One million euros to support innovation in diving

"Friuli Venezia Giulia, the first region in Italy, has signed an agreement with the National Center for Underwater Dimension (Pns) to strengthen research and innovation in a strategic sector of the regional economy. With the financing of phase 2 of batch 1 of the Pns projects, we confirm our desire to promote concrete cooperation between institutions, business and research".

This was stated by the regional councilor for University and Research Alessia Rosolen, commenting on a specific resolution that the Council approved during the last session of the Executive. The contribution, equal to one million euros, is provided for by the regional law of 28 December 2023, n. 16 (Stability Law 2024), which in article 7 authorizes the regional administration to enter into agreements with the government to implement strategic projects for the territory, consistent with the Smart Specialization Strategy of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The memorandum of understanding signed on 31 May 2024 between the Region, the Ministry of University and Research and the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy for the creation of the "#Innovation HUB FVG - #IHUB FVG" fits into this context.

In particular, the Agreement signed on 6 November 2024 between the Region, MUR and the National Centre for Underwater Dimension provides for the implementation of the “#IHUB FVG-PNS” project, with the aim of promoting pre-industrial technological experimentation, business generation and the validation of new products and services, in synergy with the periodic calls for proposals promoted by the PNS. “This initiative – explains Rosolen – represents an innovative cooperation model, destined to be replicated in other regional contexts and enhances the maritime dimension of our territory, strengthening the thematic specialization of our research ecosystem”.

The amount allocated by the Region will be entirely earmarked for co-financing the second phase of batch 1, within the framework of the projects selected by the PNS, with funds reserved for activities that fall within the regional territory. The National Hub, in the meeting of 6 March 2025 at the regional headquarters in Trieste, shared with the Region the technological trajectories of batch 3 and the details on the resources allocated to future calls for tenders, ensuring transparency and strategic coherence with the regional objectives.