After 15 years of research, including three dedicated to the collection of non-profit funding, the MirtaRett project coordinated by Enrico Tongiorgi (UniTS Department of Life Sciences), finally enters clinical practice with the administration of the first therapy to a young patient at the Gaslini Hospital in Genoa.

In February 2025, the Italian Pharmaceuticals Agency (AIFA) received the positive opinion of the National Ethics Committee for Paediatric Studies and thus gave the green light to the first worldwide trial on Mirtazapine in Rett Syndrome, a serious neurological disease that affects almost exclusively girls.

The clinical study, coordinated by the University of Trieste, will initially extend to 15 young patients and will take place in the main Italian reference hospitals for Rett Syndrome. The trial is fully covered by non-profit funds.

The project is supported by the unconditional contribution of Angelini Pharma SpA, Fondazione Canali Onlus, Fondazione Ico Falck and Fondazione Amadei and Setti. In addition to the pharmacological experimentation, the project also provides for the continuous monitoring of patients' vital parameters, such as breathing, heart rate and blood oxygenation. For this purpose, smart T-shirts are used, already distributed to hospitals in Genoa, Siena, Messina and Milan. Originally developed for monitoring athletes, these T-shirts are made of cotton woven with nanofibres capable of detecting the weak electrical signals of the human body and are tailor-made for each patient by the Italian company AccYouRate Group.

What is Mirtazapine?

Mirtazapine is a commercially available drug, therefore more easily accessible and sustainable. To facilitate its intake, a European company has been identified that can produce it in liquid formulation, a solution that is not widespread since the drug is normally marketed globally as tablets. ‘Our laboratory at UniTS Department of Life Sciences was the first in the world to demonstrate that mirtazapine, despite being an antidepressant, acts on broader mechanisms and can improve breathing, motor control, sleep quality and social communication in patients with Rett’s syndrome,’ explains Prof. Tongiorgi.

Access to the trial is open to new patients

In Friuli Venezia Giulia it is estimated that there are three or four girls affected by the syndrome who are not currently included in the study, but the prospects remain encouraging. ‘We hope that the health facilities in the region will also be able to participate in the trial,’ Tongiorgi said.

To ensure the scientific validity of the study, it is necessary to reach a total of 54 patients aged between 5 and 40 years, divided into the ranges 5-10, 11-17 and 18-40 years. Approximately one third have been recruited so the search for new participants is still open.

The Equal Opportunities Committee (CUG) awarded the best degree and doctoral theses on fighting all forms of discrimination, promoting equal opportunities and wellbeing at study and work places.

The award for the best undergraduate thesis went to Michela Predonzani, who wrote an essay on ‘Inclusive sport as a complementary action in rehabilitation projects aimed at people with intellectual disabilities’.

The award for the two best master’s degree thesis went to Jessica Baldassi (Gender certification: Irisiacqua case study) and to Chiara Granato (an adaptive school: a space that creates inclusion).

Costanza Ziani was awarded for the best PhD thesis, which was entitled ‘From organisational wellbeing to wellbeing organisation in the public administration’.

The variety of themes covered in the theses and the number of applications submitted show that the sensitivity to these issues has grown considerably. This also demonstrate the strategic nature of the path taken by the Equal Opportunities Committee and the entire  University in terms of information and training.

From health emergencies to sustainable everyday shopping, from support for out-of-town students to the wellbeing of pets, all the way to international learning mobility: these are the themes of the five entrepreneurial projects awarded at the Innovators Community Lab 2025 (ICL) final, held in the Sala Cappella of the former Military Hospital in via Fabio Severo.

The event concluded the first edition of ICL, which builds on the experience of the University of Trieste’s Contamination Lab.

During the final, the 20 finalist projects developed throughout this year’s programme were presented. The five €5,000 scholarships for the best entrepreneurial projects were awarded to: ResQ by Francesco Sulli, a Physics student, who aims to develop a smart first-aid case for companies, schools and public spaces; SiVale by Valentina Malijevic, a Law student, outlining a sustainable, plastic-free supermarket based on reusable and traceable containers; inU by Jovana Obradovic, a Psychology student, a digital platform supporting students in choosing a university and in out-of-town life in Friuli Venezia Giulia; Aura by Asja Feruglio, PhD in Design for Made in Italy—developed in collaboration with Siminozar Bahram, a Business Management student—proposing an advanced solution to reduce odours in dogs, combining scientific method and design; Kansje by Chiara Doga’, a Philosophy student, an app that collects and makes accessible opportunities for training and international mobility for young people.

Two training trips were also awarded to Francesco Sulli and Valentina Maljevic, as the best students of the course, enabling them to visit international innovation ecosystems. Overall, the awarded projects and profiles confirm the heterogeneous, multidisciplinary and cosmopolitan character of the ICL cohort, where the exchange of experiences and ideas involved students from different degree programmes and levels—from Physics to Law, from Psychology to Design, Business Management and Philosophy—and from diverse backgrounds.

The final also hosted the round table “Training to innovate: the driver of youth entrepreneurship”, bringing together universities, institutions and the business community on the role of education as a driver of innovation. In the discussion, moderated by journalist Paolo Pichierri, Rector Donata Vianelli stressed the importance of creating structured opportunities for dialogue among young people engaged in different academic pathways, pointing to the value of cross-fertilisation between skills and perspectives to support the transition from idea to entrepreneurial project, and highlighting the need to open up to international contexts and networks. The round table also featured Francesca Ros, President of Confindustria Giovani Alto Adriatico, and Giacomo Andolfato, President of Confindustria Giovani Udine.

Erik Vesselli, UniTS Delegate for Technology Transfer, added: “The Innovators Community Lab brings together the university’s three missions: education, research and social engagement. Technology transfer becomes tangible when research results enter territories, companies and institutions, also through the creation of new start-ups. This can only happen by working side by side, in a cross-fertilisation process involving lecturers, researchers, female and male students, and representatives of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

The ICL training programme, now structured to award 6 ECTS credits to those who complete it, further strengthened role-modeling opportunities in this edition, offering examples, experiences and contacts to understand first-hand the dynamics of innovation, enterprise and work through direct engagement with key players from the productive system. Alongside seminars and networking, ICLabbers visited the headquarters of the Marcegaglia Group, where they met the company leadership and toured Casa Marcegaglia, the corporate museum that tells the story, values and vision of a major industrial group.

During the evening, the call for the ICL 2025/2026 edition was also presented, with applications open until 12 January 2026. Full information and the call text are available on the University portal.

Awarded projects (project profiles)

Francesco Sulli, Physics student – “ResQ”
ResQ is a smart first-aid case designed to revolutionise emergency management in workplaces, schools and public spaces. It combines certified medical supplies with integrated sensors and a digital interface that guides users step by step, even those without medical training. Through the ResQ Connect app, it monitors the kit’s status, supply expiry dates and intervention history, simplifying the work of H&S officers and safety managers. The project foresees a family of products (Lite, Standard, Pro, Extreme) for contexts ranging from home use to construction sites and extreme outdoor scenarios.

Valentina Malijevic, Law student – “SiVale”
SiVale, a sustainable supermarket
Each year, millions of tonnes of packaging waste come from shopping baskets. Recycling is improving, but it is not enough: the real issue lies in the single-use model. SiVale was created to change this system, positioning itself as a new-generation supermarket. Here, products are sold loose and via refill dispensers, with free use of reusable containers equipped with RFID technology to ensure traceability. Reverse vending machines collect used containers, put them back into circulation and reward customers at the same time. Shopping no longer generates waste, but becomes an act of innovation and environmental responsibility. SiVale shows that a circular, plastic-free and technologically advanced model can become normal, desirable and scalable.

Jovana Obradovic, Psychology student – “inU”
inU is an independent digital platform that supports students in choosing a university and living as out-of-town students in Friuli Venezia Giulia. It integrates authentic course reviews, peer-to-peer support, detailed local information and a structured partnership with the Regional Guidance Centre (COR) to provide free professional support. With a freemium model and a B2B strategy with local partners, inU aims to become the region’s go-to hub for informed, student-centred university guidance, helping reduce university dropout and enhance the territory.

Asja Feruglio, PhD in Design for Made in Italy – “Aura”
Project developed with Siminozar Bahram, Business Management student
Aura is a research project developing an advanced solution to reduce odours in dogs, ensuring effectiveness, skin safety and biocompatibility. Combining scientific method and design, it delivers a product conceived to improve everyday hygiene and animal wellbeing. Its essence is not merely a fragrance: it represents the bond between dog and human being, a design that translates that relationship into an emotional and identity-based value.

Chiara Doga’, Philosophy student – “Kansje”
Kansje—Dutch for “small opportunity”—is an app designed for young people who want to pursue training or mobility experiences abroad, even with limited time or financial resources. Many free opportunities, funded by the EU or community-based, remain little known and hard to find: Kansje is the first unified database making them accessible through an intelligent matchmaking system that identifies the most suitable experiences for each user. The app also offers personalised guidance before and after departure, an educational pathway to prepare for travel, and a dedicated forum to connect with other young people.

The event organised by the Career Service of the University of Trieste was held this evening (Wednesday 10th December 2025), Homecoming – Success stories from UniTS and Alumni Happy Hour (aperitivo con gli alumni), to inspire new members and students who have already started their university careers and to foster mutual exchange, strengthening a link between those who are still attending the University and those who have not abandoned it, despite having finished their studies. 

THE GUESTS AND THE PROGRAMME – Four UniTS Alumni - now established professionals in different sectors - Andrea Cozzi (responsible for the New Exploration Initiatives and General Manager of Eni in Lebanon), Chiara Pacella (lead of the Language Management and Localization Quality Program teams of Meta), Silvia Toffolutti (Global Diversity and Inclusion and Wellbeing Lead of Chiesi) and Diego Scapolan (Project Manager of Allianz) moderated by Cristina Perini, head of the Press Office of the University of Trieste and graduated in Communication Sciences, shared their different experiences, from online dissemination to a job in multinational companies, in as many different stories, united from the same starting point: the University of Trieste. 

The event was held at the former Military Hospital of Trieste, the historic building of Via Fabio Severo, which has been housing the new Student Residence Hall since last September as the result of an agreement between the University of Trieste and ARDiS. 

‘The University of Trieste is part of a unique ecosystem of knowledge, in an area where there are important research centres. It is a university that tests you, that also teaches you to accept failure and get up. I also had to repeat tests, in one case I gave myself a ‘failed’ on my own. In my university career, failures have been moments of growth’, stressed the Magnificent Rector Prof. Donata Vianelli in her opening speech, pointing out how the stories of those who have passed through those same university classrooms can help those who attend them today in facing a passage that is not without challenges, in the context of a labour market in which there are fewer and fewer clear and predefined paths and more and more careers to be built with vision and courage. The Rector addressed a direct invitation to those present: ‘Choose paths that fascinate you both at university and at work’.

During the first part of the evening, ‘UniTS Success Stories’, hosted in the Sala Cappella, the five Alumni spoke to the audience of UniTS students, researchers, teachers and administrative staff describing their own personal, often original, path, which led them from graduation to the construction of a solid career.

ALUMNI – Andrea Cozzi, graduate in Geology, is now in charge of the New Exploration Initiatives and General Manager of Eni in Lebanon, explained how from a path initially bent towards academic teaching he has converted to the search for oil. From his university experience, he recalled the great spirit of collaboration and closeness between students, elements that also accompanied him in subsequent professional challenges in complex international contexts.

On the other hand, Chiara Pacella, via video link from Dublin, spoke about the transition from the local university dimension to work in a large international reality such as Meta: a graduate in Interpreting and Translation, today Pacella is Lead of the company’s Language Management team and Localization Quality Program, and she recommended that students seize all international opportunities to engage with other contexts and broaden their perspectives, starting with Erasmus. Her work focuses on the cultural adaptation of digital products, integrating language skills and technological tools in a hybrid model between human contribution and new technologies. When talking about her education in Trieste, she stressed the ‘very solid and high-level foundations’, fully comparable to those experienced in other contexts, albeit within a challenging and ‘severe’ path.

Silvia Toffolutti, on the other hand, deals with human resources. After graduating in Philosophy, she completed an MBA in Organisation and Personnel Management at Bocconi University in Milan and today she is Global Diversity and Inclusion and Wellbeing Lead at the Chiesi Group. In her speech, she illustrated projects dedicated to diversity and inclusion, with a particular focus on gender equality and the inclusion of people with disabilities, including the monitoring of gender pay gaps, company policies related to parenting and the promotion of women’s leadership. From her philosophy studies she said that she had brought at work the dialectical approach, the curiosity and the desire to question consolidated points of view: fundamental qualities to innovate also within organisations.

Last but not least, Diego Scapolan, graduated in Business Administration & Administrative and Professional Consulting, now Project Manager at Allianz. Scapolan advised the students not to be frightened by challenges, but to embrace them with enthusiasm and ‘a pinch of unconsciousness’, he suggested to cultivate a mentality of continuous learning, indispensable today more than ever to face the needs of a rapidly changing society and, therefore, the labour market. He recalled the role of talent management to understand the skills that will be required in the future and called for ‘seeing the stars but aiming for the moon’, without forgetting one’s loved ones and passions – such as sport – that should not be sacrificed for work. He also suggested using experiences such as Erasmus to see what is outside and compare with other realities.

The knowledge and exchange continued at the end of the talk with a networking aperitif where students and PhD students had the opportunity to discuss directly with teachers and alumni, in a relaxed context that helped to strengthen the sense of belonging to a community that UniTS wants to enhance. A network from which opportunities and collaborations can be generated, in the spirit of the Alumni project. Mentors also took part in the event: professionals with at least five years of work experience in various fields, graduates of the University of Trieste, members of the Mentors4UniTS initiative, thanks to which the University supports students enrolled in the penultimate or final year of a master’s degree course to achieve a growth path. The comparison with mentors helps them to focus their professional goals and enhance their attitudes: after some online meetings, tomorrow, Thursday 11th December 2025, the mentors will meet in person the students assigned to them.

THE EVENT IN SHORT – Homecoming – UniTS Success Stories is an annual event dedicated to students now at its seventh edition: today’s students, currently enrolled at the University of Trieste, and yesterday’students, the Alumni who bring their experience through inspiring talks, encouraging encounter and dialogue. The aim of the initiative is to tell success stories of graduates of the University of Trieste who, thanks to the skills acquired during their university career, have built significant careers in different professional fields, helping to strengthen the reputation and prestige of the University, which has gained two positions in the 2025-2026 Censis ranking of Italian Universities, thus reaching 5th place among medium-sized universities (between 10,000 and 20,000 students); this result – which is accompanied by an increase of more than 13% in new enrolments for undergraduate degree courses compared to last year – is due, among other factors, to the employability of graduates and the quality of the facilities, and events such as Homecoming - UniTS Success Stories and Alumni Happy Hour want to help make these fact well known.

The engineering sector of Friuli Venezia Giulia is growing again and shows signs of resilience in a still complex scenario. This is clear from the latest report by the FVG Metal Mechanics Observatory, promoted by the COMET Cluster in collaboration with Area Science Park, Intesa Sanpaolo and the Universities of Trieste and Udine. The analysis shows an increase of 0.9% in the sector for 2025, in sharp contrast to the rest of regional manufacturing, which recorded a decrease of1.4%. 

The Observatory, in which the University of Trieste participates as a scientific partner through the Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics (DEAMS), offers a detailed picture of a sector that accounts for around 43% of regional manufacturing on its own. The report presented at the end of 2025 certifies a reversal of the trend after two years of slight declines, showing how the FVG metalworking companies are reacting with determination to the complexity of international markets.

The economic and financial analysis gives an articulated picture: between 2021 and 2024, the sector’s overall turnover grew by around 8.7%, in line with national trends, but the comparison between 2024 and 2023 shows a contraction of 4.1% in the region, more marked than the Italian average. Profitability (Ebitda margin) fell to 10.8%, approaching national values, while capital strength improved, with an increase in the share of equity in liabilities.

The report also highlights a growing polarisation of this industry: micro and small companies are more exposed to market difficulties, while medium-sized and large companies, which are more export-oriented and have young governance, perform better. A distinctive feature of the engineering sector compared to the rest of regional manufacturing is the greater propensity to innovate: over a third of companies present concrete signs in this area, including patents, participation in European projects and collaborations with startups and research centres.

In this context, the role of the University of Trieste is to support the production system in reading emerging trends and risks. DEAMS contributes to the design and interpretation of the Observatory’s data, complementing quantitative analysis with qualitative survey tools, such as instant polls on companies’ expectations and strategies with regard to economic, geopolitical, social and technological factors.

‘The 2025 data confirm a key element: regional engineering companies are reacting decisively to the complexity of the international scenario’, comments Professor Guido Bortoluzzi, Professor of Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship at the University of Trieste. ‘Market diversification strategies show concrete signs of effectiveness and, despite geopolitical uncertainties and new tariffs, the sector has been able to navigate the storm better than the rest of the manufacturing sector.’

However, Bortoluzzi draws attention to the challenges that are emerging: ‘We cannot ignore the growing polarisation of this industry: the gap between those who run, driven by exports, certifications and a young governance, and those who struggle, is widening. The time for decisions based only on intuition is over. The future requires a paradigm shift for our companies based on strategic agility, data clarity and the ability to capture weak signals of change.’

To explain this passage, Prof. Bortoluzzi uses a maritime metaphor: ‘Radars are needed to intercept new emerging macrotrends, be they technological, economic or social. Internal connection “networks” are needed to quickly share information and make decisions faster than in the past. Finally, companies need to learn how to casting their “nets”: either by diversifying into more sectors to fish on the surface, or by specialising vertically in its core business to fish deeper and remain competitive in a world where competition has expanded. We have learned to navigate stormy seas, now we need to look up and prepare for the future with continuity, vision and courage.’

On 10th December 1948, the United Nations General Assembly, meeting provisionally in Paris, adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which in the years that followed would inspire the formation of numerous more specific international standards. The protection of human rights thus ceased to be the exclusive responsibility of individual states and became a collective value of the international community.

Is this still the case today? What legacy has the Universal Declaration left us? Do human rights continue to be a collective value to be safeguarded, despite the ongoing crises that the world is experiencing before our very eyes?

The protection of human rights continues to be a collective value of the international community. However, it is necessary to reflect on what states are actually doing to implement human rights. And on what we are doing, given that states are made up of human communities.

Giuseppe Pascale, professor of International Law, explains: 'The 1948 Universal Declaration left us with a very important legacy: the universality of human rights, which should be enjoyed always and everywhere, without discrimination or distinction of any kind. We should not squander this legacy by returning to the militaristic and power-driven politics that led to two world wars in the last century. The sense of humanity must be safeguarded. What kind of world would it be otherwise?'

During the inauguration ceremony for the 102nd academic year at UniTS, prizes were awarded to the most deserving students.

University of Trieste Foundation (FUST) Awards

The Foundation manages the legacies of UniTS benefactors, in particular those from the Aldo Duca (Medical Area), Guido Morpurgo Tagliabue (Philosophy Area) and Marcello Urban and Maria Ehrl (Engineering Area) Foundations.

The FUST awards prizes averaging € 2,500 to particularly deserving students enrolled in UniTS bachelor's and master's degree courses.

This year, a total of three grants were awarded in the field of engineering (with a special mention for excellence in studies), three in the field of medicine, two in the field of philosophy and one grant each in the fields of economics, law and life sciences.

The following students received the award from the Rector, Prof. Donata Vianelli, and Prof. Paolo Rosato, President and Vice-President of FUST, respectively:

Giorgio Cutrera, Jacopo Mosetti

Department of Engineering and Architecture, Master's degrees in Engineering

Alessandro Giampaoli

Department of Engineering and Architecture, Master's Degree in Naval Engineering

Giovanna Maria Galuppo, Carmelo Occhipinti

Department of Engineering and Architecture

honourable mention – without award – for commendable academic achievement and excellent exam results

Rossella Albani

Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics ‘Bruno De Finetti’, Master's degrees in Economics, Environment and Development, and Statistics and Actuarial Sciences

Diana Di Pietro

Department of Legal, Language, Interpreting and Translation Studies, Integrated Master's Degree in Law

Giada Martin, Michelle Domenighini

Department of Humanities, Master's Degree in Philosophy

Alice Mastrangelo

Department of Life Sciences, Bachelor's Degree in Neuroscience

Jerome Jerusalem Daysa

Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Bachelor's Degree in Nursing

Francesca Cherubini

Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Bachelor's Degree in Healthcare Professions

Francesca Paro

Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Integrated Master's Degree in Medicine and Surgery

Award for deserving 2024-2025 first-year students – Fondazione CRTrieste

The € 1,550 grant, supported by Fondazione CRTrieste to reward merit, encourage excellence and promote an academic environment that stimulates commitment and personal growth, was presented by the Rector and Prof. Francesco Peroni, Vice-President of Fondazione CRTrieste’s Board of Directors, to:

Francesco Bertolini

Department of Life Sciences

Alessandro Deganutti

Department of Physics

Sabrina De Pra

Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Annachiara Franchi

Department of Humanities

Leonardo Mattiuzzo

Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences

Gaia Millo

Department of Political and Social Sciences

Elisa Rossi

Department of Engineering and Architecture

Gabriele Tancik

Department of Mathematics, Informatics and Geosciences

Chiara Zorn

Department of Legal, Language, Interpreting and Translation Studies

How do you ‘do university’ in an uncertain political, social and economic context? This is the challenging question Rector Donata Vianelli raised her first inauguration ceremony of the 2025-2026 academic year on the 102nd anniversary of the University of Trieste.

‘Vision,strategy and pragmatism will be the guiding principles of the next six years of my rectorate, an approach capable of dealing lucidly with the uncertainty of the future’, the Rector said. ‘Our greatest energy is the pride of belonging to this university, pride reciprocated by a local community that recognises us as an essential component of its cultural, social and economic development’.

The value of the relationship with the community and the international context was strongly demonstrated by the presence at the ceremony of the Italian Ambassador to France, Emanuela D’Alessandro, who was entrusted with the lectio magistralis ‘Italy, France, Europe: diplomacy in action’.

‘It is a great honour to be here in Trieste. As I have been able to appreciate in my years as Italian Ambassador in Zagreb, Trieste is a city founded on its vocation for dialogue and international openness, a ‘city-border’ par excellence, a crossroads of peoples, cultures and trade, a meeting point between different souls in Europe and the Mediterranean, between North and South, between East and West,’ stressed the Ambassador, ‘A city that is a candidate for acting as a fundamental hub of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic (IMEC) Corridor, designed to logistically connect India, the Gulf countries, Egypt, Israel and the Mediterranean, and for which our Ministry plans to organise a major event here in Trieste next year’.

The key themes of Vianelli’s rectorate will be not only internationalisation but also digitalisation, sustainability and construction at the University, all the while keeping research and student relations at the centre.

Internationalisation and relationship with the local community

The strong recovery in student mobility and the expansion of international scientific collaborations are a positive sign. The future strategy will be geared towards investing in cooperation not only as support but also as leverage for research and education, promoting international networks and contributing to the spread of a culture of peace and social justice.

Actions already underway include the hospitality offered to scholars from countries at risk, projects to support migrants in the local area, interventions in Africa dedicated to STEM education, support for the dissemination of sustainable, minimally invasive surgery and the investigation of climate change, conflict and migration. New cooperation projects have also been launched in Tanzania, Ethiopia and Rwanda. Finally, the University is taking steps to welcome new Palestinian students. 

As for the relationship with the territory, UniTS will inaugurate a new phase of more active and systematic dialogue with companies, bodies and institutions. While remaining a research university, the University recognises that the most advanced research comes from the combination of academic skills and real needs, and that the knowledge produced must be translated into value for the community. It will invest in technology transfer, strengthening its presence in places focussed on development through framework agreements, strategic conventions, joint projects and by promoting initiatives with concrete impact on the territory. 

Digitalisation

Teaching and research in artificial intelligence and data science has been consolidated both in the course catalogue and in a high-profile research project that has been recognised at international level. Looking to the future, the University intends to further strengthen its commitment to the dissemination of digital culture, data, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, promoting training courses and education initiatives designed not only for the University community, but also for its social and economic context. 

‘Weimmediately gave strong support to the creation of the AgorAI Innovation Hub, an ecosystem made up of excellent companies to promote the development of start-ups, the attraction of talent and innovative planning in the field of Artificial Intelligence,’recalled Vianelli.

Sustainability

In this academic year, the University will boast its first graduates from the Master’s Degree in ‘Engineering for the Energy Transition’, which enhances years of advanced research in the energy sector through a multidisciplinary course designed to respond to the European and national priorities for the green transition. Another significant example of investment in sustainability is the new ELISA Laboratory, coordinated by the Ciamician Centre and dedicated to energy storage technologies. The facility integrates six departments and strengthens UniTS’ capacity to contribute to a sustainable energy future.

University building

The University has multiple locations across Trieste from Piazzale Europa to the old part of the city, from San Giovanni Park to Porto Vecchio and future extensions to the Cattinara hospital, as well as multiple satellite campuses at Gorizia, Pordenone and Portogruaro. This structure poses challenges that have already begun to be addressed through rationalisation, reorganisation, consolidation and reducing congestion. At the same time, strategic projects, large construction sites and restoration, redevelopment and refitting work are being carried out, some of which are possible thanks to the important contribution of the CRTrieste Foundation.

Research

UniTS is continuing to renew and invest in research infrastructures, an essential condition for maintaining its competitive capacity and attracting high-level researchers. The two new nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers purchased with the contribution of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region are especially noteworthy, as is the economic support of Fondazione CRTrieste, Fondazione Beneficentia Stiftung and Fondazione Benefiche Alberto e Kathleen Casali. In the near future, the University will enhance the direct hiring of renowned teaching staff, including some winners of prestigious ERC and FIS calls, and participation in international competitive calls. 

Innovative teaching

The constant increase in student enrolments is also due to the constant updating of the course catalogue. In 2026 UniTS will offer a new course dedicated to the Education for Mathematics and Physics, for training future teachers. The first open and massive open online courses (MOOC) will also be launched, included in a digital catalogue, thus expanding the forms of learning and updating opportunities for graduates and professionals. 

Commitment to innovation in teaching is one of the challenges ahead. This is a cultural challenge that will respond to the generational change of students, their cognitive styles and expectations, combining the potential offered by digitalisation with new technologies and AI. This particular innovation will challenge teachers to review traditional patterns, models and practices.

Ambassador D’Alessandro also wished the student community well for the new academic year, while recalling her institutional role in a place that is a symbol of collaboration: ‘Our job as diplomats in France is ultimately this: not only to promote the interest of Italy in its many forms, but also to keep the harmony between two of the most important countries in the world, to make it an engine of Europe and the West and, in so doing, to help offer young people – starting with those who study at this university, to whom I wish from the bottom of my heart, as well as all of you teachers, an excellent academic year – a horizon of peace, freedom and shared opportunities.’

The ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Trieste, Roberto Dipiazza, and the President of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Massimiliano Fedriga, the president of the Student Council, Morgan Baliviera, and the representative of technical and administrative staff, Salvatore Dore.  The keynote lecture was given to Renata Longo, Professor of Physics for Life Sciences, Environment and Cultural Heritage of the Department of Physics, ‘Beyond Grey: the colours of the X-rays’. 

Vocal and instrumental performances by the Choir and Orchestra of the University of Trieste, conducted by conductor Riccardo Cossi.

During the ceremony, deserving students and first-year students were also awarded, thanks to contributions from the Fondazione Università degli Studi di Trieste (FUST) and the Fondazione CRTrieste.

In the week celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3rd December), UniTS announces the results of the ‘Inclusive Tourism for Everyone’ Hackathon, promoted as part of the European Shaping Inclusive Tourist Experiences (SITE) project funded by the Interreg Italy-Croatia Programme 2021-2027.

The SITE project is coordinated by Lorenzo Castelli, associate professor of Operational Research at the Department of Engineering and Architecture (DIA) of the University of Trieste, in collaboration with the Trieste Inclusion and Accessibility Lab (TrIAL) research group, led by Ilaria Garofolo, full professor of Technical Architecture at the same department.

The aim of SITE is to increase the attractiveness of destinations in the programme area throughout the year by spreading a cross-border culture of Universal Design in the tourism ecosystem, thereby reducing the architectural, sensory and communication barriers that limit access for people with disabilities and other groups with specific needs, such as families and the elderly.

The Hackathon, moderated by Caterina Vidulli, founder of Central Marketing Intelligence and communication manager of the SITE project, was organised by UniTS Trieste together with the Italian and Croatian partners of the project, with the participation of the Municipality of Trieste, Promoturismo FVG, CRIBA FVG, INU (Italian Institute of Urban Planning) and the Start-Up Turismo association. 

Thirty-four university students from Italy, Croatia and Slovenia were involved, studying a variety of subjects: architecture, urban planning, languages, tourism management, social sciences and computer science. Among the mentors who supported and guided the work were experts in environmental accessibility, easy language, tourism marketing, sociologists and representatives of Cooperativa Oltre Quella Sedia.

Over the course of two days, participants were asked to develop innovative ideas and solutions that integrate the principles of universal design, with the aim of designing tourist experiences that are truly welcoming, accessible and enjoyable for everyone: people with disabilities, families, the elderly and visitors with limited language skills. The multidisciplinary groups collaborated in an atmosphere of strong creativity and problem-solving, bringing together technical, design and social skills.

A particularly significant moment was the guided tour of the city, conducted by PromoTurismo FVG with the participation of CRIBA FVG and the Cooperativa Oltre Quella Sedia. The experience allowed the teams to observe the urban context of Trieste first-hand and identify some of the main critical issues experienced by tourists when travelling around the city. 'The tour offered participants a concrete look at the difficulties that many visitors encounter on a daily basis. This is where truly attentive and inclusive tourism can begin,' says Paola Pascoli, representative of CRIBA FVG.

The winning projects

1st place – 'PathMate'

The PathMate project proposes an app that accompanies the user, adapting to their needs and enhancing their autonomy. PathMate simplifies travel planning, offers clear, multi-channel navigation and provides useful information on path characteristics and access, such as gradient and surface type. Team: Iftekhar Anwar (Computer Science, Polytechnic University of Turin), Arsenii Prostakov (Languages, ‘Federico II’ University of Naples), Anastasija Ristova (Urban Planning, University of Ljubljana), Lucija Oštarić (Tourism Management, Rijeka), Alessia Gaia Russo (Communication Design, Polytechnic University of Milan).

2nd place – ‘APO – All Paths Open’. 

A participatory system that connects tourists with disabilities or specific needs to residents who share the same condition, with the aim of building a safe, informed, sensitive and involved community. Team: Patricia Ivančić (Social Sciences, University of Rijeka), Eleonora Lazarova (Urban Planning, University of Ljubljana), Jana Krivošić (Tourism Management, Rijeka), Alessandra Airaudo (Digital Marketing, Unicusano).

3rd place – 'TourAble'

An app designed to make tourism truly accessible thanks to its inclusive, intuitive and adaptive design. TourAble encourages citizens' awareness of accessibility issues and offers barrier-free routes, activities for families and information dedicated to people with visual and cognitive disabilities. Team: Daniyar Yegeubay (Computer Science, ‘Federico II’ University of Naples), Ester Calenda Casarin (Languages, ‘Ca' Foscari’ University of Venice), Pia Ržen (Architecture, University of Ljubljana), Korina Zorić (Tourism Management, Rijeka), Marianna Capriotti (Tourism Management, University of Perugia).

‘Participating in the Inclusive Tourism for Everyone Hackathon of the SITE – Interreg ITA CRO 2021-27 project was a valuable experience, both professionally and personally. Seeing so many young people from the world of tourism working with competence, curiosity and a sense of responsibility towards a more accessible future was deeply motivating,’ said Annalisa Novacco of Willeasy, one of the members of the jury. ‘At Willeasy, we enthusiastically accepted the invitation from the Startup Turismo association, whom I sincerely thank for highlighting the role of accessibility within the programme. On this occasion, I had the honour of representing Willeasy, as a member and delegate for accessible tourism issues, helping to bring the voice of those who work every day for a more inclusive sector. Presenting the awards to the winning teams was a symbolic but significant gesture: the dialogue between those who are working today to make the world more inclusive and those who will be able to transform this vision into new standards tomorrow is the real strength of an evolving sector. The commitment and sensitivity shown by the participants confirm that innovation and attention to people are not parallel tracks, but the same direction. This is the energy needed to build a tourism industry that is capable of welcoming, understanding and truly including everyone.

The jury also included professors Ilaria Garofolo (DIA, University of Trieste) and Jelena Durkin Badurina (FTHM, University of Rijeka); Roberta Gigli, representative of the Forum of Adriatic and Ionian Cities; and Erika Kosic, representative of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region in its quality of joint secretariat of the Italy-Slovenia programme.

The other projects

The other projects presented offered diverse solutions but were united by a single inclusive vision: from the creation of universally accessible, comfortable, free, temporary modules equipped with information screens (the ‘Your Pod Stop’ project) to the development of a certification protocol for diversity-conscious services (the ‘Inclusive Tourism’ project). An app designed to connect tourists and residents with similar needs (the ‘Help’ project) and an inclusive travel platform that generates personalised maps using content verified by artificial intelligence and real data from social media (the ‘AllWays’ project) were also presented.

In addition to cash prizes for the three best projects (€ 4,000 for first place, € 2,000 for second place and € 1,000 for third place), funded by the Start-Up Turismo association, the winners will have access to mentoring sessions with the association and SITE project partners, and will be invited to the project's final international conference, to be held in Opatija (Croatia).

The Hackathon ended with a shared understanding that designing more inclusive tourism means contributing to the development of more open, welcoming and sustainable communities.

The two-day ELECTRIC SHIP SUPER STORAGE EVENT that was part of the V-ACCESS project concluded in Trieste on 3rd December. The event focused on shipboard electrification through the use of innovative technologies, such as superconductors and supercapacitors for energy storage and was attended by all the companies and university research units involved in the project.

The V-ACCESS project, coordinated by the University of Trieste, is dedicated to the development of a new generation of hybrid energy storage system (HESS), combining superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) technology based on magnesium diboride (MgB2) with supercapacitors.

Combining these two technologies to support batteries constitutes a major innovation in terms of both performance and reliability across energy storage and the release of strong energy impulses.

The strength of this technology lies in its uniqueness, and the solution proposed by the project will be applied not only in shipping and ship electrification but also in energy-intensive industrial sectors. In addition, innovation in storage systems will play a key role in power systems and will also be essential to balance energy production and consumption in electricity grids in response to the increasing integration of renewable sources and the needs of the green deal.

The V-Access project has been financed with European funds for a value of € 5,000,000 and is optimised to integrate with battery systems on board vessels. The advantage of the solution designed as part of the project lies in the hybrid management of a superconducting SMES accumulator and supercapacitors. The SMES accumulator is made of MgB2 and was designed and built by ASG Superconductors, while the supercapacitors were designed and built by Skeleton as part of a project that also involves Fincantieri, VARD, RINA, RSE, SINTEF, the universities of Trieste, Genoa and Birmingham and Politecnico di Milano.

SMES superconductor technology is ideal for short-term, high-power energy storage, perfect for power modulation and instantaneous voltage stabilisation. Supercapacitors, on the other hand, are electrostatic storage devices that offer very fast power delivery and absorption (high power density) and have an extremely long service life (millions of cycles). The hybrid interaction of these technologies with traditional batteries, in addition to extending their use cycle, allows for innovative load management and therefore the reduction of CO2 emissions.

Tests on the SMES superconducting system created by ASG Superconductors and the Skeleton supercapacitors were carried out at the Electric TEst Facility (ETEF), the testing laboratory for applications of electrical energy systems in marine environments, born from the partnership between the University of Trieste, Wärtsilä and Fincantieri as part of the Italian General Secretariat of Defence’s national scientific and technological research programmes.

Giorgio Sulligoi, a full professor at UniTS, stated that ‘ETEF is the flagship project at Trieste’s experimental facilities, a hub where academic and industrial researchers work together to define the future of electric vessels.’ He went on to conclude that ‘the synergy between companies and the academic world behind the V-Access project has already made tangible steps towards hybrid electrification technology that will be useful and necessary not only in the shipping sector but in all applications that require large and rapid energy pulses.’

Pietro Tricoli of the University of Birmingham and technological coordinator of the project, added ‘the supercapacitor and superconducting SMES prototype has been tested in a highly realistic operational environment, aiming for a technological readiness level (TRL) of 5, a step ahead of future developments linked to projects for the development and installation of this technology on board the ship. ‘

Gianluca Bertossi, Managing Director of Wärtsilä Italia said: ‘The ETEF prototype is an important research and technological de-risking infrastructure for the on-board electrical systems of future vessels. It makes the pursuit of similar objectives equally possible for land-based applications that share similar requirements for power quality, quality of service and reliability. There is no system in Europe with comparable performance in terms of installed power, technological characteristics, performance and testing capabilities.’

Marco Nassi, CEO of ASG concluded: ‘the V-ACCESS project presented all of us with a challenge and we thank all the partners for the work that has led to the successful testing of our SMES at the invaluable ETEF. We believe that superconducting storage is a high-tech solution that is ideal for meeting the innovation and resilience needs of networks.’