(ANSA) - UDINE - The Western Balkan countries ''see Italy, our region and Trieste in particular as the natural link between the Danube area and the Mediterranean region'', said Sergio Paoletti, president of Area Science Park and one of the members of the Trieste delegation who submitted to Euroscience last summer and then obtained the candidacy of Trieste for ESOF 2020.

Along with Stefano Fantoni, president of the Trieste International Foundation, promoter of ESOF 2020 Trieste, and Stephen Taylor, co-coordinator of the ESOF 2020 Trieste meeting table ''Science to policy'' and director of Innovation and Complex Systems at Area Science Park, Paoletti will be in Sofia on May 3 and 4 to attend a conference aiming to analyse how the smart revolution, technology transfer and the digital economy, along with investment in research, innovation and human capital can truly become the keys to the economic growth even in southern Europe. ''In this system, research, innovation, logistics, transport and above all new types of innovative industrial installations are intertwined and create a network of relationships which can enhance economic and social development - Paoletti said -. And innovation is now closely linked to research, especially when public research redirects the investment towards companies''.

One of the meeting tables at ESOF 2020 Trieste, which is going to be not only a national but also an international event, especially because it is open to the Western Balkans, will focus on innovation with contacts in the Balkan countries, also taking advantage of the actions already launched by the Trieste-based research centres, across southeastern Europe. ''A few weeks ago an greement has been signed between the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Miur and Mise (Education and Economic Development Ministeries), which is called the Argo System, in order to open a new chapter of industrial innovation, especially in industry 4.0 - Paoletti explained - In this context, the Area Science Park has already numerous long-standing contacts with the Western Balkans, for example it is coordinating the OIS (Open Innovation System) - AIR initiative (Adriatic Ionian Region), that sees the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region as a leading partner, and through hubs in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece, covers the whole eastern Adriatic-Ionian area, guaranteeing a homogeneous process to transfer innovation.

Another interesting initiative is being carried out with the Croatian Government that has chosen Area Science Park as a partner to build the entire innovation network across the country. Ad hoc exchange agreements have been established in collaboration with Italy's Foreign Affairs Bureau''. (ANSA).