(ANSA) - TRIESTE - Exceptionally powerful microscopes able to facilitate innovation in most varied sectors (from the development of memory supports for computers and cellphones, to alternative energy and cancer treatment), were the main topic of the workshop held in Trieste, organized within the Eu-financed Central European Network for knowledge based on Innovative Light Sources (Cenils). Representatives of companies, universities and research centres from Central Europe attended the event. Financed within the European Programme Central Europe 2007-2013, Cenils aims at bringing together scientific and business communities, in order to exploit the opportunities for innovation offered by innovative light sources (Ils), in sectors including biology, medicine, nanotechnology, environment preservation and textile industry, with the final goal of advancing local innovation in the Central European region. The project started in September of 2012 and will last until the end of 2014, but the aim is to create a permanent regional network in the near future. "The idea is to replicate Cenils on a wider scale, including more partners, and, ideally, comprising the entire Central Europe region, while concentrating even more on industry and training, and possibly including not only university students but also secondary schools", the leader of the Cenils project, Giovanni De Ninno, said for Ansa New Europe. At the moment, Cenils is composed of five partners from five Central European countries (Italy, Slovenia, Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary), lead by the multidisciplinary research centre Elettra Sincrotrone from Trieste. Two universities (University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia and Jagiellonian University, Poland), one public foundation for industrial development (Ifka, Hungary) and one private institute which gathers experts of regional development (Era, Czech Republic) are also part of the Network.

In the first phase of the project, a "mapping" of Central Europe was made in order to pinpoint the possible Ils and subjects that could be engaged on various levels, including the scientific sector(universities, laboratories), companies and policy makers at the European level. "There are many difficulties in Central Europe, but there are also numerous laboratories, a number of actively involved enterprises, and a plethora of universities, students and professors ready to work with us", De Ninno pointed out, adding that the region "is growing very rapidly and very well", and that, for certain aspects, it is easier to operate in Central Europe than in some other, more developed, contexts. During the second part of the project, a selected group of relevant actors from Central Europe will participate in two practical experiments - the first, taking place at Elettra Sincrotrone, will deal with the characterization of Ils, while the second, to be held at the University of Nova Gorica, will deal with the analysis of solar cells. (ANSA).