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The prestigious award given at the 45th SINU National Congress  On the occasion of the 45th National Congress of the Italian Society of Human Nutrition (SINU), held in Salerno from 28 to 30 May 2025, Federica Quintiero, research fellow at the Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine of the University of Pavia, was awarded for the scientific value of her contribution.   Federica, involved in the Spoke 7 of the NODES – Digital and Sustainable North West project, funded by the PNRR and active at the University's Food Education and Sports Nutrition Laboratory, received the Award for the Best Poster Communication with the work entitled Validation of structure of home cooking skills questionnaire: an Italian version (HCSQ- ITA).   The study, developed within the Spoke 7 – Secondary agro-industry of the NODES project, aims to validate the Italian version of the Brazilian questionnaire “Primary Health Care Home Cooking Skills Scale (PHCHCSS)”, a tool to evaluate the domestic culinary skills of the Italian population.   This represents the fundamental starting point for the launch of food education and culinary medicine projects, with the aim of improving not only the population's knowledge, but also their eating habits and culinary.

In today’s edition of Il Sole 24 Ore, June 20, the Nord Ovest insert features an in-depth article on the NODES Innovation Ecosystem, highlighting the results achieved thanks to the investment of over €112 million from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).   In the article by Filomena Greco, it is emphasized how these funds have made it possible to activate a broad and synergistic network involving 8 universities, innovation hubs, research centers, incubators, and companies, engaging 617 innovation professionals and creating 491 new jobs.   Also featured in the article are the 61 academic Proofs of Concept (PoCs) presented during the Tech Sharing Days at Politecnico di Torino, which for two days was transformed into a true exchange platform between research and industry.  «Technology transfer is a strategic lever for the future of our territory,» says General Director Chiara Ferroni. «The synergy between universities, institutions, and businesses is essential to generate concrete impact.»   Read the article on the newspaper’s website

The research group from the Department of Economics and Cultures of the University of Insbruria, coordinated by Professor Roberta Minazzi, recently presented the paper "Substitutability Relationship between Sharing Economy Accommodation and Hotel Businesses" at the Sinergie-SIMA conference entitled "Tertiarization & Sustainability. New Challenges for Management in the Digital Era" (Genoa, June 12-13, 2025) as part of the PNRR NODES – Spoke 3 Tourism and Culture project.   In recent years, the sharing economy has assumed a prominent role within the traditional tourism system, altering competitive dynamics and raising questions about the impact that short-term rental accommodations have on hotels and the destination as a whole.   The study focuses on the Lake Como area, a region that has seen significant growth in accommodation facilities managed according to sharing economy models. Through a survey based on questionnaires administered to a sample of 104 tourists, the research highlighted the presence of a substitution effect limited primarily to medium- to low-end hotels.   Among the factors driving travelers to prefer short-term rentals are the greater affordability and strategic location of the available solutions, elements that suggest the need for some hotel businesses to rethink their differentiation and market positioning strategies.   This contribution is part of the research activities promoted by Spoke 3 Tourism Industry and Culture of the PNRR NODES project, with the aim of providing useful analysis and tools to support the sustainable and competitive development of the Italian tourism sector.

On 28 May 2025, Professor Fabio Dell’Acqua (University of Pavia) presented the initial results achieved by his Research Module within VINO flagship project at the Radar and Remote Sensing Workshop (RRSW) organised by GTTI.   The study, conducted in collaboration with the Microwave Remote Sensing Lab (MRSLab) at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and the Telecommunication and Remote Sensing Lab at UniPV, proposes an innovative approach to vineyard monitoring by combining optical vegetation indexes with multi-polarisation radar indexes. The case study focused on vineyards in the Valle Versa area, contributing to the development of more sustainable, data-driven agricultural practices.   The project is now expanding to Armenia, where full-polarimetric radar data are being acquired through the support of the Italian Space Agency (project AO "ID 910 actirs4env-nodes") on vineyards at Trinity Canyon Vineyards, equipped with in-situ sensors. In collaboration with the CENS NAS RA, researchers are analysing the relationship between radar responses and the seasonal evolution of the vine, also thanks to the presence of co-author Andrea Bergamaschi (UniPV), currently on Erasmus+ mobility.   Future developments include the modelling of radar backscatter from vine rows, in collaboration with Professor Ferdinando Nunziata from Sapienza University of Rome. The project thus strengthens the international and multidisciplinary network of Spoke 6, contributing to digital innovation for a more sustainable agri-food industry.   This experience confirms the strategic value of international research cooperation promoted by Spoke 6, fostering synergies between universities, centres of excellence, and businesses worldwide to advance digital and sustainable solutions in agroindustry.

Ecosystem partners at StartupItalia Open Summit 2025 On 11 June, Politecnico di Torino, coordinator of Spoke 1, hosted SIOS25, one of Italy's leading events for innovation, start-ups and entrepreneurship. Designed to connect startups, investors, companies, institutions, students and innovators, the event provided a valuable platform for discussion, inspiration and networking. The overarching theme of this 10th edition was 'Digital Renaissance': an approach that encourages entrepreneurs, start-ups and thinkers to consider how technology can enhance, rather than replace, human beings in an era of great transformation. Topics such as artificial intelligence, pervasive digitisation and contemporary challenges formed the focus of the debate, with the aim of creating an inclusive technological future in which humans continue to be at the heart of innovation. Through the Innovation Village, workshops, and the SIOS25 Main Stage, Spoke 1 partners, including the Politecnico di Torino, LINKS Foundation, and I3P, as well as startups supported by and born with Spoke 1, such as Deplotic, shared their vision with the innovation players in attendance. NODES represents a strategically important area undergoing transformation, capable of identifying innovation needs at a national and international level. Turin has been confirmed as the ideal location in which to showcase and reinforce this well-established innovation network. Giuseppe Scellato, scientific coordinator of NODES Spoke 1, professor at Politecnico di Torino and president of I3P, engaged in direct dialogue with some of the major local investors and promising start-ups. In particular, he discussed how, through I3P and collaboration with NODES and ESA BIC Turin, the creation and development of start-ups is favored, in order to promote industrial competitiveness, particularly in the aerospace sector — a key area for Spoke 1 in NODES. Spoke 1 has the ambition to consolidate a leadership position, based on scientific excellence and knowledge transfer to the industrial fabric. The event website:   Summer Torino - Sios25   Event by StartupItalia  

in a demonstration of anatomical knowledge and collaborative spirit, the Students Challenges ''UPO Anatomy Talents 2025'' concluded with great success. The event was conceived and coordinated by Professor Francesca Boccafoschi, leader of the flagship project INNDIANA within the NODES - Nord Ovest Digitale e Sostenibile initiative (Spoke 5 – Health Industry and Silver Economy). On June 6th, at the SIMNOVA center in Novara, young talents from the University of Piemonte Orientale,University of Torino,University of Bologna,University of Cagliari, University of Verona and University of Genova, put themselves to the test in a high-intensity simulation pathway. Activities included virtual anatomy tables, microscopic anatomy tests, challenges on the heart, bones, muscles, splanchnology and even a comparison between artificial intelligence and human knowledge.  The event was not just a competition but a real experential learning lab that gave students the opportunity to: test their theoretical knowledge in realistic scenarios; learning by doing; experience teamwork, time management and stress handling; improve their communication and decision-making skills in complex situations. Winners of the 2025 edition:  🥇University of Piemonte Orientale 🥈University of Verona 🥉University of Torino    The goal of the challenge? To train competent, mindful doctors, ready to face the challenges of the healthcare profession with preparation, empathy and critical thinking. An immersive experience that combined theory, practice and innovation, confirming once again the importance of dynamic and multidisciplinary teaching approaches in medical university education.    Professor Boccafoschi comments: ''This third edition of the talent was particularly exciting! We have optimized various aspects of the organization thanks to past experiences. The collaboration of the other universities also in the organizational phases gratifying to see the surprised and smiling faces of the students, that they find university life engaging and fun even in the moments of training and learning''.    Special thanks for their support go to: Piccin Nuova Libraria S.p.A., Sectra, Anatomage Inc., Zaccanti S.p.A., Wolters Kluwer Italia, and Ceabis.        

The "NODES for digital and sustainable mountain" meeting has been held in Aosta on June 10, 2025

Spoke 1 in Bologna with industrial funded research for dual transition NODES Spoke 1 expands the reach of the ecosystem and brings its results to We Make Future 2025. We Make Future is the international festival dedicated to digital and social innovation, hosted annually in Italy. It brings together technology, business, culture and education to promote a more sustainable future. An intense 3 days event, June 4-6, hosted this year in Bologna, ideal for advancing the goals of NODES, increasing the competitiveness of industries and research institutions by fostering their ongoing dialogue.   Fondazione Piemonte Innova and the ICT Cluster hosted several of the companies funded through Spoke 1's cascade calls, who presented their innovative ideas and the results of their industrial research projects to the wide audience present during the fair. Spoke 1's industrial research activities are positioned in the different steps of the Aerospace and Sustainable Mobility value chains, and can thus bring benefit and innovation in two sectors whose paradigms are in great evolution.   The event is a great opportunity for startups, companies, students, professionals, and institutions to meet and find the best synergies to support innovation projects and new activities. Thanks to Fondazione Piemonte Innova, a leading partner of Spoke 1 NODES, local companies were able to highlight the great capabilities housed in NODES and the potential for further development and continued growth during major paradigms changes and the dual digital and sustainable transition.  

May 29, students from Università and  Politecnico di Torino presented their innovative solutions in response to the “Indigo” Challenges organized by the University of Turin for Spoke 1 NODES. The proposed challenges came from two major groups in the area, SKF and Teoresi. Complex objectives SKF, which is expanding its facility, was seeking solutions for designing innovative, digitized and sustainable aerospace spaces to enhance the work and hospitality experience by integrating advanced technologies, environmentally sustainable solutions and new ways of training and collaboration. Teoresi, on the other hand, wants to take the macro-topic of smart mobility head-on, particularly two of its key aspects. Increasingly connected and autonomous mobility and the concept of sustainability, both environmental and economic. In particular, Teoresi sought solutions for the specific context of share-mobility with a fleet of electric, connected and autonomous cars in a medium-sized city. The winning teams are “spotApark” for the Teoresi Challenge and “Skylab” for the SKF challenge. All teams demonstrated excellent skills and inventiveness, and support was never lacking. Business mentors accompanied the teams' growth through to the final pitches, with valuable support from I3P, the Incubator of the Politecnico di Torino and partner of Spoke 1. Devising market solutions is a complex issue, and identifying both technologically and economically viable systems, considering current technological limitations and contextualizing possible applications, while thinking ahead to possible further developments, is a major undertaking that consolidated the teams' capabilities. Students Challenges offer companies a concrete opportunity to co-develop innovative solutions with new talent, while undergraduate students, thanks to “learning by doing,” can engage with local business realities, a highly formative and enabling experience in preparation to their first step in the job market.   Indigo Challenge SKF   Indigo Challenge Teoresi      

Once again, the Startup Academy by I3P is helping shape the next generation of young entrepreneurs. The course successfully supported aspiring startup founders in the early stages of their journey, helping them turn innovative ideas into concrete projects, build teams with complementary skills, and launch the customer discovery process. Throughout the program, participants explored tools to validate their business ideas and analyze potential target markets.   The training experience was enriched by direct exchanges with scale-up founders and venture capitalists, who shared real-world insights into what it takes to build a successful entrepreneurial story. Expert mentors and active startups—particularly in the aerospace and sustainable mobility sectors, supported by Spoke 1 of the NODES Ecosystem—helped create a dynamic, stimulating environment full of opportunities.

On 30 May, the final event of the APNR – Academy del Pinot Nero Research project was held at the Prime Alture agricultural company (lead partner), in collaboration with Geosmartcampus Srl. APNR is an industrial Proof of Concept funded under the Cascade Calls – Line A of the NODES – Nord Ovest Digitale e Sostenibile programme, aimed at developing innovative technologies and strategies to enhance the Pinot Noir supply chain in the Oltrepò Pavese region of northern Italy.   The project focused on two complementary areas: experimental fieldwork in the vineyard, with the installation of pilot systems, and market research to analyse consumer preferences and refine product positioning strategies. Among the innovations tested in the vineyard, special attention was given to the use of inter-row mulching, an agronomic technique involving the autumn-winter sowing of temporary cover crops. These are later shredded and channelled beneath the vines using a dual-row mulching machine, creating a uniform organic layer. This practice significantly suppressed weed regrowth throughout the season without the need for further intervention, while repurposing plant residues from within the vineyard ecosystem itself—an example of circular sustainability.   A second pilot involved the use of shade nets, designed to reduce incident solar radiation by 20% to 70%. The results were highly promising: the nets helped prevent sunburn on grape clusters and improved overall agronomic performance. Analytical data recorded slightly higher yields (127 kg per row with nets vs. 124 kg without; 2.12 kg per vine with nets vs. 1.87 kg without), better fruit distribution, and healthier vines with minimal fungal disease. Labour was also optimised, as no de-shooting was required and harvesting was easier thanks to the clear and compact cluster arrangement.   On the industrial research side, the APNR team conducted a two-phase market study. The qualitative phase explored emotional responses, perceptions, and narratives surrounding Pinot Noir, gathering insights from sommeliers, chefs, and wine enthusiasts to guide marketing strategies and uncover new consumption occasions. The subsequent quantitative phase validated these insights across a representative sample of wine consumers, identifying high-potential target groups and effective communication strategies to attract and retain new audiences.   APNR has served as a practical example of how combining field-based innovation with market intelligence can produce tangible benefits for wine producers, enabling a shift toward more sustainable, competitive, and consumer-conscious viticulture.

On May 22, the final event of the SPIDAP project – Development of a Digital Platform Based on Artificial Intelligence for Precision Agriculture – was held at the GAL Terre di Aci headquarters in Acireale (CT). The project was funded through the cascade calls.  SPIDAP is the result of a collaborative effort between Sicilian SMEs Agrigeos and Lualtek, and the CNR-IMEM Institute in Parma. It integrates artificial intelligence, advanced sensor technology, and agronomic analysis to optimize water usage and improve the sustainability of citrus production—an innovative step forward for smart agriculture tailored to local needs. The event was moderated by Mariarita Zappalà (Agrigeos), and opened with institutional remarks by Anna Privitera (Director, GAL Terre di Aci), who emphasized the GAL’s role in promoting agricultural innovation in a region with a strong citrus-growing tradition. Chiara Ferroni, Director of the NODES ecosystem, highlighted the achievements of the program, which has supported over 300 companies, including many in Southern Italy. Salvo Nicolosi (General Manager, Agrigeos) underlined the importance of partnerships between SMEs and research centers in developing knowledge and technologies to advance the agricultural sector. The technical session featured presentations by Marco Acciai (Agrigeos), who showcased field and controlled-environment results using the Plantarray phenotyping system and the Bioristor sensor developed by CNR-IMEM. Michela Janni (CNR-IMEM) explained how the Bioristor enables real-time monitoring of plant physiology, essentially allowing researchers to “listen” to the plants. Luca Occhipinti (CEO, Lualtek) closed the session by demonstrating how Bioristor data and electrical conductivity readings can be integrated into predictive models to optimize irrigation. The event concluded with a shared commitment to continue data collection and refine the predictive model, confirming the value of a collaboration that has already yielded promising results for the digital transformation of the citrus sector.

Il 27 e 28 maggio 2025 lo Spoke 2 – Green Technologies e Industria Sostenibile ha partecipato ai NODES’ Tech Sharing Days presso il Politecnico di Torino con 14 PoC accademici, portando al centro dell’evento le competenze, le idee e i risultati sviluppati nei laboratori dell’Università e dei partner coinvolti. I PoC dello Spoke 2 – FSM2C, GREEN.VAL., ISS, MATERIALIZED, SPONDE, WAKEUP, T2T, Biocare, BioReMediA, DST-SRM, PFS, REDiRECt-Gd, REFINEMENT, ROSEWATER – hanno avuto l’opportunità di raccontarsi attraverso diverse modalità: poster, materiale divulgativo, banchetti all’aperto e in particolare con una serie di pitch da tre minuti in cui i team hanno illustrato in modo diretto e dinamico i propri progetti a un pubblico composto da stakeholder, aziende, investitori e operatori dell’innovazione.   A rappresentare l’Università degli Studi di Torino, capofila dello Spoke 2, è intervenuta Cristina Prandi, Responsabile Scientifica dello Spoke, durante la tavola rotonda dal titolo “Innovazione e trasferimento tecnologico: NODES e la Ricerca accademica come motore d’impresa” con Giuliana Mattiazzo (Politecnico di Torino), Andrea Vezzulli (Università degli Studi dell'Insubria), Marco Alderighi (Università della Valle d'Aosta), Marco Invernizzi (Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale), Hermes Giberti (Università degli Studi di Pavia) e Andrea Pieroni (Università di Scienze Gastronomiche). Nella prima parte dell’incontro – “Il punto di vista degli atenei: cooperazione, ricerca applicata, impatto territoriale” – hanno illustrato il ruolo strategico della ricerca universitaria nel generare soluzioni ad alto impatto per il tessuto produttivo del Nord Ovest. La partecipazione dello Spoke 2 ai NODES’ Tech Sharing Days ha dimostrato come la collaborazione tra accademia e impresa, se ben strutturata, possa concretamente accelerare il trasferimento tecnologico e lo sviluppo di innovazioni sostenibili.   🔎 Per scoprire di più sui PoC dello Spoke 2, visita la pagina dedicata Scopri di più