UniTS, which coordinates the activities of Spoke 8 of the iNEST (Interconnected North-East) Innovation Ecosystem, is organising, as part of the Ecomondo 2025 fair in Rimini, on 5th November (from 10:30), a workshop focused on the project and public-private collaborations towards digital twins in the (northern) Adriatic Sea.

"This project is dedicated to the development of sustainable technologies and solutions for the marine environment, mobility by sea and inland waterways and the digital transformation of companies in the sector.’ – explains prof. Pierluigi Barbieri, iNEST Coordinator for the University of Trieste – ‘The strategic objective of the project is developing data acquisition models and systems, software, and user interfaces, necessary for the creation of the Digital Twin of the Upper Adriatic, an advanced digital model of the marine-coastal system that will make it possible to improve monitoring, planning and management of maritime resources and activities, in line with the European mission Restore our Ocean and Waters".

Between 2023 and 2024, the University of Trieste applied to several calls under Spoke 8 to finance 24 industrial research and development projects, funding €5,559,535.95 (granted from the NextGenerationEU funds of the Recovery and Resilience Facility). Forty-four companies (30 from Triveneto and 14 from Mezzogiorno) and 9 research institutions have benefited from this co-financing, for projects with a total value of €7,790,800.90. Six companies are classified by turnover and number of employees as ‘large enterprises’. The universities and research institutions involved in these calls are 9, all from Southern Italy.

Spoke 8 activities are divided into five thematic areas: Hydrosphere biology – new systems for biomonitoring and restoration of marine habitats; Chemical and physical risks and impacts on the hydrosphere – innovative technologies for contaminant control and water management; Sustainable mobility by sea and inland waters – prototypes and charging systems for electric navigation; Integrated maritime and territorial land-sea planning – smart solutions for climate change adaptation; Digital Twin of the Northern Adriatic – digital models and infrastructures for the simulation of meteorological and environmental scenarios.

"With these projects – concludes prof. Pierluigi Barbieri – we are networking companies and research centres to promote innovation, sustainability and industrial competitiveness, contributing to the development of the Blue Economy in the North-East and in the whole country. The workshop will include a discussion, mediated by the Alto Adriatico Technological Pole, with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, and with institutons and companies on the Adriatic coast - Marche and Puglia in particular - in the think tank ‘The Blue Way’, to develop mutual knowledge and outline innovation projects guided by territorial research and development".

THE PROGRAMME:

Workshop ‘iNEST Innovation Ecosystem and public-private collaborations towards digital twins in the (northern) Adriatic Sea’

10:30 Introduction:

Pierluigi Barbieri, iNEST Coordinator, University of Trieste: ‘The iNEST Ecosystem and Research-driven innovation in the Blue Economy: where we are today’

Diego Santaliana, Alto Adriatico Technological Hub – ‘Building relations between research organisations and businesses at the Innovation Melting Pot-Urban Center in Trieste and grounding strategic projects’

Maria Cristina Pedicchio, President of APRE, KIC OneWater proposal ‘Making the Oceans Mission in the Adriatic macro-region concrete’

Salvatore Dore, Technology transfer and partnerships, University of Trieste ‘Technological transfer at the University of Trieste and responses to the challenges of the business system’

10:50 Contributions from Spoke 8 of the iNEST Innovation Ecosystem:

Stefano Querin OGS – Luca Manzoni UniTS – iNEST Spoke 8 Research Topic 5: ‘The contributions of research organisations and companies to the creation of digital twins in the Northern Adriatic’

Ludovico Centis iNEST Spoke 8 Research Topic 4: ‘Integration of information and planning in changing coastal systems’

11:10 Flash presentations: Results of the Waterfall Calls and the CC2 Proof of Concept call (Alessandra Citterio-DBA Group, Giuseppe Borruso-GEP Lab UniTS, BaC winners).

11:30 Giulia Carboni - Programme Coordination Manager for Sustainable Blue Economy at CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency - ‘EU Key perspectives in sustainable innovation’

11:45 Roundtable ’The Blue Way Think Tank. Climate, infrastructure, environment: shared energy and projects in the Adriatic area’: Barbieri (UniTS), Santaliana (PoloAA), Querin (OGS), Alberto Monachesi (Typicality in Blue); Q&A.

12:30 Closing of the workshop

Project ‘iNEST Interconnected Nord-Est Innovation Ecosystem’, ECS_00000043, is part of the research programme for the innovation ecosystem from the resources of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), M4C2 – Investment 1.5 Creation and strengthening of ‘Innovation Ecosystems for Sustainability’, funded by the European Union, NextGenerationEU – CUP J43C22000320006.

A group of researchers at the University of Trieste has developed an innovative, rapid and inexpensive diagnostic method that uses low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) to analyse the properties of sputum and provide a reliable indicator of lung function and inflammation, highlighting any pathological alterations. 

The test developed by the researchers could be particularly useful for patients with chronic productive lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterised by the production of viscous mucus that is difficult to eliminate. It could also be helpful in the management of asthma. 

The sputum sample, taken from the patient, is analysed using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance technology, which returns the result in a few minutes. The test, unique in its kind, evaluates the behaviour of hydrogen atoms in the in the water contained in sputum and translates the signal into clinically relevant parameters, such as viscosity, elasticity, solid content and polymer network structure. These data are closely related to the patient's clinical status and can support the physician in therapeutic decisions. 

Mario Grassi, full professor of Foundations of Chemical Engineering at the Department of Engineering and Architecture of the University of Trieste, and Michela Abrami of the same department, explain: 'The idea of applying low-field nuclear magnetic resonance to the study of sputum arose from an interdisciplinary reflection: the technology, already widely used in quality control in the food industry, has proven to be an economical, transportable tool that can be easily integrated into clinical practice. The test is rapid, repeatable, non-invasive, does not require highly specialised personnel and can be performed during an outpatient visit.’

Low-field magnetic resonance imaging (LF-NMR) is a technology that uses low-intensity magnetic fields to analyse the properties of materials, such as biological tissues, quickly and non-invasively. Unlike traditional high-field magnetic resonance imaging, low-field instruments are more compact, economical and easy to use even in non-hospital settings.

Gabriele Grassi, full professor of Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology at the University Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences at the University of Trieste, comments: ‘The new method represents a step forward in the diagnosis and monitoring of respiratory diseases. With the aim of continuously improving patients' quality of life and optimising therapeutic strategies, we are also implementing specific software (SOFT NMR), which is currently under development. The clinical centres involved are participating with us in the discussion of the results, in light of the patients' clinical history, and in the implementation of experimental campaigns in response to the clinical questions that arise from time to time, with the ultimate goal of making our conclusions increasingly robust.’

Sputum samples are provided by the Burlo Garofolo Research Hospital in Trieste, the Pulmonology Unit of the Cattinara Hospital (Trieste), the Radiology Unit of the Ca' Foncello Hospital in Treviso and the Department of Radiology of the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam. 

The project partners also include PROTOS, a non-profit research centre based in Trieste, active in the field of biopolymers, medical devices and in vitro diagnostics. 

The project is funded by the PRIN (Projects of National Interest – Ref. 2022K4Y33B) and by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region for the support of projects for the validation of innovative ideas and technologies that aim to achieve a TRL 6, 7 or 8 [Article 7(56-61) of Regional Law No 22/2022].

Sea warming, together with environmental changes caused by human activities, is causing a progressive decline in seagrass meadows in the northern Adriatic Sea. This is demonstrated by a new study recently published in the journal Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. The research shows that the seagrass beds of Posidonia oceanica, Cymodocea nodosa and other marine plants, which are vital for biodiversity, coastal stability and carbon storage, are at risk from a variety of factors.

The study, coordinated by the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS), involved an international group of researchers from the Miramare Marine Protected Area, the University of Trieste, the National Institute of Biology of Slovenia (NIB) and the University of Maribor (Slovenia). It highlighted how environmental change and sea warming contribute significantly to the decline of seagrass beds, particularly Cymodocea nodosa, in the coastal areas of the northern Adriatic. 

The analysis focused mainly on the Slovenian and Italian coasts of the Gulf of Trieste and used an integrated approach of field monitoring and statistical analysis to assess the relationship between anthropogenic pressure and marine vegetation response. The relationship between seagrass dynamics and environmental variations was studied by analysing the spatiotemporal patterns of environmental variables and applying mathematical models referring to two distinct time intervals: 2009-2013 and 2014-2018.

The study shows that the decline of seagrass beds in the gulf is caused by both impacts at the local level (pollution, urbanisation, hydrological alterations) and global climatic stresses (marine warming).

In the northern Adriatic, Cymodocea nodosa is the dominant species, while Posidonia oceanica and several species of Zostera show a much more fragmented distribution, often reduced to small isolated areas.

‘The results indicate that Cymodocea nodosa is still present in the Gulf, particularly along the coast from Monfalcone to the mouth of the Tagliamento, but in the period 2014-2018 there was a 30% regression in Slovenian waters and up to 89% along the coast near Trieste,’ explains Vinko Bandelj, oceanographer at OGS, adding that ‘analysis of physical and chemical variables revealed an increase in sea water temperature throughout the Gulf and a variation in nutrient load, with a particularly significant reduction in Slovenian waters’.

The group of researchers identified light in the water column, nutrient availability, temperature and sediment type as the main determinants of marine plant presence. However, other local factors, such as coastal anthropogenic interventions and urbanisation, have most likely also contributed to reducing the resilience of these species to environmental disturbances.

The conservation of these habitats is considered essential for mitigating climate change and safeguarding marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean. To achieve this goal, the study highlights the need to develop integrated spatial planning strategies, including the reduction of local anthropogenic pressures, the protection of less degraded coastal areas and the long-term monitoring of climatic and biological parameters. Although large-scale studies are useful for predicting the impact of climate change, local investigations, such as the one carried out in this study, remain equally essential for developing targeted conservation strategies.

Read the article

Federico Becca, associate professor in Condensed Matter Theory at the Physics Department of the University of Trieste, has been nominated Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), through the Division of Condensed Matter Physics.

The APS Fellowship Program was created to recognize members who have made advances in physics through original research, making outstanding contributions in the field. In particular, Federico Becca has been selected for his ``fundamental contributions to the understanding of strongly correlated systems, including spin liquid states and doped Mott superconductors, and for developments in variational quantum Monte Carlo methods''. 

The number of recommended nominees in each year may not exceed one-half percent of the current membership of the Society, excluding student members. This recognition by the American Physical Society underscores Professor Becca's achievements as a world-renowned leading scientist in the field. The fact that very few Fellows are affiliated outside the U.S. further reinforces the significance of this honor.

When it comes to cardiac arrest, every second counts, and it is the speed with which cardiopulmonary resuscitation is started that makes the real difference, not so much who performs it. This is what emerges from an important study presented at the ESC Acute CardioVascular Care 2025 congress.

The research is the result of the work of a team coordinated by Prof. Aneta Aleksova, cardiologist and lecturer at the Department of Medical Sciences of the University of Trieste and the local health authority (ASUGI). The study group is an integral part of the Department of Cardiology, headed by Prof. Gianfranco Sinagra, and included the contribution of Dr Alessandra Lucia Fluca, research assistant at the Department of Medicine of the University of Trieste, and Dr Andrea Perkan, interventional cardiologist at the Department of Cardiology.

The study analysed 21 years of data (from 2003 to 2024) on 3,315 patients who had suffered a ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a particularly serious form of heart attack in which a major coronary artery is completely blocked, preventing blood flow to part of the heart. Among these patients, 172 suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and 44 of them received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from bystanders.

Urgent response is crucial 

The results are clear: every 5 minutes of delay in the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) increases the risk of death in hospital by 38%. Even a slight reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction (an indicator of heart function) or increased age is associated with a significant increase in mortality.

'We observed that, regardless of whether cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed by a professional rescuer or a bystander, the determining factor was the speed with which resuscitation was started,' explains Prof. Aleksova, emphasising the value of active prevention. ‘It is essential to raise awareness among the population and promote CPR and defibrillator training courses. Even imperfect intervention, if timely, can save a life. It is better to act immediately than to wait for help without doing anything.’

A positive trend, but still insufficient

The study shows a clear improvement over time: the percentage of CPR performed by bystanders rose from 26% in the period 2003-2007 to 69% in the four-year period 2020-2024. However, considering that about 80% of cardiac arrests occur at home, public involvement remains crucial.

Although the average ROSC times are longer for interventions by bystanders (20 minutes compared to 5 minutes in cases handled by healthcare professionals), the chances of long-term survival do not differ. This suggests that even intervention by ordinary people, provided it is timely, can have a life-saving impact comparable to that of professionals.

A call for public training

The survey also reports that those who receive CPR from bystanders are more frequently subjected to endotracheal intubation (91% versus 65%), indicating more intensive clinical management. But the key factor remains time. All other factors being equal, prompt intervention can mean the difference between life and death.

The study relaunches a simple but urgent message: training more people in basic life support (BLS) techniques is a public health priority. Because every minute counts. And anyone, with the right training, can make a difference.

A study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology clarifies, through clinical, tissue and laboratory data, why the risk of cardiovascular events is so high in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The research was carried out in collaboration between Giacomo Emmi, immunologist and Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Trieste, and the research teams of Matteo Becatti, Claudia Fiorillo and Domenico Prisco at the University of Florence.

SLE is a systemic autoimmune disease that can affect several organs. In Italy it affects more than 60,000 people, mostly women of childbearing age. For those affected, the risk of arterial and venous thrombosis can be two to ten times higher than in the general population. The underlying cause is not limited to cholesterol or blood pressure, but primarily linked to the chronic inflammation characteristic of the disease.

At the centre of this process is oxidative stress, the imbalance between oxidising substances produced by our cells and the antioxidant defences that should neutralise them. In SLE patients, certain immune cells – neutrophils – are abnormally active and fuel this imbalance. In such an oxidative environment, fibrinogen, the protein forming the network of the blood clot, behaves differently: the fibres become denser and less permeable, and the clots harder to dissolve. This mechanism directly connects inflammation to thrombotic risk.

The study involved 144 adult SLE patients and 90 healthy controls. Blood analyses documented higher oxidative stress in patients and its correlation with disease activity. Tissue observations confirmed the picture: in renal biopsies from individuals with active lupus nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys), the same mechanism was evident precisely where inflammation was most intense, demonstrating that it is not only a circulating phenomenon but also causes damage at the organ level.

To confirm the causal link, the team reproduced the phenomenon in the laboratory. When fibrinogen was exposed to an oxidative environment, the clots became more compact and resistant; when a reference antioxidant was added, the effect disappeared. The sequence is thus clear: more inflammation → more oxidative stress → altered fibrinogen → clots harder to dissolve.

‘These results provide a deeper understanding of the connection between autoimmune disease and cardiovascular complications,’ says Professor Giacomo Emmi, who teaches at the Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences of the University of Trieste and is Head of the Clinical Medicine Unit and Scientific Coordinator of the local health authority (ASUGI).

‘Oxidative stress,’ explains Emmi, ‘emerges as a new potential therapeutic target. Alongside the management of traditional risk factors and disease activity, future therapies could aim to modulate these oxidative circuits to more effectively protect the heart and blood vessels of patients with lupus.’

Reference: ROS-induced modifications of fibrin clots connect immune responses to atherothrombosis in systemic lupus erythematosus, in Arthritis & Rheumatology. DOI: 10.1002/art.43371.

The new research project Be-UP, funded with €8.5 million by the Horizon Europe Programme, has now been launched. The project aims to develop new renewable polymers for the production and use of biodegradable packaging across Europe.

Coordinated by ITENE (Spain), Be-UP brings together a consortium of 17 private and public organisations from nine countries, with the University of Trieste as the only Italian university involved. Participating companies include Novamont, Particula, Hybrid Catalysis, Isotech, Aptar Group, Imerys, Innotech (Grupo Lantero), and the laboratories Polinivo, Normec, Cebimat, FTPO and IDENER. European Bioplastics and the competitiveness cluster Polymeris will ensure the dissemination of Be-UP results, with the support of the Spanish Standardisation Association (UNE).

In detail, the Be-UP project aims to develop pioneering methods for the synthesis and industrial processing (extrusion, injection moulding and thermoforming) of polyesters derived from bio-based raw materials. Be-UP will employ biocatalysts and sustainable additives, while also integrating advanced multi-object digital modelling tools to achieve simultaneously high technical performance, sustainability and biodegradability of polymers.

The Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Trieste is involved in the project with a multidisciplinary team combining biocatalysis (Prof. Lucia Gardossi), computational chemistry (Prof. Emanuele Carosati) and spectroscopy (Prof. Fioretta Asaro). The research is supported by funding of approximately €330,000 over four years, enabling the activation of a research contract and a PhD scholarship. A further position will be opened in 2026.

In recent years, the UniTS team has designed and enzymatically synthesised new bio-based polyesters which, thanks to collaboration with the ecology group led by Prof. Monia Renzi in the Department of Life Sciences at UniTS, have also provided the basis for the development of rapid tests to assess the marine ecotoxicity and biodegradability of polyesters. These studies open new prospects for the rational design of environmentally sustainable polymers and demonstrate the importance of multidisciplinary collaborations in addressing the complex environmental challenges faced by science today. The results, which led to participation in the Be-UP project, were achieved thanks to two Marie Skłodowska-Curie grants (RenEcoPol and InterFACES) and to funding under the PNRR – NextGenerationEU (ICSC – National Centre for Research in High Performance Computing, Big Data and Quantum Computing, Spoke 7).

At the conclusion of Be-UP, packaging prototypes will be produced with a high level of technological maturity (TRL7) in order to validate the materials developed. Their biodegradability will be assessed in various end-of-life scenarios, including both open natural environments and controlled conditions. The UniTS team will develop computational models capable of correlating polymer structure with marine biodegradability.

This data-driven approach will help to improve the knowledge base underpinning European regulations, support industrial competitiveness and accelerate the transition towards a truly circular bioeconomy, making a direct contribution to several European action plans and strategies, including the plastics strategy, the Single-Use Plastics Directive, the Circular Economy Action Plan and the regulation on packaging and packaging waste.

The University of Trieste hosted the presentation of the results of 3FiRES – Research on BIPV Photovoltaic Façades for Fire Spread Mechanisms, Structural Failures and Resilience Improvement Methodologies, a project carried out by the University of Trieste in partnership with the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC).

3FiRES is one of ten major projects selected under the Executive Programme of Scientific and Technological Cooperation between Italy and China, a bilateral initiative co‑funded by MAECI and MOST.

The two‑year collaboration, with total funding of €500,000, was coordinated by Prof. Chiara Bedon (UniTS) and Prof. Yu Wang (USTC).

Within the thematic area “Green Energy and related research”, 3FiRES investigated—through analytical, numerical and experimental methods—the behaviour of Building‑Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) façades subjected to extreme and accidental actions, in particular fire. These innovative electricity‑generating systems make a significant contribution to the sustainability of green buildings while being required to guarantee appropriate structural and architectural performance even under limiting conditions.

At the University of Trieste, the study brought together a multidisciplinary team from the Department of Engineering and Architecture (DIA), combining civil, electrical and architectural engineering expertise, with the involvement of Alessandro Massi Pavan, Vanni Lughi, Luca Cozzarini, Marco Fasan, and Adriano Venudo, alongside several early‑career researchers.

The activities included extensive experimental campaigns conducted in the DIA laboratories in Trieste and—above all—at the State Key Laboratory of Fire Science (USTC) in Hefei and the Fire Laboratory of the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG) in Logatec. The datasets enabled the development and refinement of finite‑element modelling strategies.

The results have been disseminated through numerous publications in leading international journals and presentations at major conferences, as well as two volumes published by EUT – Trieste University Press. A key outcome is a patent filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and granted in April 2025.

The patent concerns the prototyping of a device and experimental method for the fire testing of integrated photovoltaic glass panels, allowing multiple test parameters to be varied. Intellectual property is held by the following researchers: Prof. Yu Wang, Dr Haonan Chen, Dr Dezhi Ran, Dr Wei Chu, and Prof. Chiara Bedon.

Initial applications and results underlying the patent have been published in the International Journal of Thermal Sciences.

In a groundbreaking achievement, researchers from CNR – Istituto Officina dei Materiali (CNR-IOM), the University of Trieste, Italy, and Innsbruck, Austria, and Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste have successfully synthesized a novel two-dimensional crystalline form of diboron trioxide. This new crystal, composed entirely of structural units previously seen only in its disordered, glassy state, marks a significant scientific milestone. Published in the prestigious journal Science, the study confirms the existence of a structure previously predicted only in theory, and opening exciting possibilities for future applications of this innovative material.

Boron oxide is a critical component in the production of ultra-durable glasses, such as Pyrex, and high-performance enamels. The addition of boron trioxide enhances glass’s resistance to thermal shock and chemical reactions, making it ideal for demanding industrial and scientific applications. However, the vitrification process of boron oxide remains poorly understood, exhibiting unique anomalies compared to other oxides, like silica, which can exist in both crystalline and amorphous forms.

“The key distinction between a crystal and a glass lies in the ordered arrangement of atoms in the former, which is absent in the latter,” explains Alessandro Sala, a CNR-IOM researcher and the project’s lead designer. “Both materials typically share a basic structural unit of a few atoms, repeated throughout. In crystals, this “building block” is arranged in a precise, repeating pattern, while in glass, it is disordered. Boron oxide is an exception: its glassy phase contains a structural unit called boroxine – a ring of three boron and three oxygen atoms – that have never been observed in a crystalline form until now. Our team has achieved a world-first by creating a two-dimensional crystalline phase made entirely of these boroxine units.”

The international research team not only devised a method to synthesize this material, using platinum as a substrate, but also conducted detailed analyses of its physical properties. Maria Peressi, a professor at the University of Trieste, elaborates: “Our numerical simulations reveal that this porous material, formed by a lattice of boroxine rings, is extraordinary flexible – ten times more elastic than graphene, making it the most elastic single-layer material ever reported. This remarkable flexibility arises because the rigid boroxine rings are connected by a single oxygen atom, acting as a hinge that allows them to rotate in the plane. Experimental and simulation results also show that the material interacts weakly with its platinum substrate, suggesting it could be easily separated using conventional techniques for using in cutting-edge devices.”

Laerte Patera, a professor of University of Innsbruck, adds: “using advanced scanning tunneling microscopy in Trieste and Innsbruck, we visualized the crystalline structure of this two-dimensional material down to its individual atoms. This unprecedented resolution enables us to pinpoint the position of each atom in the lattice, offering valuable insights into how atoms reorganize during the transition from crystalline to glassy states. This capability will be transformative for future studies of material transformations.”

Andrea Locatelli, head of the Nanospectroscopy beamline at Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, emphasizes the mix of advanced technology: “Synchrotron light was instrumental in confirming the material’s elemental composition, purity and crystallinity. We can now produce homogeneous crystals spanning tens of square microns. The synergy between experimental techniques and numerical simulations was pivotal to this project’s success. With its unique properties – a wide-bandgap semiconductor that is both highly flexible and porous – this material holds immense potential for application in fields ranging from electronics and catalysis to quantum technologies.”

Adding to the significance of this achievement, the study’s first authors, Teresa Zio and Marco Dirindin, are PhD students from the University of Trieste, specializing in experimental and theoretical research, respectively. Their contribution highlights the University’s commitment to fostering excellence in advanced research training. 

The 14th edition of Trieste Next opened today, Friday 26th September, dedicated to the theme ‘Life Within. Dialogues between Science and Technology.’ The University of Trieste is a central player in the festival, with a programme designed for the general public: from today until Sunday 28th September, UniTS will organise 18 events (six today, nine on Saturday, and three on Sunday), featuring more than fifty speakers, alongside the UniTS stand in Piazza Unità with ten interactive spaces and the ‘UniDiversitas’ information point.

Two international headline events are on the programme: David Quammen this evening at Teatro Verdi, and Nobel Laureate Brian K. Kobilka tomorrow evening on the same stage.

In the opening panel, Rector Donata Vianelli, taking part in her first Trieste Next as head of UniTS, reaffirmed the importance of a systemic and open approach:
 ‘Innovation does not come from individuals alone; it comes from the system – universities, institutions and businesses working together in open networks, with multidisciplinarity and both national and international openness. Only in this way does research stop being self-referential and translate into real solutions for the territory and for society.’

The first day’s programme includes events on cities in transition and inclusive tourism, followed by sessions on nuclear fusion and safety in research. In the evening, the stage will host the performance ‘Storie dentro’ and the encounter with David Quammen at Teatro Verdi.

On Saturday 27th September, the schedule covers generative artificial intelligence and algorithmic transparency, energy between myths and realities, dialogue between African traditional medicine and research, advanced microscopy (All-Micro), the ‘environmental plate’ (an interdisciplinary round table that, starting from the leftovers of a dinner, brings together statistics, economics, psychology, viticulture and Slow Food to balance taste, sustainability and health), glaciers and life between science and mountaineering, through to space robotics, culminating in the special evening event with Brian K. Kobilka at Teatro Verdi.

Sunday 28th September will close the programme with sessions on community justice, neuroscience and music, and ‘care-based tourism.’

At its stand in Piazza Unità, UniTS presents a showcase reflecting the breadth of its expertise: from journeys into space with ASTREO to quantum science; from health – with a focus on chronic pain and digital rehabilitation – to restorative justice; from comparative law to marine sciences and geosciences; from ‘Rogue AI’ (distinguishing safe from deceptive generative AI) to the chemistry of future materials; and from merit and community with Collegio Fonda to the UniDiversitas information point.

In this light, Trieste Next is the ideal environment for the University of Trieste to put this approach into practice:
 ‘Trieste Next is our ideal training ground: three days of dialogue and debate to analyse problems from different perspectives and build shared solutions. A research festival that is also a multicultural and multidisciplinary crossroads, where each participant contributes an essential part to improving people’s lives and our future,’ concluded Rector Vianelli.

All UniTS events