Backed by a PR FESR FVG research and development grant of nearly one million euros, the WINDS, Wing-Implemented Navigation for Decarbonized Shipping project has officially commenced, with the University of Trieste among its key participants.

What is the project about?

WINDS aims to design and implement an innovative system that integrates wind power into maritime propulsion, reducing fuel consumption and lowering pollutant emissions in the shipping industry.

The mareFVG cluster will lead project management and oversee the dissemination of results.

The role of UniTS

The University will conduct a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the vessel involved in the project, following the ISO 14040 standard. LCA is a methodology used to assess the environmental impact of a product, process, or service throughout its entire life cycle.

With UniTS’s contribution, the project will:

• Optimise material selection and production phases wherever possible, reducing the system’s overall impact through a circular ecodesign approach.
• Demonstrate that the developed system complies with international regulations and sustainability targets for the decarbonisation of the maritime sector.
• Identify inefficiencies within the life cycle to lower operational costs and environmental impact, making the system even more attractive to industry operators.
• Lay the groundwork for future development of the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) at the European level, alongside industry-specific certifications and Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) – a third-party certification that allows for direct comparison of the environmental impact of similar products. In this case, the Wing Sail Module will be assessed against competing systems.

Finally, as one of the first LCA studies in the maritime sector, and certainly the first focused on wind propulsion technologies for decarbonisation, the research carried out by UniTS is expected to have far-reaching benefits for the entire industry.

Improving disaster response capacity to environmental disasters and climate change through cooperation between local authorities and rescue teams: this is the goal of the IN4SAFETY project, funded by the European Union under the Interreg Italy-Slovenia Program. The initiative, led by the Municipality of Ajdovščina (Slovenia) and supported by a budget of nearly 750,000 euros, will conclude on September 30, 2025, involving a broad cross-border partnership.

Project partners include the University of Trieste, with the Department of Engineering and Architecture, the Geodetic Institute of Slovenia, the Metropolitan City of Venice, the International Institute of Sociology in Gorizia, and the Firefighters of Nova Gorica. Associated partners include the Association of Slovenian Firefighters, the Health Center of Ajdovščina, the Municipality of Nova Gorica, the Civil Protection of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, the Municipality of Gorizia, and the Municipality of Duino Aurisina.

The project addresses the need for more coordinated action in managing climate and environmental emergencies in the cross-border area, particularly highlighted by the wildfires that affected the Carso in 2022. Through two joint action plans, the integration of territorial data into WebGIS geoportals, and joint training sessions for rescue units, IN4SAFETY aims to improve prevention and risk management at the regional level.

Among the most innovative solutions foreseen by the project is the creation of an emergency plan for aerial rescue, which integrates digital data on terrain and obstacles with existing WebGIS territorial platforms. The goal is to ensure faster and more efficient interventions in the event of natural disasters.

On January 30, a workshop for the IN4SAFETY project was held at the University of Trieste, bringing together project partners to present objectives and ongoing activities. After an introductory session, attended by the Italian Consul General in Koper, the afternoon featured a practical session dedicated to using QGIS software and analyzing Sentinel satellite images from the ESA COPERNICUS Project. Participants were able to deepen their knowledge of territorial monitoring techniques, thematic map creation, and emergency management using advanced digital tools.

UniTS continues to invest in the well-being of its student community by creating environments that better meet learning and study needs. A major refurbishment has just been completed in several classrooms in the H3 and H2bis buildings, making them more modern, accessible, and comfortable. This was achieved without disrupting teaching activities, thanks to careful planning of the work during break periods.

The renovations focused particularly on classrooms 1A and 1B, each with a capacity of 250 seats, which are used by first- and second-year Medicine and Dentistry students. These spaces have been partially refurbished and upgraded with new technology. Classroom 1C, which accommodates 81 students, has also undergone improvements.

To enhance accessibility and convenience, the electrical system has been restored to ensure the proper functioning of power sockets along the seating bars, allowing students to use their electronic devices easily during lectures.

At the same time, the refurbishment has had positive effects on other classrooms as well: the reuse of desks in excellent condition has improved the Morin classroom and classrooms 4A and 4B in the H2bis building. As a result, the capacity of the Morin classroom has increased from 144 to 177 seats, adding approximately 30 extra places.

The Open Innovation Day of the iNEST Consortium took place at the University of Padua, with the participation of the University of Trieste, leader of Spoke 8, featuring an address by Rector Roberto Di Lenarda and the presence of board members Maria Cristina Pedicchio and Pierluigi Barbieri from the Scientific Council.

The event held fundamental strategic importance, strengthening the ties between businesses and the nine universities and research institutes participating in the Consortium.

Among the most significant moments was the awarding of 40 companies from the Triveneto area  that excelled in their capacity to innovate processes and products. The central aim was to nurture the local innovation ecosystem by learning from business experiences and fostering the development of impactful projects in line with the Open Innovation paradigm.

Open Innovation is a model that encourages collaboration among businesses, universities, and other institutions, transcending traditional corporate boundaries to promote the exchange of knowledge and ideas. This paradigm represents an extraordinary opportunity to accelerate technology transfer and generate value for companies in Northeast Italy.

iNEST aims to build a strong bridge between academia and industry, pooling expertise and resources to tackle future challenges.

A research group from the University of Trieste has been actively participating in the Steering Committee Meeting of the Innovablue research project in Portorož, Slovenia. The Department of Economic, Business, Mathematical, and Statistical Sciences (DEAMS) is a partner in this initiative.

The Innovablue project, funded by the Interreg VI-B IPA Adriatic Ionian (ADRION) program, aims to support the development of the blue economy in the Adriatic-Ionian area by promoting innovative marine technologies and fostering a transnational collaboration network.

With a planned duration from July 2024 to December 2026 and a total budget of over €1.7 million, the project focuses on strengthening innovation capabilities through cooperation among key industry players.

DEAMS is actively involved in Work Package 1 – Innovation in the Blue Economy – and Work Package 2 – Regulatory Frameworks for Innovation. The department is currently working on updating the Map of Excellence from the Innovamare project and expanding it to include centers of excellence in the ADRION region. This involves integrating new blue economy stakeholders and testing sites for marine technologies such as underwater robotics and sensors.

The research team, comprising Guido Bortoluzzi (DEAMS), Alberto Dreassi (DEAMS), Rubina Romanello (DEAMS), Chiara Marinelli (DEAMS), Alberto Marinò (DIA), Vittorio Bucci (DIA), and Serena Bertagna (DIA), also provides support for the comparative analysis of existing regional and national regulations on blue technologies. Their goal is to identify regulatory obstacles and propose solutions to accelerate development and experimentation.

"After excellence projects like Innovamare and Blueair," comments Guido Bortoluzzi, professor of Business Economics and Management and coordinator of the Trieste working group, "UniTS is once again engaged in an international project on the blue economy. This highlights the role of our research in contributing to regional sustainable development and strengthens our relationships with key partners in the Balkan area."

The partnership network includes major institutions from the Adriatic-Ionian region, which spans 10 countries (only four of which are part of the European Union). Key partners include the Croatian Chamber of Economy, the Innovation Fund of Montenegro, Unioncamere Veneto, Technology Park Ljubljana Ltd., Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje (Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies), the Region of Crete, and the Innovation Center of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Belgrade.

During the meeting in Portorož, the partners engaged with the Faculty of Maritime and Transport at the University of Ljubljana and the Marine Biology Station in Piran to explore new research synergies. Additionally, discussions with project stakeholders took place to identify common priorities and initiatives.

PICOSATS - Space Technologies Solutions, the startup created as a spin-off from the University of Trieste and specialised in the design and production of small, state-of-the-art satellite telecommunications systems, has won the first edition of the Innovative SME Award.

The prize is awarded by InnovUp – the association that has represented and united the Italian innovation sector since 2012 – in collaboration with InValue, with the aim of valorising small and medium-sized Italian companies that stand out for their capacity for innovation, technological impact and contribution to the country's economic and social progress.

Selected by Polo Tecnologico Alto Adriatico ‘Andrea Galvani’ as the winner of the regional level for Friuli Venezia Giulia, PICOSATS went on to win the title of Innovative SME of the Year in the national competition.

The company, based at the Area Science Park in Padriciano, develops proprietary transponders and antennas - RADIOSAT and BEAMSAT - providing services for space applications dedicated to small satellites. The business is based on strategic partnerships with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI).

In November 2023, PICOSATS' technology was integrated on board D-Orbit's ION satellite carrier in SpaceX's Transponder-9 mission, with a very successful in-orbit validation.

PICOSATS outperformed the competition of four other SME finalists, selected by several Italian technology parks. Aortic Lab, a candidate from Piedmont and supported by the Bioindustry Park with Environment Park, Sigma Ingegneria, representing Tuscany and selected by the Polo Tecnologico di Navacchio, Optoelettronica Italia, a company from the province of Trento recommended by Trentino Sviluppo, and Faba, a company from Veneto.

‘The InnovUp award is a great honour for us, especially because of the stature of the other finalists, innovative SMEs that do exceptional work,’ commented Anna Gregorio, professor of Astrophysics at the University of Trieste, founder and president of PICOSATS.

‘The most important aspect of PICOSATS,’ continued the lecturer from the Physics Department at UniTS, ‘is the team! Working with very young boys and girls is each day more enjoyable and stimulating. Added to this, of course, is the technology, which to be at the cutting edge in the space sector is extremely expensive.’

During the award ceremony, Anna Gregorio also mentioned the role of the investment funds - Liftt, Progress Tech Transfer and Galaxia - and all the partners. She concluded by thanking the University of Trieste - where the PICOSATS story began ten years ago - Area Science Park and Polo Tecnologico Alto Adriatico, emphasising the importance of science and technology parks as places of innovation.
 

Friuli Venezia Giulia maintains the positive trend of post-pandemic recovery as regards the flow of foreign researchers and lecturers from institutions and incoming ones: this is what emerges from the annual survey ‘Mobility of Knowledge’ carried out by Area Science Park, which has been collecting the main data on students, researchers and lecturers of SiS FVG partner research institutions since 2005.

The survey reveals that there were a total of 36,925 students enrolled in the academic year 2022/2023, 7% of whom were foreign nationals (in the academic year 2021/2022, there were 36,459 students enrolled, of whom 6% were foreigners). Female students account for 56% of those enrolled (a 1% increase over the last survey) and mainly attend degree courses in the Humanities or Social Sciences.

The number of incoming students, 707 in total, is finally approaching pre-pandemic figures. Of this target group, 75% have European citizenship, 53% are women and 47% belong to the areas of Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Engineering, Earth and Universe Sciences. On the other hand, there are 1,104 students enrolled in outgoing mobility: EU countries are the destination of 93% of this target group, 53% of whom are students enrolled on courses in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

As far as researchers and lecturers working in scientific institutions that are part of the Scientific and Innovation System - SiS FVG are concerned, in 2023 their presence reached 3,641. Although up by about 280 compared to 2022, the overall number nevertheless remains far from the numbers recorded before the pandemic (they were 6,960 in 2019). As for the foreign component in force at SiS FVG institutions, 2023 saw the largest increase in the last four years, rising from 636 to 804, although the numbers still remain far from pre-pandemic levels.

In contrast, incoming mobility of researchers and lecturers increased by almost 4,000 to 7,854. Outgoing mobility also saw an increase in 2023, with 75 trips abroad, mainly to EU European countries (43%) but also to Asian countries (20%, excluding India and China).

Adding up all the foreigners present in the institutions of the FVG Science and Innovation System, there is a further strong increase compared to the previous year, from 7,597 to 11,934 presences, a figure that is close to that recorded before the pandemic (about 14,000).

See the complete survey, available in Italian and English. https://www.areasciencepark.it/pubblicato-il-report-mobilita-della-conoscenza-2024/

As of January, the University of Trieste's Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety has officially joined the European network CONRIS (Cooperation Network for Risk, Safety and Security Studies).

This marks the first time an Italian institution has achieved full membership in the international network.

After two years in the role of provisional partner, this membership recognises the degree programme’s quality. The programme is oriented towards health protection, environmental and food safety and public health.

CONRIS brings together university courses that focus on risk management and assessment. Through collaborations between European universities, it promotes scientific research and the exchange of expertise in the field of health and safety. Enrolling in the Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety offers UniTS students new opportunities for academic and professional growth, including participation in Erasmus programmes and events of international relevance.

‘Joining the CONRIS network and participating in Erasmus programmes,’ comments Prof. Francesca Larese Filon, coordinator of the degree course, ‘will guarantee our students the opportunity to enrich their education with high-level international experiences. By attending international schools, students will be able to confront different approaches and methodologies in the management of occupational safety and prevention, thus broadening their skills and professional perspectives.'

CONRIS promotes scientific events such as the European Students Research Conference for Risk Safety Security (ESRC), an international conference where young researchers from all over Europe can present their studies on topics related to risk, safety and security.

In 2024, the ESRC recognised the excellence of the research conducted by Ambra Lorenzini and Elia Buttolo, two students from the degree course who focused on risk assessment related to exposure to nanomaterials in laboratories.

The Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety, offered by the Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences (DSM), has been taught for three years at the UniTS Gorizia Campus, where lectures and workshops are held to prepare professionals in the fields of prevention and risk assessment.

This degree course, divided into theoretical and practical lessons, laboratories and internships, ensures the development of cross-disciplinary and specific skills. These skills are essential for conducting prevention, verification and monitoring activities in the field of hygiene and environmental safety in residential and workplace environments, food and beverage hygiene, public and veterinary hygiene and health, in the various public and private, health and biomedical roles and professional fields.

A study carried out by the University of Trieste in collaboration with Yale University, published by Nature Npj Digital Medicine, has entered the top ten of the most cited articles in 2024 in the prestigious scientific journal, coming eighth in the ranking drawn up by the publisher.

The article entitled ‘Optimization of hepatological clinical guidelines interpretation by large language models: a retrieval augmented generation-based framework’ saw the contribution of an interdisciplinary UniTS research team, consisting of Simone Kresevic, PhD student in Biomedical and Clinical Engineering, Miloš Ajčević and Agostino Accardo from the Department of Engineering and Architecture, and Lory Saveria Crocè, gastroenterologist from the Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences.

The study benefited from the collaboration between the group of researchers from the University of Trieste and the Yale School of Medicine, in particular the Human+Artificial Intelligence in Medicine centre in New Heaven (Connecticut, USA), with contributions from Dennis L. Shung, director of the research laboratory, and Mauro Giuffrè, co-authors of the paper.

The researchers explored the use of generative AI systems capable of understanding and generating human language by processing large amounts of data, Large Language Models (LLM), to optimise clinical decision support in the field of medicine.

In this study, a digital infrastructure (framework) based on LLM was therefore developed which, through the correct formatting of clinical guidelines, could improve their consultation and application in clinical practice.

The research focuses, in particular, on the integration of these Artificial Intelligence models to improve the interpretation of medical guidelines relating to the management of chronic infections caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).

This system, using Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) techniques, a method of extracting relevant information from clinical guidelines, reprocessing it using LLM and, through the generative process, providing answers to guideline-related questions in a clear and accurately structured manner.

The research activity now continues to expand the functioning of the framework on different liver diseases. This strand of research could offer a system capable of supporting physicians with decisions based on the best available scientific evidence.

‘With this approach,’ explains Dr Simone Kresevic, first author of the article together with Mauro Giuffrè, ‘we are laying the foundation for using artificial intelligence in everyday clinical practice. Evidence-based medicine, a fundamental pillar of modern medicine, aims to integrate the best available scientific evidence with clinical experience and patients' needs. However, the complexity and volume of clinical guidelines often represent a significant barrier in their application.'

'Through this framework,' Kresevic concludes, ‘we can offer a tool to support the clinician and thus support evidence-based and personalised medicine, bridging the gap between high-quality research and practical healthcare, especially in complex areas such as hepatology.’