Institutional

Trieste is a “city of science, research, and innovation”. These were the words of Martin Briens, French Ambassador to Italy, who visited Area Science Park and the Elettra Synchrotron Light Laboratory last week. The Ambassador and his delegation, consisting of Rachel Caruhel, Deputy Consul General, Pauline Le Louargant, Political Advisor, and Capucine Louis, Business Economics Expert, have been accompanied to Area by Riccardo Illy, Honorary Consul of France in Trieste. Welcoming the delegation were Area Science Park President Caterina Petrillo, General Manager Anna Sirica, and Director of the Research and Innovation Division Salvatore La Rosa. The first part of the meeting was dedicated to presenting the Institution and its strategic activities, focusing on Artificial Intelligence and Life Sciences; in the second part, Ambassador Briens had the opportunity to meet and engage in discussions with representatives of Aindo, an innovative startup using AI to generate synthetic data based on real data. Later, the French delegation visited the Elettra Synchrotron Light Laboratory at the Basovizza campus.    

During the second National Week of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), scheduled from 4 to 11 February 2025, the fundamental role of women in research and innovation is a crucial issue and one to which Area Science Park has always paid special attention. At our Research Institute, 57% of employees are women, with a female presence of 54.8% among researchers and technologists. Women play a leading role in the top positions and positions of responsibility within the Institute: both the President and the General Manager are women, while 62.5% of Office Managers are female. Area Science Park has 2,800 employees, 37% of whom are women. Three-quarters of the science park’s staff hold a university degree or a PhD. All the figures mentioned are particularly significant in a scientific sector that is still predominantly male and they demonstrate Area Science Park’s commitment to encouraging gender equality and promoting female leadership and growth paths in STEM disciplines. Through collaborations with universities, companies and research centres, Area supports the entry of young women into scientific careers, thus helping to create a fairer and more innovative future. STEM Week 2025 represents another opportunity to reinforce this commitment and inspire new generations of female scientists, engineers and technologists. As in previous editions, Area joins many national research institutions in supporting the MUR’s communication campaign for STEM Week and the ‘International Day of Women and Girls in Science’.

Adina Lovin, Consul General of the Republic of Romania in Trieste, visited Area Science Park to gain a deeper understanding of the region’s scientific landscape and to identify and promote new collaboration models. Accompanied by Sabrina Strolego, Honorary Consul of Austria in Trieste, Adina Lovin was welcomed by Caterina Petrillo, President of the national research institution, who presented the key activities currently being developed at Area Science Park: from research and technological infrastructure development to investments in the hydrogen sector. Part of the meeting to the Institution’s initiatives supporting enterprises, both in digital transformation and in the development of new deep-tech companies. Afterward, the Consul General of Romania visited the Elettra Synchrotron Light Laboratory and met with some Romanian scientists working at Area Science Park campuses. During the visit, Adina Lovin expressed her commitment to supporting and promoting scientific exchange projects and collaboration between the two countries.

The research infrastructure for pathogen studies and the development of green hydrogen projects were key topics of the visit to Area Science Park by the Australian Deputy Ambassador to Rome, Siddhartha Chakrabarti. Accompanied by Marco Lazzarino, science attaché of the Italian Embassy in Canberra, Siddhartha Chakrabarti was welcomed in Area Science Park by the Director of the Research and Innovation Division, Salvatore La Rosa, who presented the institution and its main strategic activities. Following this, Alberto Soraci outlined the hydrogen-related projects (Nahv,  I-CAMPUS-H2 and H2SmartLab) and Stefano Cozzini introduced  “Pathogen Readiness Platform for CERIC-ERIC Upgrade” PRP@Ceric, a research infrastructure funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and coordinated by Area Science Park in partnership with CNR – National Research Council (Institute of Materials and Institute of Crystallography), University of Salerno, University of Naples and University of Salento. Additionally, Deputy Ambassador Siddhartha Chakrabarti had the opportunity to visit ICGEB, CNR-IOM, and the Elettra Synchrotron Light Laboratory.