CNR President Andrea Lenzi Visits Trieste’s Scientific Ecosystem 

CNR President Andrea Lenzi and Director General Jacopo Greco concluded a two-day institutional visit to Trieste, meeting researchers and engaging with the city’s leading research institutions, universities and scientific infrastructures. 

“Trieste’s scientific community represents a unique innovation ecosystem, bringing together public research organizations, universities, world-class research infrastructures and innovation centres. Within this context, the CNR is a well-established and strategic presence, making a significant contribution to the scientific and technological development of the region,” said CNR President Andrea Lenzi. “Public research is a common good and a fundamental resource for the country. I would like to thank DSFTM Director Stefano Fabris for organizing this visit, together with all the researchers we met, whose daily work contributes to a model internationally recognised for its ability to integrate frontier research, technological development and knowledge transfer.” 

The visit began at the Area Science Park Campus in Basovizza, home to several CNR institutes operating in Trieste, including the CNR Institute of Materials (CNR-IOM), the only CNR institute headquartered in the city. 

Following the institutional welcome, Stefano Fabris, Director of the CNR Department of Physical Sciences and Technologies of Matter (DSFTM), presented the role of the CNR within Trieste’s scientific ecosystem, highlighting the close collaboration among research organizations, universities and major research infrastructures. 

Federico Boscherini, Director of CNR-IOM, presented the CNR’s activities in Trieste and the Institute of Materials, followed by presentations from Cinzia Giannini (CNR-IC), Paolo Moras (CNR-ISM), Stefano Cozzi (CNR-ISMAR) and Alessandro Zavatta (CNR-INO), who introduced the research activities and expertise of their respective institutes. 

The delegation then visited Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, where President Giovanni Comelli presented the facility’s research infrastructures, including the FERMI free-electron laser, the STRAS laboratory, and the newly inaugurated CryoTEM microscope. The programme also included presentations on the CNR@Elettra2.0 and NFFA projects, a meeting with Caterina Petrillo, President of Area Science Park, Italy’s national research and innovation hub, and an institutional visit to the University of Trieste, hosted by Rector Donata Vianelli. 

On the second day, the delegation visited the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), discussing future perspectives in research, higher education and innovation. 

The visit reaffirmed the strategic value of Trieste’s scientific ecosystem, where public research organizations, universities, world-class infrastructures and innovation centres work together every day, making the city one of Italy’s leading research hubs and an internationally recognised model of scientific collaboration.