The relationship between UniTS and the local and national business world is a key strength. We asked Erik Vesselli, Rector’s Delegate for Technology Transfer and Relations with Research Institutions, and Salvatore Dore, Head of the Technology Transfer and Participations Office, to explain their activities.

Erik, can you explain the role of the Delegate for Technology Transfer and Relations with Research Institutions?
I oversee the processes and innovation pathways that allow the transfer of emerging know-how from the University’s research activities to practical applications and businesses, also through the support of spin-offs, safeguarding intellectual property when necessary. It is a strategic challenge aimed at facilitating the transfer of knowledge to society and the local territory to enhance overall well-being.

For decades, models and best practices have been developed to optimize these pathways, supporting the valorization of universities’ intellectual assets and entrepreneurship, while taking into account the high investment risks involved. I also manage the University’s relations with research institutions at the local level (Trieste System), nationally, and internationally. Interdisciplinarity and the international level of cutting-edge fundamental research cannot be separated from constructive collaboration among research institutions. In Trieste, this is a strength and a hallmark, where UniTS is part of an exceptional network of collaborations with dozens of local research entities and institutes.

What are the benefits for students of UniTS’s strong positioning in the business world?
A UniTS student is someone who has chosen to experience university life in person, making it not only an educational path but a full experience. This allows them to interact with human and professional figures who can transmit not only knowledge but also engagement and passion, both in research and in the development of innovative solutions.

In this sense, the co-working of faculty, researchers, and students, along with the involvement of the business world—as happens in our Innovators Community Lab (ICL) or in collaborations with companies—represents an extremely valuable experience in the learning process. UniTS’s strong positioning between research institutions and the entrepreneurial ecosystem provides students with a unique opportunity for self-awareness and the ability to self-train throughout their professional journey.

Salvatore, what is ICL (Innovators Community Lab) and why should a UniTS student participate?
In September 2024, we launched a survey within the Contamination Lab (CLab) on entrepreneurial culture, involving 911 students, which provided us with a clear view of their aspirations and needs. This survey laid the foundation for enhancing our services.

In response to the findings, 2025 marked the birth of ICL. More than an incubator or accelerator, this new hub is a facilitator of pathways: it supports students in their professional orientation, with a focus on entrepreneurship.

Creative students with a business idea find the ideal environment to develop it here, supported by experts and guided by four operational pillars: Learning, to acquire key skills; Mentoring, to be guided by those with experience; Coworking, to share spaces and interact with other talents; and Making, to transform ideas into concrete projects.

A student should participate because here entrepreneurship is not only studied: it is lived by interacting with professionals and entrepreneurs. You transform your idea into something tangible, avoiding common mistakes thanks to those who have already gone through it, and discover whether being an entrepreneur is your path, without doing it alone. At the end of the journey, you gain numerous transversal skills that will be important in your future career.

Business Model Canvas, Business Plan, New Product Forecasting, Storytelling, Leadership, Team Building & Social Strategies: why did you choose these “pillars” to organize ICL activities?
We did not select only technical or humanistic skills, but designed an integrated path that alternates and combines complementary knowledge.

We chose these pillars because we believe that an aspiring entrepreneur should not be only a good “technician” or only a good “communicator.” They must be a craftsman of the future, capable of Building (BMC, Business Plan, New Product Forecasting), Telling (Storytelling), and Leading & Collaborating (Leadership, Team Building & Social Strategies).

These pillars, circulated through ICL, create a complete ecosystem to train individuals who are prepared and ready to face the complexity of the real world.