\ Alta Tecnologia \ Ministries renew ARGO System agreement with Friuli Venezia Giulia until 2023

Italian Ministers Maria Cristina Messa (Universities and Research) and Giancarlo Giorgetti (Economic Development) and Governor Massimiliano Fedriga of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia have signed a new agreement to renew the ARGO system until 2023. Over 10 million euros have been set aside for the project, which is also expected to be rolled out across the country.

First set up in 2018, Argo is a scheme coordinated by Area Science Park establishing a network of know-how and technological infrastructures to create a unique system of specialist expertise. Around 50 public-sector partners and businesses work synergistically on projects centred around four main areas: the digital transformation of enterprise (IP4FVG), the genomics and epigenomics platform, enterprise building, promoting eco-innovative industrial settlements in the hinterland of the port of Trieste.  The agreement’s renewal takes the ARGO system into an operational phase, with the aim of consolidating the scheme’s assets on the basis of the hub-and-spoke model.

The new agreement was signed this afternoon in Trieste by Maria Cristina Messa for the Ministry of Universities and Research and by Governor of Friuli Venezia Giulia Massimiliano Fedriga during Ms Messa’s visit to Area Science Park. Minister of Economic Development Giancarlo Giorgetti had already signed the renewal.

Accompanied by Chair of Area Science Park Caterina Petrillo, Maria Cristina Messa had an opportunity to see the national research agency’s main areas of activity and visit some of its related infrastructure, like the Orfeo Data Center and the Genomics and Epigenomics Laboratory (LAGE). Orfeo is a modern data centre that provides researchers and businesses with advanced calculation and data analysis services with the capacity to deliver over 4 million hours/year. LAGE is a facility dedicated to analysing DNA and RNA sequences and genotyping which, in the last year, has been widely used to analyse and sequence Sars-Cov-2 and its variants.

Ms Messa also visited several research centres and businesses located in the science and technology park: Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, ICGEB and the research and development laboratories of Alifax. The second day of her visit includes a meeting with representatives of SiS FVG, the Science and Innovation System of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The meeting will also be attended by Alessia Rosolen, regional executive board member for employment, training, education, research, universities and the family, who will talk on the subject of “Research & Innovation in Friuli Venezia Giulia: an overview, the challenges and opportunities”.