Technological Innovation Research Institute
The Technological Innovation Research Institute (RIT) carries out cutting-edge research and provides services and consulting to public and private-sector users through its three laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art technology:
- LAGE – Genomics and Epigenomics Laboratory
- LAME – Electron Microscopy Laboratory
- LADE – Data Engineering Laboratory
The three laboratories operate as scientific partners in the context of numerous collaborations with national and international research institutes. They also provide services and consulting to public centres and private enterprises.
The tools at the LAGE, LADE and LAME labs and the expertise of the researchers and technologists involved, are integrated into two scientific and technological platforms coordinated by Area Science Park. These are specialised laboratories belonging to different research centres located within the Area Science Park campuses and networked to provide know-how and services aimed at applied and industrial research projects with a focus on life sciences and innovative materials.
To strengthen and internationally expand expertise built up over the years in the management of laboratories and technological platforms, Area Science Park has submitted two project proposals – PRP@CERIC and NFFA-DI – to strengthen research infrastructure. Both have been approved and financed by the Ministry of Universities and Research and are now under implementation.
The project entitled PRP@CERIC – Pathogen Readiness Platform for CERIC-ERIC Upgrade – coordinated by Area Science Park is aimed at strengthening infrastructure of the Central European Research Infrastructure Consortium CERIC-ERIC, located at the Basovizza campus (at Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste), with state-of-the-art equipment for the study and characterisation of pathogens. With the PRP@CERIC research infrastructure, Area Science Park is strengthening and networking LAGE and LADE expertise and laboratories with those located on its campuses (ICGEB, Elettra, CNR-IOM and CNR-IC). This strengthened infrastructure will also include research laboratories (omics sciences and diagnostics) of the Universities of Naples “Federico II”, University of Salerno and University of Salento.
The NFFA-DI project, which Area Science Park is a partner of, is an upgrade of NFFA infrastructure aimed at studying innovative materials. It involves nano-fabrication laboratories for the controlled growth of materials on an atomic scale, with laboratories for the structural characterisation of nano-objects and nano-structured materials (CNR-IOM, Elettra and Fermi). NFFA-DI strengthens the Innovative Materials Platform, through upgrading of the new Electron Microscopy Laboratory (LAME), with implementation of new tools for the preparation, handling and characterisation of samples, also available to the business sphere. In the context of the project, researchers and technologists of the Technological Innovation Research Institute will also develop the digitalisation plan for the entire system of national infrastructure, thanks to the expertise of the LADE laboratory.