\ Innovazione \ Big Science Business forum presented at Trieste Next

Trieste is gearing up to host the third edition of the Big Science Business Forum (BSBF) in 2024, an international business-oriented conference that brings together major European research infrastructures. The stages leading up to the forum, set to take place from October 1 to 4 of next year at the Trieste Convention Center located within the Old Port of the regional capital, were unveiled today at Trieste Next, as part of the event “Non solo ricerca. Il valore delle infrastrutture scientifiche per l’economia e la società” (Not just research. The value of scientific infrastructures for economy and society), organized by Area Science Park in collaboration with SiS FVG.

Trieste’s selection for BSBF 2024 is no accident: the city has one of the highest concentrations of researchers in Europe and is home to many national and international centers of scientific excellence. Among these is the Consortium for Central European Research Infrastructure (CERIC), an open access point to some of the most advanced scientific investigation structures from eight Central European countries (Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Hungary) in the fields of materials, biomaterials, and nanotechnology, with a special focus on energy and life sciences.

“Unlike other external innovation support programs, BSBF is an initiative independently promoted by the scientific community to facilitate the meeting between research and international industry,” explains Paolo Acunzo of ENEA, Director of BSBF Trieste 2024 activities. “The fact that this important forum will be held in Italy for the first time is a clear acknowledgment of the leading role our national system has taken in building a European Big Science market. Until 2025, Trieste will be at the center of attention of the diverse world of Big Science, and as early next week, on September 26, representatives of all major international infrastructures will meet in Trieste to agree on the next joint activities in preparation for BSBF Trieste 2024 ” concludes Acunzo.

Trieste’s candidacy, supported by Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia on the initiative of the regional councilor Alessia Rosolen and the Italian government, was also backed by the Central European Initiative, the first International Forum for Regional Cooperation based in Trieste. Co-organizers of the forum include a series of international research centers: CERN, ESA, ESO, ESRF, ESS, European XFEL, FAIR, ILL, F4E, SKAO. The local organizing committee consists of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, the Municipality of Trieste, Area Science Park, Promo Turismo FVG, the University of Trieste, and the Chamber of Commerce Venezia Giulia. Additional partners are the Industrial Liaison Offices: ILO (Denmark), ILO (Spain), and ILO Network Italia, a network made up of representatives from CNR, ENEA, INAF, and INFN.

BSBF aims to be the first “one-stop-shop” for European companies and other organizations interested in interacting with large European scientific organizations. The goal is to create a common market for big science in Europe that is stronger, more transparent, and efficient, without entry barriers for industrial suppliers looking to establish relationships with large research installations.

The first edition of BSBF, hosted by the Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education in Copenhagen, Denmark, was a huge success. Similar results were achieved by the second BSBF edition held in Granada, Spain: more than 1,000 delegates from over 500 companies and organizations from 30 countries attended. The exhibition area featured over 200 companies and organizations, and over 790 B2B and B2C meetings took place during the event. BSBF offered insights into procurement opportunities and contracts for companies worth nearly 10 billion euros in total per year.