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The Future of European Research: Scientific and Technological Infrastructures and Elettra’s Contribution





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The role of research infrastructures, the development of scientific expertise, and the opportunities offered by future European funding programmes were at the heart of the event “Research and Innovation in Friuli Venezia Giulia: Strengths and Opportunities in Horizon Europe Today and Tomorrow”, held on 27 October at the Regional Government headquarters in Trieste.

Organised by the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and APRE – the Agency for the Promotion of European Research, the event brought together representatives from research institutions, academia and industry to discuss the future of research and innovation in Europe. Particular attention was given to the tenth Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10), covering the period 2028–2034, and its links to the new European Competitiveness Fund.

Giovanni Comelli, President and CEO of Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, took part in the roundtable discussion “Research Infrastructures and Human Capital: Foundations for Future Competitiveness”, alongside Caterina Petrillo, President of Area Science Park, and representatives from OGS, the University of Trieste, SISSA and CNR-IOM.

The discussion highlighted Elettra’s international experience as a research facility welcoming scientists from more than 50 countries every year, as well as its Green Energy project, launched in response to the energy crisis. The project involves the construction of an 8.8 MW solar photovoltaic park featuring 13,000 bifacial panels on the site of a disused hillside quarry. The initiative is backed by a €26.5 million investment supported by the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR) and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Government.
During the discussion, Petrillo also emphasised the importance of integrating research and technological infrastructures to foster closer collaboration between research organisations and industry. This approach is particularly relevant to Elettra, whose facilities not only support fundamental and applied research but also contribute to technological development and innovation.
The event also provided an opportunity to highlight Friuli Venezia Giulia’s achievements within Horizon Europe and explore the opportunities offered by the next European research and innovation framework, with a particular focus on strategic industrial sectors and regional competitiveness.
 

 
Last Updated on Friday, 30 October 2026 11:21