The Italian Cultural Institute in Cairo hosted a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the bilateral agreement between Italy and Egypt on scientific and technological cooperation, on the occasion of Italian Research Day in the World (giornata della ricerca italiana nel mondo).

The University of Trieste was represented by Vice-Rector Valter Sergo, who spoke during the session dedicated to opportunities for collaboration between universities and industry.

In his speech, Sergo presented Trieste as ‘a city with one of the highest densities of researchers in relation to its population’, emphasising the role of the University as the central hub of an integrated scientific system, open to international engagement and strongly oriented towards innovation.

It is not only an ideal learning environment for students and researchers, but also an attractive environment for high-tech companies interested in investing in research and development.

The event was promoted by the Italian Embassy in Cairo in collaboration with the Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF), the department of the Egyptian Ministry of Research responsible for implementing the three-year executive programme provided for in the agreement.

In addition to presenting the projects in progress in the period 2024–2026, the celebration fostered discussion on strategic issues between universities and companies from both countries: from artificial intelligence to space technologies, and from cultural heritage to medicine, the global challenges of climate and the water-energy-food nexus.

The University of Trieste's participation is part of the broader framework of the University's international relations, which for years has promoted scientific and academic cooperation with partners in the Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East.

On Thursday 17th July, the Universities of Trieste and Udine will welcome to their Gorizia campus the 32 participants of the 31st edition of the Bovec Summer School, representing seven universities from the Alpe-Adria region. This year, the school, organised by the University of Klagenfurt, focuses on the theme ‘Nation and narration in Europe: language, culture and identity in the pursuit of Europeanisation’. The initiative is international, interdisciplinary and multilingual, held in German, Slovenian, Italian, Friulian and Croatian, and involves students and lecturers from the universities of Udine, Trieste, Koper, Klagenfurt, Ljubljana, Rijeka and Osijek. The day will provide an opportunity to reflect on the role played by Gorizia and Nova Gorica, as European Capital of Culture 2025, in promoting the values of European citizenship.

The first session, at 14:00, will take place at the University of Trieste campus, in via Alviano, featuring an interactive seminar on science diplomacy led by Simone Arnaldi, Professor of Sociology in the Department of Political and Social Sciences.
‘Science diplomacy,’ explains Professor Arnaldi, ‘is a field of study that defines the bidirectional relationship between science and diplomacy, each with its own clearly defined role. In this context, diplomacy acts as a tool to facilitate scientific progress, while science becomes a resource supporting international policy.’

The University of Trieste is a national reference point in the field of science diplomacy, having recently published a strategic policy document on the subject. Within this framework, the interactive seminar will invite participants to explore the crucial role of international scientific cooperation in tackling the major global challenges facing our societies. They will also reflect on the changing institutional, economic and political landscape in which today’s scientific community operates, and on the enduring value of the universal principles science upholds in overcoming divisions and conflicts that continue to affect Europe.

At 16:00, the summer school will move to the Santa Chiara campus of the University of Udine. The session will open with remarks from Renata Kodilja, Coordinator of the degree programmes in Public Relations and Integrated Communication for Business and Organisations. Patrizia Artico, Gorizia’s Councillor for Go!2025, will bring greetings on behalf of the Municipality. 

Participants will take part in interactive activities inspired by the brain writing technique and in a multilingual focus group – a communication-based approach that fosters European citizenship. The exercise will gather and highlight the perspectives emerging from the discussion and use them to generate further insights. The workshop aims to promote informed European citizenship among young people by strengthening critical thinking and the ability to analyse contemporary social and political challenges, with particular attention to defending democratic values and encouraging active participation.

‘Universities,’ explain Professors Iris Jammernegg and Renata Kodilja, who coordinate the session at the University of Udine, ‘play a key role in promoting research and education that strengthen human rights, diversity and European citizenship. The Bovec Summer School is an opportunity to inspire awareness and active participation among students within the European community.’ 

The Bovec Summer School

This year, the summer school aims to critically examine the role of national narratives in shaping European identity, with a focus on the intersections between language, culture, memory and belonging. In an era marked by the increasing fragility of the European project, the programme offers a space for interdisciplinary and cross-cultural dialogue, exploring how public discourse and collective representations influence democratic cohesion, social inclusion and the safeguarding of fundamental rights.

Drawing on contributions from scholars across multiple disciplines, the programme addresses key issues such as the relationship between language and power, memory politics, the construction of otherness and the current resurgence of identity-driven narratives.

‘The geographical and cultural context of the Alpe-Adria region, historically characterised by linguistic diversity and a dense network of cross-border relations, provides particularly fertile ground for reflecting on the potential of the European project,’ notes Cristina Beretta, Professor at the University of Klagenfurt and Scientific Director of the Summer School.

‘In this respect, the example of Gorizia and Nova Gorica, united by a fruitful and collaborative relationship, epitomises this complexity and richness,’ adds Fiorenza Ninin, Project Manager of the initiative. ‘The Summer School is therefore not only an educational experience but also,’ Ninin stresses, ‘a critical laboratory where participating students can develop intellectual and civic tools to face the challenges of our time with greater awareness.’

A strategic architectural and functional redevelopment project is taking shape within San Giovanni Park, breathing new life into the F1 and F2 buildings. The University of Trieste is undertaking a major urban regeneration initiative, fully respecting the historical heritage of the former psychiatric hospital complex, with the aim of enhancing its cultural significance and giving it a renewed scientific purpose.

The works, awarded in 2021, began in 2022 following an initial structural revision made necessary by the severe state of deterioration of the buildings. Further design amendments became necessary over time, including after asbestos-containing materials were discovered and removed in parts of the buildings that had not been visible during the planning phase.

F1 and F2: between history and innovation 
Originally built in the early 20th century as pavilions of the former Provincial Psychiatric Hospital, the F1 and F2 buildings bear witness to a chapter in the healthcare history of Trieste. F1, known as the ‘Pavilion for Tranquil Men’, housed male patients in stable condition, while F2 served as the complex’s kitchens. After the closure of the psychiatric hospital and a long period of abandonment, these spaces were acquired by the University of Trieste to accommodate teaching, research and service activities in support of the academic community, while also returning to the city an important piece of Trieste’s 20th-century history.

F1: a space for research and innovation 
With a surface area of approximately 2,100 m², the F1 building will host advanced education activities, research and inter-institutional collaboration. The pavilion is currently awaiting connection to the fire prevention water supply system, as well as clearance from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Superintendency for Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for works on the external areas. Once these are obtained, the University will quickly move on to the interior fit-out and relocation of offices.

The work, now substantially complete, already showcases highlights such as the reconstruction of the canopy over the main entrance and the restoration of floral decorative motifs on the façade, which enhance its eclectic style.

Inside, there will be offices for teaching staff and innovative psychology laboratories, along with a spacious two-level study area incorporating the striking veranda overlooking the greenery of the park. The goal of this project is to create a stimulating environment for students and researchers, fostering interaction and engagement with the outside world.

F2: a centre for services and inclusion 
With an area of around 1,980 m², the F2 building is being repurposed mainly for teaching activities, communal spaces and initiatives aimed at the university community and beyond. The plans include a modern Great Hall and four large classrooms.

At this stage, work is underway in collaboration with Acegas to install the medium-voltage electrical substation. Here too, final clearance from the Superintendency is awaited to determine the colour scheme for the façade, the window frames and certain artistic details, such as the frieze under the roof ledge. Completion of the works is expected by spring 2026.

An investment in the future The total cost borne by the University of Trieste for these works exceeds €10 million, €7 million of which comes from the Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. Progress to date has been significantly influenced by the timelines required by the Superintendency, with the University acting promptly to comply with the body’s directives.

San Giovanni Park: a resource for the city and the University 
The redevelopment of buildings F1 and F2 marks an important step in the revitalisation of San Giovanni Park, which is being transformed into a hub of culture, research and wellbeing for the entire community. The University of Trieste is renewing a historical asset, preserving the memory of the past while looking to the future with interventions designed to meet the needs of accessibility, innovation and openness to the local area.

The next steps will involve the restoration of pavilion F3, for which full funding has already been approved, and the Gregoretti 2 building, for which the call for the final design phase will be published shortly.

These projects are part of a broader strategy to enhance the Park as a space of connection between the University, culture and the city, promoting staff wellbeing, social responsibility and the attractiveness of our university.

Last night, a packed Piazza Verdi hosted the University of Trieste's Graduation Day, held in the heart of the city for the first time ever. The academic ceremony celebrating 170 new PhD graduates from UniTS turned into a public event open to the public, featuring science outreach, music and other university proceedings. 

Included in the official Triestestate calendar, the evening also marked the last public event for Rector Roberto Di Lenarda, who chose to end his term alongside young researchers and fellow members of the public. 

‘We wanted to bring Graduation Day to the city centre,’ said Di Lenarda, ‘to once again emphasise the strong bond between the University and Trieste, which we have consolidated thanks to the University’s 100th Anniversary celebrations. I am both delighted and honoured to conclude my services to the academic community alongside the young people who represent the excellence of our education system and our fellow citizens, who are the ultimate beneficiaries of our research. I end my rectorship with the message that knowledge must be implemented, shared, communicated and, above all, sustained, because only by investing in the education of young people and research will we ensure a prosperous future for our country.’

The keynote speaker was Rosario Rizzuto, former rector of the University of Padua and now president of the National Centre for Gene Therapy and Drugs based on RNA Technology, one of the strategic infrastructures of the NRRP promoted by the Italian Ministry of University and Research. His speech, entitled ‘RNA and gene therapy: new technologies for personalised medicine’, offered a glimpse into the challenges and potential of the biotechnological revolution that is transforming contemporary medicine. At the heart of his reflection was the need to accelerate the transfer of scientific research results to clinical applications through the development of new platforms capable of generating innovative RNA-based drugs and gene therapy treatments. This perspective will require significant investment in research, interdisciplinary collaboration and industrial innovation to make personalised medicine increasingly advanced, sustainable and accessible.

The ceremony highlighted the international atmosphere and vitality of the University's doctoral programmes. The 170 new PhD graduates represent the highest number in the history of the University of Trieste, with an increase of 28% compared to the previous year. The students’ origins, spanning Europe, Asia, Africa and America, also include researchers from countries affected by serious international crises, testimony to the role of science as a resource for building spaces for dialogue and peace.

During Roberto Di Lenarda's term as rector, the University's PhD programmes have seen significant growth in scholarship numbers, total enrolments and the appeal of the programmes on offer. 'Between 2019 and 2024,' says Prof. Alessandro Baraldi, Deputy Rector for Scientific Research and Doctorates, 'the number of places available has increased from 138 to 185 (up by 34%), the total number of enrolments in doctoral programmes has grown from 348 to 549, an increase of 57.8%, while the number of candidates for admission tests has increased from 667 to 1,268, an increase of 90.5%.’

This growth has come alongside a strengthening of employment prospects. One year after graduation, 85% of UniTS PhD graduates are employed, with 26% in the private sector and 15% engaged in industrial innovation. And while 17% of graduates have started their careers abroad, 68.2% are currently contributing to the economic and social growth of Italy’s North-East.

Hosted by journalist Marinella Chirico, the evening went from institutional speeches – with greetings from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, the Municipality of Trieste and Fondazione CRTrieste – to educational proceedings and musical interludes with Ben & the Soul Sisters, composed of Joy Jenkins, Michela Grilli and Sara Roversi, accompanied on piano by Marco Ballaben. The event concluded with the traditional cap toss, a symbol of the end of one’s studies and obtaining a PhD degree.

Graduation Day was organised with the contribution of Fondazione CRTrieste and was part of the Triestestate summer festival, promoted by the Municipality of Trieste – Department of Culture and Tourism, with the collaboration of the Department of Education and Family Policies, the Department of Territorial Policies, PromoTurismoFVG and the Trieste Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Federico Rosei, Professor of Industrial Chemistry at the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Trieste, has been appointed Full Member of the Italian Academy of Engineering and Technology (ITATEC), an institution that brings together outstanding figures in the fields of engineering, technology and applied sciences.

Founded in 2022 with the support of the Lincean Academy and currently in the process of official recognition, the Italian Academy of Engineering and Technology aims to promote technical and scientific culture at both national and international level.

ITATEC currently has 122 members, including founding members, full members (appointed on the basis of outstanding scientific merit), junior members (researchers under 40) and councillors (from companies, organisations and institutions operating in relevant sectors). Among its key objectives are the exchange of knowledge between universities, research bodies and industry, the development of shared positions on strategic issues, the provision of advice to public and private decision-makers, and the representation of the Italian technical-scientific community at European level.

The Academy also aspires to serve as Italy’s official representative within the European Council of Applied Sciences, Technologies and Engineering (Euro-CASE), an organisation that brings together national academies from 23 European countries and provides high-level scientific and technological advice to European institutions, governments, businesses and organisations.

Professor Rosei adds his membership of ITATEC to a distinguished list of affiliations with international academies and scientific societies, including the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Materials Research Society, as well as honours awarded by the Canadian Association of Physicists, the American Vacuum Society and the International Conference on Nanoenergy and Nanosystems.

This morning saw the presentation of the progress of the restoration works on Villa Sevastopulo – also known as the "Castelletto di Monte Valerio" – located within the university grounds of the University of Trieste. The event was attended by Roberto Di Lenarda, Rector of the University of Trieste, and Massimo Paniccia, President of Fondazione CRTrieste. They were joined by Paco Ferrante, Director of Works.

The restoration, which began in 2023 and is scheduled for completion by spring 2026, involves the conservative rehabilitation of the building, the upgrading of facilities to current regulations, and the restoration of its decorative and historical features. The project goes beyond conservation, representing a significant opportunity to enhance the cultural and educational value of one of Trieste’s architectural treasures. Each element recovered, each fresco brought back to light, reopens a page of history to be shared with future generations.

Closed since 2010, Villa Sevastopulo’s restoration also strengthens the long-standing collaboration between the University and the Foundation, already active in scientific, medical and technological fields. This partnership once again demonstrates how institutional cooperation can generate cultural, social and educational value for the wider community.

The presentation also served as a reflection on the deep relationship between the Foundation and the University in view of the upcoming handover of leadership on 1st August from Roberto Di Lenarda (Rector since 2019) to Donata Vianelli, elected as the University’s first female Rector in May. Between 2019 and 2025, resources totalling €11,649,746.00 have been made available.

Fondazione CRTrieste remains strongly committed to supporting projects in the arts and cultural heritage sector, in the belief that preserving historical memory enriches the territory and strengthens its collective identity. It is within this framework that the Foundation has contributed €800,000 towards the restoration of Villa Sevastopulo, in addition to the building’s total project budget of €5,000,000.

Project Details: “Castelletto” Restoration

The full restoration plan includes structural rehabilitation, asbestos removal, installation of accessibility features, fire safety upgrades, and the integration of new service and technical systems.

The specific restoration works focus on the ground and first floors, targeting original ceilings, frescoed and painted walls, wood and mosaic flooring, and original stone slabs. Historical windows and external decorative finishes will also be carefully restored.

Villa Sevastopulo: A Historic Residence

Villa Sevastopulo was built in 1862 to designs by architect Feliciano Vittori. It is a prime example of the eclectic neo-Gothic style that flourished in late 19th-century Europe, especially among the emerging bourgeoisie seeking to express their status through architecture reminiscent of medieval nobility, yet equipped with the comforts of modern life.

Originally the private residence of industrialist and patriot Angelo Valerio, the villa spans five levels with a total floor area of approximately 550 square metres. Its asymmetrical layout features battlements, octagonal towers, turrets, buttresses, rounded arch windows and sharp corners – a dynamic, jagged composition with strong Lombard-Venetian Gothic influences.

The interiors are richly decorated. The main floor includes a frescoed salon featuring painted panoramic views of Trieste and Monte Valerio, reflecting the romantic taste for landscape and historical memory.

Acquired in 1962 by the University of Trieste, the villa subsequently housed the Biological Institutes of the Faculties of Science and Pharmacy.

Statements

“The restored Castelletto will be returned to our university in all its original splendour, highlighting both its history and its potential for future use,” said Rector Roberto Di Lenarda. “Thanks to the invaluable support of Fondazione CRTrieste – a testament to UniTS’s strong ties with the local area – the Piazzale Europa campus will once again host a true gem, one in which not only our university community, but the entire city, can take pride.”

“The Foundation is proud to contribute to the revival of a place so steeped in history and beauty,” commented Massimo Paniccia, President of Fondazione CRTrieste. “This is not merely a restoration, but an investment in knowledge, culture and the education of future generations. Our collaboration with the University of Trieste demonstrates how institutional synergy can generate meaningful value for the community.”

The Société Chimique de France has announced that Sabrina Pricl, Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Trieste, has been awarded the 2025 French-Italian “Stanislao Cannizzaro – Jacques Arnaudon Chemistry Lectureship Award”, in recognition of her scientific achievements in molecular biochemistry, at the interface between experimental and computational chemistry, and her strong ties with the French chemical community.

The prize is jointly awarded by the Société Chimique de France - a prestigious scientific institution founded in 1857 - and the Italian Chemical Society, as part of a bilateral agreement renewed last May in Paris. Its aim is to annually honor an outstanding Italian or French scientist who has distinguished themselves in the field of chemical research. The award is traditionally followed by a lecture tour in both France and Italy, with the winner serving as keynote speaker.

Sabrina Pricl is the scientific director of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology (MolBNL@UniTS) at the University of Trieste, where she leads interdisciplinary research projects in nanomedicine funded by national and international public and private institutions. Her work focuses on integrating experimental techniques and supercomputing to study protein–protein interactions in cancer therapies, and on developing advanced nanosystems for targeted delivery of drugs, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Author of over 200 peer-reviewed scientific publications and an active promoter of technology transfer and science outreach, Professor Pricl was awarded the title of Eminent Scientist by the University of Łódź (Poland) in 2020.

The official award ceremony will take place in June 2026 during the national congress of the Société Chimique de France in Bordeaux.

The seventh edition of the SuMoth Challenge has recently come to a close on the waters of Lake Garda. Hosted by the Fraglia Vela Malcesine, the international competition brought together the world’s top university teams in the fields of naval engineering, design and sustainable development of next-generation foiling boats.

Taking centre stage this year was the Audace Sailing Team from the University of Trieste, competing with two boats: the new prototype BAI – Flax Bandit, helmed by Leonardo Centuori, and the updated BAI – Flying Lina, sailed by Zeno Tarlao. Both are the result of intensive work over the past year, with the design phase starting in October 2024 and construction beginning in February.

On the water, the UniTS team stood out for its exceptional performance, winning every race and receiving the award for the most high-performing boat in the competition. In the overall rankings, the Audace Sailing Team secured second place, finishing just behind the team from Politecnico di Milano, whose prototype featured more refined finishes but was less advanced from a fluid dynamics perspective.

This result is a major motivational boost for the entire team, who now look ahead confidently to the development of their next vessel. The BAI – Flax Bandit project will be retained as the foundation for future work, with a focus on improving construction techniques and optimising key design elements, particularly the hull structure and foil profile.

Confirming the team’s technical excellence, the project received extremely positive feedback from leading companies in the nautical sector, who praised both the engineering quality and the originality of the design solutions. This recognition further strengthens the team’s resolve to continue developing with enthusiasm in the next phase of the project.

From 7th to 11th July, the University of Trieste will become an international hub of ideas, languages and cultures. For the first time, the University will host two initiatives promoted as part of the Transform4Europe (T4EU) University Alliance: the First Festival of European Culture and Languages – Tourism and Heritage from the Border and the First T4EU Sustainable Heritage Student Competition.

Two distinct yet complementary events, both centred around sustainable tourism, cultural heritage and environmental memory. The week will bring together students from all the T4EU partner universities for a programme of workshops, urban explorations, seminars and collaborative projects.

The Festival – conceived as a Blended Intensive Programme – offers a critical and participatory exploration of cultural tourism in border regions, through dynamic lectures, performances, workshops and unconventional itineraries that rediscover the city and its many historical and linguistic layers.

The Competition, organised in collaboration with the stakeholder GLAM “Museo della Bora” and the Innovators Community Lab, focuses on the relationship between cultural heritage, the environment and generational awareness. Participants will work in teams to design new visions of environmental heritage, fostering dialogue between local experience and global challenges.

A truly European week that also includes five events open to the public, held in English and free of charge, where the city becomes a classroom, a space for exchange and a bridge between disciplines, experiences and generations. An invitation to look with new eyes at what surrounds us – both within and beyond borders.

📎 Full Festival Programme 
📎 Full Competition Programme

The eleventh edition of the Summer Learning Modules, the orientation initiative promoted by the University of Trieste for students in their third and fourth year of high school, officially opened today.

Topics explored in this first session’s 17 modules range from mental health to the design of human-centred spaces, from analysing the world through a gender lens to uncovering engineering transformations, from the mysteries of matrix calculus to biomedical analysis, and from global economic forecasts to the shaping of biographical and autobiographical narratives.

The Summer Learning Modules offer high school students an immersive experience of academic life, helping them explore their interests and make a more informed choice about their future university studies. Participation may also be recognised as PCTO (transversal skills and orientation activities) by students’ home schools.

Following last year’s success, the initiative has once again attracted a large number of students, with 700 taking part, and continues to attract students from beyond the regional borders. Participants come not only from Friuli Venezia Giulia but also from Veneto (Treviso, Venice, Belluno), Lombardy (Milan, Bergamo), Emilia-Romagna (Bologna), Tuscany (Florence, Grosseto), and from further afield, such as Puglia (Bari) and Calabria (Cosenza, Crotone, Reggio Calabria). There are also a number of international attendees.

The Summer Learning Modules will continue throughout the week. A second session is scheduled for September, before the start of the school year.

As part of UniTS’s summer orientation programme, prospective students can also take part in guided tours of Piazzale Europa Campus led by student tutors. These tours offer a valuable opportunity to gather information and explore the university's setting, spaces and facilities. To take part in a guided tour, booking in advance is required.