embassy’s priority areas of activity – declared Ambassador Michele Pala on the occasion of the three-day event – so we are particularly pleased with the success of the visit of the prestigious delegation from Area Science Park. Their presence has made it possible for us to promote Italian excellence here in Sweden and to commemorate the 7th day of Italian Research in the World in a meaningful way. The meetings made it possible to consolidate existing relationships and lay the foundations for new and promising cooperation in the fields of Life Sciences, materials, ICT energy and the environment, areas particularly well-represented by Italian researchers who participated in the visits that the embassy organised in Lund and Stockholm”.

Our ability to respond to future pandemics depends on a constant commitment to developing innovative and effective response strategies. This is the objective of the International Scientific Conference “Pandemic preparedness: Achievements, current challenges, and new frontiers” scheduled from 11 to 13 November 2024 at the Hotel Savoia Excelsior Palace in Trieste. The Conference is organised by the Area Science Park National Research Institute in conjunction with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology – ICGEB, as part of the PRP@CERIC project, financed by PNRR Next Generation EU funds, dedicated to Research Infrastructures. The Conference will involve internationally renowned scientists to provide an overview of known and emerging viruses and their potential epidemic risk. It will also foster knowledge sharing and networking, encouraging the development of broad synergies and multidisciplinary cooperation. During the scientific event, diagnostics, epidemiology, monitoring, drug discovery, and preventive approaches will be discussed in the context of international cooperation to jointly address the challenges of (re)emerging infectious diseases. Speakers will include international experts in various disciplines applied to the study of pathogens, such as Artificial Intelligence, virology, structural biology, genomics, data management, clinical diagnostics, infectious diseases, and zoonoses. The Conference has a rich programme encompassing theme-related plenary sessions, oral presentations, and poster sessions. It is aimed at experienced researchers, university professors, doctors, healthcare personnel, and young researchers taking their first steps in pathogen research at various levels. To register for the Conference, early-bird registration is possible until August 31 and regular registration until October 31 via the project website. To participate as a speaker, you must send an abstract for an oral or poster presentation by June 15, 2024, using the same channel. Here the Conference brochure

The most important European scientific journal on lung diseases, the European Respiratory Journal, has just published the results of a multidisciplinary research project carried out at Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, which demonstrated how, thanks to the unique characteristics of the X-rays produced by the Elettra source, it is possible to obtain a significant improvement in X-ray images of the lung compared to a CAT scan made at a hospital. The study, coordinated by Dr. Giuliana Tromba from Elettra, involved the collaboration of Prof. Marco Confalonieri, Director of the Struttura Complessa Pneumologia (Complex Pneumology Structure) of the Cattinara University Hospital in Trieste, and doctors Christian Dullin and Willi Wagner, researchers from the Universities of Göttingen and Heidelberg in Germany. Currently, with the latest high-resolution CAT machines, it is possible to observe details of the human lung down to the limit of about 0.5 millimeters; however, extending visibility to smaller details would result in a significant increase in the radiation dose administered to the patient. At Elettra, the German-Italian research team demonstrated that, thanks to the innovative ‘phase contrast’ technique, which takes advantage of the peculiar characteristics of synchrotron light (such as monochromaticity and spatial coherence), a view of lung tissue can be obtained with effective resolutions of 0.067 millimeters, i.e., much higher, with a radiation dose to the patient reduced by 2-3 times compared to CAT. Practically speaking, with this technique it is possible to produce an image of a significantly higher quality by discriminating the various anatomical components and structures much better than with a conventional CAT scan. This makes potentially very useful information available for early recognition of pathological lesions such as tumors and pulmonary fibrosis. The experiments at Elettra were carried out at the SYRMEP (SYnchrotone Radiation for MEdical Physics) beamline and on an animal model, i.e. pig lungs, which have the property of being the most similar to human lungs. The lungs, obtained as waste from pig slaughtering in Germany, were transferred to Italy and exposed to the Elettra synchrotron light. The newly published results have made it possible to explore the morphology of lung tissue with an unprecedented level of resolution. With the new Elettra 2.0 light machine currently under construction, which will achieve much higher X-ray energies, these studies can be extended to patients in hospitals in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. In the examinations of patients, the new technique will allow the densitometric and structural changes caused by different pathologies to be highlighted very effectively, recognising the nature of the pathological lesion more quickly. According to Prof. Marco Confalonieri “The research work carried out in Trieste will soon allow us to study the human lung as if we had a huge microscope available to us, maximising resolution and mimimising the radiation dose. I am extremely satisfied that our multidisciplinary research work has received this important European recognition. It is the result of the multi-year collaboration between the School of Specialisation in Respiratory Diseases of the University of Trieste and Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste with which we have had an agreement since the opening of the School of Specialisation”. Dr. Giuliana Tromba is also delighted with the work done and the results obtained, which have been appropriately recognised and enhanced in value by this prestigious publication: “The research team hopes to soon be able to make available to the Trieste healthcare system an innovative way of viewing the alterations created in the lung by serious diseases such as tumors and pulmonary interstitial fibrosis.” The first lung CAT clinical protocol will be aimed primarily at cases where traditional diagnosis leaves interpretive doubts. These are the situations in which the potential of synchrotron light proves crucial in understanding and characterising tissue abnormalities. The President of Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, Prof. Alfonso Franciosi, expressed great appreciation for the research carried out, announcing that “from 2026 onwards, when the new Elettra 2.0 light machine becomes operational, a dedicated radiology clinic will be set up on the new SYRMEP-Life Science line which will be able to accommodate patients from all over the Region and will be a unique worldwide resource for medical research”. Download the research study here

Contrary to the widely held belief that Dengue is severe in Secondary infections, a new collaborative study from ICGEB New Delhi has found that a substantial number of primary dengue infections also carry severe disease conditions. Published in Nature Medicine this week, an analysis of severe dengue cases in a cohort of children in India has shown that more than half could be attributed to primary rather than secondary infection. Over the past two decades, Dengue infections have greatly increased in India and India now has one of the largest number of dengue cases globally. With 4 serotypes of the dengue virus, typically, Dengue patients fall into two categories- one, those experiencing the infection for the first time, known as primary infections and those, who get re-infected after a previous exposure, known as secondary infections. Traditionally, the prevailing belief has been that only secondary infections pose significant risks, leading much of the research into vaccine development and treatment to focus on this group. But now this widely held perception seems to loose its ground. A new study carried out in India and based on a wide sampling approach has shown that it is not just the secondary infections but the primary infections as well which can be severe and could jeopardise the life of the patients. This finding suggests a need to reevaluate our understanding of Dengue and the strategies employed to combat it. Dr. Anmol Chandele, Group Leader of the ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Program, ICGEB New Delhi, India, in collaboration with Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA, the All India Institute Of Medical Sciences AIIMS, New Delhi, and St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, India authored the paper on “Severe disease during both primary and secondary virus infections in pediatric populations.” Dr. Chandele states: “Dengue virus infection is a huge public health problem in India. Many patients develop severe disease that can also be sometimes fatal. However, much of the ongoing vaccine intervention research is based on the currently widely held global belief that primary dengue infections are not usually dangerous and that the severe dengue disease is mainly due to secondary dengue infections.” She continues: “Our study questions this currently widely held belief and shows that primary infections constitute a substantial fraction of severe disease cases and fatalities.” This finding has important implications for public health and in developing and implementing effective and safe vaccine strategies for controlling dengue. These findings are highly relevant not only in the Indian context but also on a global scale since dengue viruses continue spreading worldwide. Italy is a striking example of the expansion of dengue as also evidenced by a recent study being published on which Dr. Alessandro Marcello, head of the ICGEB Molecular Virology laboratory operating in the Area Science Park in Trieste, Italy, collaborated. “During 2023,” he tells us, “In Italy we had the highest number of cases and autochthonous transmissions of dengue so far. Climate change, above all, but also the movement of people, are the biggest contributors to the circulation of dengue in new areas. The study by our Indian colleagues shows us the need to protect our population also from the first encounter with the virus.” The Chandele lab studies human immunology of infectious diseases, vaccine research and therapeutics. The ICGEB-Emory Vaccine program is a unique partnership established to facilitate international collaborations in vaccine research for tackling diseases of public health importance in developing countries.

Two new quantum physics laboratories have been inaugurated at the University of Trieste: the ArQuS (Artificial Quantum Systems) laboratory, where artificial quantum systems will be studied through the control of single atoms, and the QCI (Quantum Communication and Information) laboratory where research on and technological development of new solutions for quantum communications on optical fiber and in free space will be developed. The laboratories are located in the CNR spaces within the Area Science Park, Basovizza Campus, and are directed by Francesco Scazza, associate professor in Physics of Matter at the University of Trieste’s Physics department, and by Alessandro Zavatta, senior research scientist of the National Institute of Optics at the National Research Council (INO-CNR). Laboratories devoted to frontier research are thus enriching the new master’s degree curriculum in Quantum Sciences and Technologies, the curriculum in Physics of Matter and the three-year Degree course in Physics. The University of Trieste boasts a well-respected tradition in the field of quantum mechanics, supported by interactive and collaborative efforts with important international research bodies. The Friuli Venezia Giulia region, and in particular Trieste with its university, is a leader in the field of quantum communications thanks to the “Quantum FVG” and “QuFree” projects financed by the Region and coordinated by the University of Trieste. The former aims at developing a regional fiber optic network for secure data transmission via quantum technology, with the QCI laboratory joined to it. The latter, however, is an ambitious research programme on quantum communication in the air and aims at paving the way for secure connections via satellite. ArQuS Laboratory – Cold atoms for quantum sciences and technologies The ArQuS (Artificial Quantum Systems) laboratory, the only one of its kind in Italy, was set up to create artificial quantum systems through the precise control of individual ytterbium atoms. Via laser beams and magnetic fields, atoms, which are by nature identical to each other and very delicate (to the point that their wave-like quantum nature could be destroyed by any external disturbance) can be slowed down in their movement and thus be thoroughly observed, offering a precious “magnifying glass” for the study of otherwise inaccessible processes and phenomena. This is made possible by a cutting-edge experimental apparatus within which atoms are isolated from the external environment and cooled to a temperature of only one-millionth of a degree above absolute zero, capturing them in real traps based on laser light. Laser radiation, also a wave, if appropriately synchronised with the internal oscillation of the atom, can in fact be used to control particles in an extremely precise manner without destroying their quantum nature, but on the contrary, harnessing it for new technological applications. QCI Laboratory – Quantum networks for maximum security of information systems The QCI laboratory was created to serve the research on and technological development of new solutions for quantum communications on optical fiber with the added purpose of training physics and engineering students at the University of Trieste and collaborating with the major research and training institutions in the field. The field of quantum information, a new subject born from the intermingling of computer science and quantum mechanics, is in fact a promising area that has made important progress in recent years. Thanks to the equipment present in the laboratory, which makes it possible to generate quantum cryptographic keys and experiment with ultra-secure communications, the researchers aim at laying the foundations for creating real quantum networks for the manipulation and transmission of data capable of guaranteeing maximum security. The QCI quantum communication laboratory was funded by the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region through the “Quantum FVG” and “QuFree” projects. The ArQuS laboratory, however, has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) within the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research and innovation (Grant Agreement no. 949438) and from the Ministry of Universities and Research within the FARE (FastOrbit project) and PRIN 2022 (CoQuS project) programmes.