The University of Trieste played a leading role in the success of iNEST – Interconnected Nord-Est Innovation Ecosystem, one of the major Innovation Ecosystems funded under Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), which has now concluded having fully achieved all of its project objectives. The final report by the independent scientific reviewers confirms the successful completion of all planned activities, recognizing the initiative's significant scientific, economic, and societal impact.

The University of Trieste played a key role in Spoke 8, dedicated to maritime, marine, and inland water technologies, developed in collaboration with the Alto Adriatico Technology Hub, the Eastern Adriatic Sea Port Authority, OGS - Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale, and the Universities of Padua, Trento, Ca' Foscari Venice, and IUAV University of Venice.

The project addressed some of the most pressing challenges related to environmental sustainability and climate resilience in the Upper Adriatic region, leveraging the area's extensive scientific expertise while promoting knowledge transfer to industry.

Spoke 8 focused on five strategic research areas: marine ecosystem biology; the management of physical and chemical hazards and their impact on the hydrosphere; sustainable coastal transport; integrated land-sea planning; and the development of the Upper Adriatic Digital Twin. By integrating environmental data, predictive models, artificial intelligence algorithms, and advanced visualization systems, the project developed innovative decision-support tools with significant benefits for the sustainable management of coastal areas.

Alongside its research activities, the project placed strong emphasis on technology transfer. In this context, it developed a digital platform designed to connect researchers, businesses, and investors, as well as a scientific and technological information service aimed at disseminating funding opportunities, research results, and best practices across the ecosystem.

A central hub for these activities was the Lab Village, hosted at the Urban Center in Trieste. Conceived as a meeting place for researchers, companies, startups, and public institutions, it was established to accelerate innovation processes and foster new collaborations.

More broadly, iNEST's achievements highlight both the scale and the effectiveness of the initiative. Over nearly four years of activity, the ecosystem produced 977 scientific publications, involved 517 researchers, supported 99 projects dedicated to early-career researchers, and, through 35 cascade funding calls, financed more than 200 projects carried out by companies, SMEs, public bodies, and regional administrations.

Roberto Di Lenarda, former Rector of the University of Trieste and current President of the Permanent Conference of Medical Academic Boards, has been awarded Honorary Membership in the National Carabinieri Association.

The certificate was presented by Colonel Gianluca Migliozzi, Provincial Commander of the Carabinieri in Trieste, during a ceremony held at the Provincial Command Headquarters. The honour recognizes Professor Di Lenarda's longstanding support for and collaboration with the Carabinieri and the initiatives promoted by the National Carabinieri Association, reflecting a strong and enduring institutional partnership.

Mapping groundwater aquifers located more than 400 metres beneath the seabed in the coastal area between Jesolo and Lignano. This was the objective of the recently completed oceanographic expedition carried out under the RESCUE project aboard the Laura Bassi research vessel of the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS).

Coordinated by the University of Trieste, with OGS as a project partner, RESCUE aims to strengthen water security through research and innovation by identifying freshwater resources in unexplored coastal and offshore aquifers. Building on recent scientific discoveries, the project is mapping deep, low-salinity aquifers—located at depths exceeding 400 metres—both on land and beneath the seabed. At a time when freshwater resources in coastal regions are increasingly threatened by population growth, pollution and climate change, these aquifers could help supplement water supplies for drinking, agriculture and industry, while also reducing the costs associated with seawater desalination.

Researchers and students from OGS, the University of Trieste, the University of Pisa, CNR-ISMAR (Institute of Marine Sciences of the Italian National Research Council) in Bologna, the University of Malta, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI, California, USA) took part in the expedition aboard the Laura Bassi.

During the campaign, researchers carried out seismic reflection surveys to obtain high-resolution images of the subsurface beneath the seabed, together with seafloor mapping. In addition, electromagnetic surveys were conducted for the first time in the area to detect the possible presence of freshwater aquifers beneath the seabed. The investigations, which did not involve any seabed sampling, covered an area approximately 10 kilometres offshore, extending from Jesolo, in the Province of Venice, to the Tagliamento Delta off the coast of Lignano.

"The surveys were carried out under excellent environmental conditions, and all operations proceeded according to plan. The data collected are of very high quality, but several months of laboratory processing and analysis will be required before we can confirm the presence of freshwater aquifers beneath the northern Adriatic seabed," said Cristina Corradin, OGS researcher and scientific coordinator of the expedition.

"The operations required the integration of several geophysical techniques and close collaboration among the different research teams, the technical and scientific staff, and the ship's crew," explained Daniela Accettella of OGS, chief scientist aboard the Laura Bassi.

"After two years of scientific work, the RESCUE team has successfully applied innovative integrated geophysical methods for investigating deep offshore aquifers in one of the most promising study areas: the seabed of the northern Adriatic, particularly off the coast of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The new data will improve our understanding of regional groundwater resources and contribute to addressing water shortages linked to climate change and extreme events, such as the heatwave and drought currently affecting Europe," said Professor Michele Pipan of the University of Trieste, coordinator of the RESCUE project.

This oceanographic expedition has also laid the groundwork for a second research initiative funded by the European intergovernmental association JPI Oceans. Launched through a joint initiative by Malta and Italy, the new project will seek to confirm the presence of freshwater beneath the northern Adriatic seabed by drilling an offshore scientific borehole—the first of its kind in Europe. The project is coordinated by the University of Malta and involves OGS, the University of Trieste, the Alto Adriatico Technology Hub, as well as research institutions from Germany and Greece. It is funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) and the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia.

RESCUE – Resources in Coastal Groundwater Under Hydroclimatic Extremes is a project co-funded by the Water4All Partnership and the European Union. It addresses water scarcity in coastal regions by investigating deep groundwater resources located both onshore and beneath the seabed. The project focuses on mapping these resources, assessing their long-term sustainability, and developing policy recommendations for their sustainable use.

The project is coordinated by the University of Trieste, with OGS as a partner. Other partners include the University of Derby (United Kingdom), Ruden AS (Norway), and the University of Malta.

Il professor Roberto Scarciglia, già ordinario di Diritto pubblico comparato, è stato nominato Professore Onorario dell'Università di Trieste.

Il prestigioso riconoscimento, conferito a docenti che si sono distinti per l'eccellenza dell'attività scientifica e accademica, assume un significato particolare per l'Ateneo: Scarciglia è infatti il primo docente del Dipartimento di Scienze Politiche e Sociali (DiSPeS) a esserne insignito.

La sua carriera all'Università di Trieste è iniziata nel 1996 come ricercatore ed è proseguita fino al ruolo di professore ordinario, ricoperto dal 2001 al 2021. Nel corso di oltre venticinque anni di attività ha contribuito in maniera significativa allo sviluppo del diritto pubblico comparato e alla crescita del Dipartimento, assumendo importanti responsabilità accademiche, tra cui quelle di Preside della Facoltà di Scienze Politiche, Direttore del Dipartimento di Scienze Politiche e, successivamente, del Dipartimento di Scienze Politiche e Sociali.

Studioso di riconosciuta autorevolezza nel panorama del diritto comparato, è Associate Member dell'International Academy of Comparative Law di Parigi e membro di numerose associazioni scientifiche nazionali e internazionali. Ha coordinato progetti di ricerca italiani ed europei, promosso collaborazioni accademiche con numerosi atenei stranieri e svolto attività di insegnamento e ricerca come visiting professor in prestigiose università europee, tra cui Cambridge, Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Barcellona e Francoforte.

La sua attività scientifica, testimoniata da un'ampia produzione di monografie, volumi e saggi pubblicati anche da editori internazionali, ha contribuito allo sviluppo degli studi sul diritto pubblico comparato, sulla metodologia della comparazione giuridica, sul pluralismo giuridico e, negli ultimi anni, sulle implicazioni dell'intelligenza artificiale e delle nuove tecnologie per gli ordinamenti pubblici.

A research team involving the European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), the CNR National Institute of Optics in Sesto Fiorentino, and the Universities of Florence, Trieste and Trento has developed an innovative technique based on the propagation of sound waves to study matter under extreme conditions. The results have been published in Nature Physics.

The researchers developed an innovative technique to investigate the behaviour of quantum matter by exploiting a familiar phenomenon: the Doppler effect. When an ambulance passes us, its siren sounds higher-pitched as it approaches and lower-pitched as it moves away.

“In the same way, sound travelling through a rotating superfluid changes depending on whether it moves in the same direction as the superfluid or in the opposite direction. By detecting these minute variations, the team was able to reveal the internal structure of superfluid Fermi gases, systems made up of atoms cooled to temperatures close to absolute zero. Under these conditions, Fermi particles pair up, giving rise to superfluidity, a state of matter in which friction disappears,” explain Marcia Fròmeta Fernandez and Diego Hernandez-Rajkov, CNR-INO researchers and lead authors of the study.

“We created a ring-shaped Fermi superfluid in which sound waves travel simultaneously in opposite directions. When the superfluid is set in rotation, the two sound waves are affected differently by the flow and accumulate a tiny difference in frequency: the Doppler effect.”

By measuring this effect with extreme precision, “we demonstrated that the circulation of the superfluid around the ring cannot take arbitrary values, but only quantised, or discrete, values, determined by the ratio between Planck’s constant and the mass of the particles. In this case, these values are half those expected for individual particles,” explains Francesco Scazza, Professor of Condensed Matter Physics at the University of Trieste.

“Our observation shows that the superfluid consists of fermions that pair up, forming composite quantum units with twice the mass, known as Cooper pairs, similarly to what occurs in superconductors. The result confirms that, even in these ultracold gaseous systems, superfluidity originates from the formation of fermion pairs,” concludes Giacomo Roati, Research Director at CNR-INO and head of the experimental group.

The study confirms the potential of atom interferometry, a technique that exploits the wave-like properties of atoms to perform extremely precise measurements. In this study, the technique was implemented using sound waves in the superfluid, proving to be an effective tool for investigating strongly correlated quantum systems.

One of the first results obtained was the observation that superfluidity progressively decreases as temperature rises. The work opens up a new avenue for studying the collective behaviour of particles and gaining a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying superfluidity and superconductivity, as well as other still-mysterious dynamics of quantum matter that are of fundamental importance for modern quantum technologies,” conclude Massimo Inguscio of LENS and Sandro Stringari of the Pitaevskii BEC Center at the University of Trento.

Their contributions to the development of atomic physics and their scientific collaboration laid the foundations for the work carried out at the LENS laboratory. The study comes in the year marking the centenary of the statistics formulated by Enrico Fermi in 1926 on the Arcetri hills, at the University of Florence, to describe the behaviour of particles such as electrons, protons and neutrons.

The University of Trieste has confirmed its position among Italy’s most competitive universities. According to the new Censis Ranking of Italian Universities, UniTS ranks fourth among medium-sized state universities, with between 10,000 and 20,000 enrolled students. The result recognises the overall quality of the University’s academic offering and services.

The ranking is based on six indicators: scholarships, communication and digital services, internationalisation, student services, facilities and graduate employability.

More specifically, UniTS ranks second for communication and digital services, jointly with the University of Sassari and with an increase of 13 points compared with the previous edition. It ranks fifth for student services, together with Sassari and Udine, and for graduate employability, jointly with Bergamo; sixth for facilities; and seventh for scholarships, up seven points, and for internationalisation, which gained two points.

“Almost all the indicators have improved compared with the previous edition,” said Rector Donata Vianelli. “We have made particularly strong progress in scholarships and communication, while also achieving an excellent fifth place nationally for student services and employability. According to the latest AlmaLaurea Report, 86.5% of our graduates from two-year and single-cycle Master’s degree programmes are employed one year after graduation, almost six percentage points above the national average. This result recognises the quality of our education and the work carried out to build increasingly effective links with the local community and the business sector.”

The degree programme rankings, based on students’ academic progress and international relations, also highlight consistently strong performance across a range of disciplinary areas.

Among Bachelor’s degree programmes, the University of Trieste ranks first nationally among state universities in the language group, which includes the degree classes in Modern Languages and Cultures and Language Mediation, and second in Computer Science and ICT Technologies. UniTS also achieved strong results in the scientific group, where it ranks fourth, and in the political, social and communication group, where it ranks fifth. The economics group, in seventh place, psychology, in eighth, and literature and humanities, in tenth, also rank among the national top ten.

Among two-year Master’s degree programmes, the education and training group entered the national top ten with a score of 92.5. In the rankings for single-cycle Master’s degree programmes, UniTS ranks third in Pharmacy and Industrial Pharmacy, while Law and Medicine and Surgery both place among the national top ten.

Now in its twenty-sixth edition, the Censis Ranking of Italian Universities is based on more than 960 variables and includes 70 separate rankings. The overall assessment divides universities into comparable categories according to size, while the degree programme rankings compare the different groupings of degree classes at national level.

Maria Carolina Foi, Full Professor of German Literature at the Department of Humanities of the University of Trieste, has been elected a member of the Deutsche Akademie für Sprache und Dichtung (German Academy for Language and Literature).

Founded in 1949 and based in Darmstadt, the Academy brings together writers, scholars, and intellectuals who have made outstanding contributions to German-language culture. Its membership also includes jurists and scientists distinguished by their literary sensitivity. Among its members have been figures such as Hannah Arendt, Jürgen Habermas, Ingeborg Bachmann, and Elias Canetti. The Academy also awards the Georg Büchner Prize, the most prestigious lifetime literary award for authors writing in German.

After beginning her academic studies in Law at the University of Padua, Maria Carolina Foi graduated in German Literature from the University of Trieste under the supervision of Claudio Magris.

She subsequently received prestigious research fellowships from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Austrian Federal Ministry for Arts and Culture, and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. She also served as an External Senior Fellow at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies. Since 2008, she has been Full Professor of German Literature at the University of Trieste. Her main research interests include the relationship between literature and law, Viennese Modernism, and Italian-German cultural transfer. She has translated and edited Italian editions of classics by authors including Heinrich Heine and Friedrich Schiller.

From 2020 to 2024, she served as Distinguished Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Berlin, appointed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. In 2025, she joined the jury of the Deutscher Buchpreis, Germany's most prestigious annual award for the best German-language novel.

Her election to the Deutsche Akademie für Sprache und Dichtung confirms Professor Foi's international standing and represents a source of particular pride for the University of Trieste, whose excellence in research has been recognised by one of Europe's most prestigious cultural institutions.

The University of Trieste was represented by Stefano Parolai, Director of the Department of Mathematics and Geosciences, at the meeting "Seismic Risk Prevention in Italy", held at the Italian Senate.

During the event, which brought together institutional representatives, experts, and members of the National Civil Protection System, Professor Parolai presented the contribution of the scientific community to the Italian National Civil Protection Service. He highlighted the essential role of research in advancing the understanding of seismic phenomena, assessing seismic risk, and supporting decision-making to protect communities.

Professor Parolai's participation reflects his role as Deputy Representative for the Seismic Risk Sector of the National Commission for the Forecast and Prevention of Major Risks, the technical and scientific advisory body to the Italian Civil Protection Department. The Commission brings together leading experts from universities and research institutions and provides scientific assessments of the country's major natural and human-induced risks, supporting activities related to forecasting, prevention, and emergency management.

Professor Parolai's appointment to this Commission is an important recognition of the expertise developed at the University of Trieste in the fields of geosciences and seismology. The involvement of a UniTS faculty member in a strategic national advisory body underscores the valuable contribution that university research can make to public institutions in shaping effective policies for risk reduction and the safety of communities.

Which mammals live within the municipal territory of Trieste? Where are they concentrated? How numerous are they? For the first time, these questions can now be answered thanks to research coordinated by Alessio Mortelliti, Professor of Ecology at the Department of Life Sciences of the University of Trieste.

The study represents the first systematic survey ever conducted in the Municipality of Trieste on the presence, distribution and abundance of medium- and large-sized mammals. It fills a significant gap in knowledge about the city’s natural heritage and provides essential data for biodiversity conservation and land-use planning.

The research was carried out between November 2025 and February 2026 using a fully non-invasive methodology based on camera trapping. A total of 156 camera traps were installed across 78 monitoring sites distributed throughout the Municipality’s natural and peri-urban habitats, amounting to more than 2,300 observation nights. The cameras, automatically triggered by the passage of animals, made it possible to document wildlife presence without interfering with animal behaviour.

Overall, 18 mammal species were recorded, confirming the high naturalistic value of the Trieste area. Among the most widespread species were roe deer, wild boar and golden jackal. Of particular interest were the detections of the wildcat and European polecat, species of conservation relevance whose presence in an area so close to the city represents a finding of considerable scientific value.

In addition to compiling a checklist of the species present, the researchers used advanced statistical models to produce the first maps showing the probability of occurrence and abundance of the different species across the various environments of the municipal area, from forests and karst landscapes to agricultural and peri-urban zones. This information will make it possible to better understand the relationship between wildlife and habitat and to identify the areas where certain species are most concentrated.

“The results show that Trieste hosts a particularly rich and diverse mammal community,” explains Alessio Mortelliti. “This is not a phenomenon linked to climate change, but rather to the distinctive position of the Trieste area, which is closely connected from an ecological point of view with the Karst and the natural areas of Slovenia. This environmental continuity, together with the expansion of woodland across the Karst in recent decades, has favoured the presence of numerous wild species even close to the city.”

The data collected provide a valuable tool for updating knowledge of the fauna within the municipal territory and may support future activities related to biodiversity conservation, wildlife management, and urban and environmental planning by the Municipality of Trieste.

The project "Generazione Impresa – Young Entrepreneurs of Confcommercio Trieste Meet the Innovators Community Lab (ICL)", developed through the collaboration between the Young Entrepreneurs Group of Confcommercio Trieste and the University of Trieste's Innovators Community Lab, has been selected among the winners of the second edition of the "Best Practices GGI 2026" award, promoted by the National Young Entrepreneurs Group of Confcommercio.

The award, presented by a national evaluation committee on the basis of the quality and impact of the submitted projects, recognizes initiatives capable of transforming ideas and expertise into tangible opportunities for local communities, businesses, and society.

The project was created with the aim of building a lasting bridge between academia and the business world through an innovative Business Speed Dating format. Starting in September, students, PhD candidates, early-career researchers, and entrepreneurs will take part in a series of short, structured meetings followed by networking sessions.

The initiative is designed to foster an entrepreneurial mindset among younger generations, encourage the development of entrepreneurial skills, and create meaningful opportunities for dialogue between innovative ideas and market needs. Entrepreneurs will share their experience and strategic vision, while students will have the opportunity to present their projects, test solutions, and receive valuable feedback to support their professional and entrepreneurial development.

The University of Trieste's Innovators Community Lab will contribute to the implementation of the project by providing its facilities, engaging students, PhD candidates, and early-career researchers, and supporting both the design and facilitation of the meetings. The ICL will also bring expertise in innovation, prototyping, design thinking, and business modelling, fostering cross-fertilization between research, education, and industry.

The initiative is fully aligned with the mission of the Innovators Community Lab to promote structured collaboration between the University and the local business ecosystem, highlighting the role of entrepreneurs as mentors and students as drivers of innovation. This national recognition confirms the value of a collaborative model aimed at generating new skills, meaningful connections, and sustainable development opportunities for the local community.