News

It’s not just about the iconic Marmolada Glacier in the Dolomites. In the coming decades, the other glaciers in this mountain range could also shrink dramatically or vanish altogether. This theory is supported for the first time by a study conducted by the Institute of Polar Sciences of the Italian National Research Council (Cnr-Isp), based at Area Science Park, and the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, recently published in the journal The Cryosphere. The Italian Glaciological Committee, the Alpine-Adriatic Meteorological Society, ARPA Veneto, the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, the Technical University of Denmark, the Roma Tre University in Rome and the University of Quebec in Montreal all collaborated in the study. “The Dolomites have been the subject of numerous studies in the fields of geology, geomorphology and biodiversity. However, the glaciers in this region have often remained on the margins of scientific investigation, with the exception of the Marmolada Glacier, the largest in the area”, explains Renato R. Colucci, a researcher at Cnr-Isp and co-author of the paper. “Regardless of the information provided by the two editions of the Italian glacier registers (1962 and 2015), the data available on their evolution over time have so far been extremely fragmented and have often only been qualitative, especially regarding their variations in volume. Our study is the first to present a multi-decade estimate (from the 1980s to 2023) of topographic changes and mass balance of the current mountain glaciers in the Dolomites”. The result was achieved in two steps: for the period from the 1980s to 2010, researchers used the Structure from Motion (SfM) technique applied to historical aerial imagery; from 2010 to 2023, they also used drone (UAV) imagery and helicopter-based LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) acquisitions, which allowed for high-resolution and accuracy. In 2023 – the last year examined in the study – there were 9 glaciers, although the fragmentation of the Marmolada Glacier into four distinct glacial bodies brings the total number to 12. “The total area of these last 12 glaciers has decreased from just over 4 square km in the 1980s to just under 2 square km today – a 56% loss, of which 33% has occurred since 2010,” specifies Andrea Securo, PhD student at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and co-author of the study. “Overall, we observed an average decrease in the topographic surface of the glaciers of 28,7 metres between 1980 and 2023 – of which 33% between 2010 and 2023. The glacier that suffered the greatest reduction was the Fradusta Glacier, which underwent a decrease in average thickness of 50 metres and an areal reduction of 90%.” The temperature data processed for the study in collaboration with ARPA Veneto is also interesting, showing a rise of +2.0°C over the past 40 years – approximately +0.5°C per decade. At the same time, the data also shows a certain increase in snowfall, but only at high altitudes. The researchers warn that this phenomenon was not enough to compensate for the greater melting caused by increasingly long and always hotter summers. In conclusion, the study highlights that, in the entire area, 66% of the total volume loss is attributable to the Marmolada Glacier alone. “Today, the Dolomite Glacier accumulation areas lie below the alpine glacier equilibrium line, an indicator of the fact that, within a few decades, these glaciers will either disappear completely or become fragmented glacial bodies with no dynamic activity. Unfortunately, their fate appears inevitable, even assuming climate stabilisation based on the average values of the past 30 years (1991–2020),” the authors conclude. Source: CNR (Italian National Research Council)

The aim is to strengthen the competitiveness of Italian businesses and promote the growth of a dynamic and future-oriented entrepreneurial ecosystem through the co-creation of innovative solutions developed by startups, spin-offs and innovative SMEs in response to the needs of medium and large enterprises. With this ambitious goal and as part of the activities and services of IP4FVG – EDIH, Area Science Park, in collaboration with ELIS Innovation Hub, is launching the Open Innovation@IP4FVG, programme through two calls: Call 4 Need, for medium and large enterprises, and Call 4 Solution, dedicated to startups, spin-offs and innovative SMEs. Thanks to the programme, the selected companies will work together, for 12 weeks, on the co-development of a Proof of Concept (PoC), a pilot project or prototype that makes it possible to test the innovative solutions and assess their effectiveness, applicability and scalability. Every stage of the approach will be guided and supported by experts from Area Science Park and ELIS Innovation Hub, through to final validation of the solution. Thanks to PNRR funds from the IP4FVG-EDIH project, selected medium and large enterprises will have access to subsidised funding of up to 80% to develop their PoC with a value of €40.000 each. The co-innovation approaches must focus on advanced digital technologies for optimising processes across the entire value chain, for reducing environmental impact and for cybersecurity. The programme includes a first local service event on 15 April at 3 p.m. in the Pasolini Room of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region in Udine, during which companies and startups can join the programme, meet, delve deeper into the topic of Open Innovation and take part in networking sessions aimed at fostering long-term collaborations. The programme is part of the IP4FVG-EDIH services, an initiative funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) – Mission 4, Component 2 (M4C2) – Investment 2.3, subsidised by the European Union – Next Generation EU, which aims to encourage the adoption of digital and green technologies. More information on the areas and the approach is available at this link. To register for the presentation event on April 15 in Udine, click here.

The Welcome Office FVG confirms its crucial role in supporting the international mobility of students and researchers in Friuli Venezia Giulia. The data contained in the 2024 Report highlights a significant increase in activities and continuous evolution of the services offered. Throughout 2024, the Welcome Office FVG— a help desk giving assistance and advice on the main mobility-related issues for students, researchers and their families, both before arrival and during their stay in the region— provided a total of 5.982 consultations to 655 users. Among the most frequent requests received at the Trieste help desk, managed by Area Science Park, were matters related to residence permits, entry and residence conditions and health insurance. At the Udine help desk, which operates within the university, the main focus was instead on the pre-arrival phase, with a greater demand for advice regarding departure formalities and conditions, insurance and healthcare and the search for accommodation. One of the Welcome Office FVG’s strengths is its collaboration with local and national institutions. In 2024, 11 agreements on personal data processing were signed between Area Science Park and the partners who took advantage of the appointments at the Police Headquarters. The relationship with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) Visa Centre was also fundamental, leading to the organisation of a training and refresher event. One of the most significant results was the organisation of 10 collective appointments with the Trieste Police Headquarters, allowing around 300 students, researchers and family members to obtain their residence permits more quickly. The Welcome Office FVG web portal continues to be a reference point for international mobility. In 2024, it recorded 35.689 users and 48.954 sessions, with visitors from 158 countries. The Welcome Office FVG also took part in several promotional events, including the “Welcome Conference for International and Mobility Students” at UniUD and the Welcome Days organised by the University of Trieste, the University of Udine and the Tartini Conservatory. The level of user satisfaction remains high: 94% of respondents to the questionnaire stated that they would recommend the service.

China is the most attractive market for patents in the rare earth element (REE) recycling sector, with a significantly higher number of patent applications compared to other countries. This is what emerges from the study “Innovation in rare earths recycling: A quantitative and qualitative analysis of patent data”, which, through a meticulous analysis of patent data, offers an in-depth examination of innovation in the Rare Earth recycling sector. Rare earth elements are fundamental for the digital transition and decarbonisation and are used in key technologies such as batteries, wind turbines and electronic devices. However, their extraction has a significant environmental impact and the supply chain is highly concentrated in just a few countries, making recycling a strategic solution to ensure sustainable access to these resources, reduce dependence on imports and limit the environmental impact of mining activities. According to the study, published in Resources Policy and conducted by Area Science Park (Riccardo Priore and Marinella Favot) and the University of Milan-Bicocca (Marco Compagnoni), China remains the most dynamic market in the REE recycling sector and Chinese universities are the main players in innovation, demonstrating a strong commitment to research and development of new technologies for the recovery of these materials. However, the United States and Japan emerge as technological leaders, with patents that are more frequently mentioned and with greater international protection of their inventions, indicating more advanced and globally relevant technological innovation. Europe, on the other hand, shows signs of stagnation in both the number and quality of patents. To bridge the gap with the main players in the sector, greater support for innovation is needed through public investment, business incentives and international collaborations. Moreover, revising policies for managing waste of electric and electronic equipment (WEEE), which is rich in critical raw materials, is crucial to making the circular economy more effective, by improving waste collection, enhancing recycling facilities and incentivising the use of secondary raw materials. Riccardo Priore of the Patlib Centre, at Area Science Park, states that “This study represents an innovative type of support, through statistical analysis of patent documents, to various issues related to academic research activities. The study of innovation dynamics in the rare earth recycling sector provides an important starting point for developing more effective strategies in the REE recycling sector, with significant implications for the strategic autonomy of importing countries and for the future of the global circular economy.” In a context of increasing demand for rare earth elements, recycling capacity will become increasingly crucial in reducing dependence on imports and mitigating the environmental impact of extraction. The results of the study suggest that, in order to remain competitive, Western countries should intensify their efforts in the recycling sector by promoting high-quality innovations and investing in the transition to a more sustainable economy. Link to the paper 

Nextstep open 18 PhD posts in March 2025 for PhD projects starting in autumn 2025. All the information are available on ESRF recruitment portal (https://www.esrf.fr/Jobs) and the deadline for application is 02 May 2025. The first 18 PhD projects will be located at ESRF – The European Synchrotron Radiation Facility,  ILL- The Institut Laue-Langevin in France and at FZJ – Institutes of Forschungszentrum Jülich in Germany. PhD projects will cover a wide range of disciplines including physics, materials science, chemistry, biochemistry and engineering. The successful candidates will study a hot topic related to sustainable development or industrial competitiveness and they will learn to use some of the most advanced and exciting analytical techniques available at their host research infrastructure facility. There will also be a second cohort of 18 PhD posts to be advertised from February 2026. Nextstep is a Horizon Europe supported MSCA cofund doctoral programme. This programme expects the candidate to change country to take up employment at the PhD project host institute. See the Nextstep website FAQ (https://nextstep-programme.eu/frequently-asked-questions/) for more details on the Marie Sklodowska-Curie mobility rule. Area Science Park participates in Nexstep as a hosting infrastructure for PhD students along with ESRF (Nexstep coordinator), ILL (France), FZJ (Germany), and NTNU (Norway). TO DISCOVER THE 18 CALLS AND GET MORE DETAILS, CLICK HERE

To achieve the “zero emissions” target, emerging technologies such as green hydrogen are essential. However, the production of green hydrogen through electrolysis depends on critical raw materials (CRM), for which the demand is increasing, while supply remains concentrated in just a few countries. The study was presented at the “IRTC25: From Raw Material Policies to Practice” conference held in Ljubljana, supported by EIT RawMaterials (European Union) and the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (Switzerland). The research, conducted by Area Science Park (Riccardo Priore and Marinella Favot) and the University of Milano-Bicocca (Marco Compagnoni) within the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley project – NAHV, explored two key aspects: technological innovation in green hydrogen through the analysis of patents and the assessment of the criticality of the raw materials necessary. To identify global trends in green hydrogen innovation, patents related to key technologies such as fuel cells and electrolysers were analysed. Additionally, the criticality of the raw materials necessary for these technologies was assessed based on the EU’s list of critical raw materials. Thanks to the PatLib Centre at Area Science Park, the study used a patent database (PATSTAT) covering the period from 2000 to 2023, focusing on: temporal trends in patents for fuel cells and electrolysers countries with the strongest interest in intellectual property protection on these topics the most used critical raw materials and their trends over time. The picture that emerged is the following: patent applications for hydrogen technologies have increased significantly, reaching 5,380 applications filed in 2022 (a figure that may continue to grow), making a total of over 45,600 applications from 2000 to 2023 (noting that the publication secrecy period for applications is 18 months); China, Japan and the USA are the territories most interested in the legal protection (via patents) of the production or commercialisation of key green hydrogen technologies; 13% of patents mention at least one critical raw material, with Nickel, Platinum and Lithium as the most important for both technologies (fuel cells and electrolysers). The researchers conclude that while the increase in patent applications highlights a global push towards green hydrogen-based solutions, the dependency on critical raw materials such as Nickel, Platinum and Lithium raises concerns about supply risks, price volatility and geopolitical dependencies. To ensure the sustainable growth of hydrogen technologies, it will be crucial to develop new research into alternative materials and, at the same time, effective recycling strategies and supply chains.

An innovative solution for the recovery and reuse of yttrium, a rare and critical chemical element, from electronic waste, has emerged from research conducted by Area Science Park and the University of Udine, presented at the “IRTC25” conference in Ljubljana. The study, conducted by Marinella Favot, Roberta Curiazi and Antonio Massarutto, demonstrates how Yttrium Triflate (Y(OTf)₃), a widely used catalyst in the pharmaceutical industry, can be produced in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way from waste materials. Yttrium and its compounds play a crucial role in numerous chemical and technological processes within the pharmaceutical sector. This element is used as a catalyst in key reactions for the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates, such as hydrolysis, condensation and oxidation-reduction reactions. Thanks to its high efficiency, yttrium triflate, in particular, makes it possible to reduce reaction times and improve chemical process yield, making it indispensable for the production of complex molecules that form the basis of many medicines. As well as its use as a catalyst, yttrium is used in advanced technologies such as solid-state lasers, used in medical devices for surgery and diagnostics (YAG – Yttrium Aluminium Garnet lasers), in medical imaging techniques (including positron emission tomography – PET) and in biocompatible materials used in medical devices. Additionally, yttrium is used in the production of ceramics, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and plasma screens, cathode ray tubes (CRT), automotive catalysts, fluorescent lamps, permanent magnets and metallic alloys for batteries, as well as in fuel cells and electrolysers (key green hydrogen technologies), primarily in the form of yttria-stabilised zirconia (YSZ).   Recycling Yttrium from Electronic Waste: A Sustainable Solution The research presented at the “IRTC25” conference focuses on recovering yttrium oxide, which is present in small quantities in electronic waste, and transforming it into yttrium triflate through a three-stage process: catalyst synthesis, filtration and water removal. Although the final product is not 100% purified, it has proven to be effective and economically sustainable compared to purchasing pure yttrium triflate on the market. “The recycling process not only reduces dependence on virgin raw materials but it also represents a cost-effective solution”, explains Marinella Favot of Area Science Park. “In fact, recovering yttrium from electronic waste is more cost-effective than traditional disposal methods, especially when the price of the recovered material exceeds the costs of collection and treatment.” This research has been selected for a pitch at Apple and McKinsey’s “Talent meets Industry” event and represents a significant step towards a more sustainable circular economy, reducing the environmental and social impact linked to rare earth extraction and improving the resilience of supply chains. However, some challenges remain, such as the volatility of the prices of pure materials and the need to develop infrastructures for the treatment of electronic waste in Europe. In a global context where the demand for critical materials such as yttrium is constantly increasing, the recycling of electronic waste is confirmed as a key strategy for ensuring a more sustainable future and reducing environmental impact, also in pharmaceutical production.

Area Science Park has launched a call for applications for the awarding of six scholarships aimed at university students working on their master’s degree thesis within the scope of the project “Support for the Diagnosis of Rare Diseases through Artificial Intelligence”. The project aims to develop innovative tools for early identification of rare diseases through the automated analysis of clinical data. The scholarships, which last six months and are renewable for an additional semester, will support the training of university students during the completion of their master’s degree thesis in one of the following subject areas: Multimodal modelling with AI, to distinguish normal conditions from pathological ones through advanced algorithms. Management and anonymisation of clinical databases (Electronic Health Records – EHR), with focus on interoperability and data security. Development of a digital ecosystem for clinical data research, integrated with the ORFEO data center. The selected candidates will carry out their research activities at the Area Science Park Data Engineering Laboratory (LADE) and will be able to access an advanced technological ecosystem, including the Orfeo computing platform. To apply, students must be enrolled in a master’s degree programme in related fields and must submit their application via certified email (PEC) by 11.59 pm on 16 March 2025. Selection will be based on the evaluation of qualifications and an interview. Further details and the full call for applications are available here.

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.