Ecosystem for Sustainable Transition in Emilia-Romagna – ECOSISTER

Funding details and duration of the project

Funder: Project funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.5 - Call for tender No. 3277 of 30/12/2021 of Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU

Award Number: Project code ECS00000033, Concession Decree No. 1052 of 23/06/2022 adopted by the Italian Ministry of, CUP D93C22000460001, “Ecosystem for Sustainable Transition in Emilia-Romagna” (ECOSISTER)

Start date: 01.10.2022

End date: 30.09.2025

Total NRRP funding for the whole project: € 110.000.000

Total NRRP funding for Unipr: € 12.012.587

Description of the project

Objectives

The Ecosystem for Sustainable Transition in Emilia-Romagna is a network of regional stakeholders who share a common vision: enhance Emilia-Romagna's global leadership in applied research to ensure an effective capacity to support a sustainable, resilient and people-centred industrial development of the regional manufacturing and services system, through the implementation of green and digital transitions, in line with local and European strategies. More specifically, the objectives of the project are:

to enhance regional research and industrial ecosystem, encouraging its structural strengthening
to enhance projects, services, initiatives to promote the leap in scale and structural consolidation
to facilitate the technology transfer and accelerate the digital transformation of business while increasing the economic and environmental sustainability
to strengthen local communities' and public administrations’ role in research and innovation processes

Activities

The Ecosystem for Sustainable Transition in Emilia-Romagna is composed by six thematic Spokes representing 6 innovation domains, crucial to support the sustainable transition. Each Spoke transposes the goals of the project into operational objectives related to its expertise:

Spoke 1 – Materials for sustainability and ecological transition
Spoke 2 – Clean energy production, storage and saving
Spoke 3 – Green manufacturing for a sustainable economy
Spoke 4 – Smart Mobility, housing, and energy solutions
Spoke 5 – Circular economy and blue economy
Spoke 6 – Ecological transition based on HPC and Data Technology

The Technology Transfer Innovation Program (TTIP) part of the innovation ecosystem proposal has the objective to promote industrial research as the main driver for sustainable economic development. It is organized in 5 macro-actions:

Training activities
Incubation programmes
Acceleration programmes
Technology Transfer
Public Engagement

Role of the University of Parma in the project

The University of Parma is leader in the Spoke 4 and 6, and will contribute to:

develop advanced materials for various fields: automotive, industry, packaging, bio-medical
improve technologies for renewable energy sources
enhance global competitiveness by leveraging green and sustainable know-how
support sustainable and inclusive mobility in the smart city
innovate in the blue economy with a 360° approach
strengthen Emilia-Romagna's role in HPC and data analysis

Departments of the University of Parma involved in the project

Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability
Department of Economics and Management
Department of Engineering and Architecture
Department of Food and Drug
Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries
Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computer Science
Department of Medicine and Surgery

Partners

The consortium of the Ecosystem project is composed of both public and private entities, such as:

Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna
Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Università degli Studi di Parma
Università degli Studi di Ferrara
Politecnico di Milano
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare
ENEA Agenzia nazionale per le nuove tecnologie, l'energia e lo sviluppo economico sostenibile
CINECA Consorzio Interuniversitario,
Centro Ceramico Consorzio Universitario
Fondazione REI Reggio Emilia Innovazione
Fondazione Democenter-Sipe
BI-REX Big Data Innovation & Research Excellence
CertiMaC S.cons. a r.l.
CRPA Spa Centro Ricerche Produzioni Animali
LEAP S. Cons. a r.l. Laboratorio Energia Ambiente Piacenza
MISTER Smart Innovation
Consorzio MUSP Macchine Utensili e Sistemi di Produzione
Consorzio PROAMBIENTE
Romagna Tech
Consorzio T3LAB Technology Transfer Team
ALMACUBE S.r.l.

Results of the project

The expected result is to strengthen scientific and digital competences, creating new jobs and investments, contribute to regional priority by strengthening competitiveness while preserving cultural heritage, in particular:

new materials will drive a positive change in the industry while advancements in renewable energy—focused on green hydrogen and CO2 treatment— will reduce regional footprint on the environment activities
a change is expected in the industrial culture aligning the production system with EU standards, reducing water and hazardous material use, positively impacting the region’s economy and culture
a radical yet smooth change in city and rural life will promote a sustainable model that is accessible, inclusive, and aligned with citizens’ needs
R&I actions on circular blue economy and aquatic ecosystems will facilitate adoption of sustainable practices by SMEs, ensuring the preservation of our precious land and seawater
lead HPC hub in Italy and contribute to the European agenda for Ecological Transition, focusing on developing expertise in HPC, HTC, and data applications, steering regional research towards green computing and increasing international collaboration

Research will be supported by technology transfer initiatives to improve competitiveness and innovation, connecting R&D, society, and environment, fostering innovation in firms towards a sustainable future