University of Rijeka (UNIRI) and the University of Trieste (UNITS) have launched efforts to strengthen their collaboration through an official meeting held on August 25, 2026, at the Piazzale Europa Campus in Trieste. The two institutions share a long-term partnership and a strong focus on research, innovation, and engagement with the local area, which helps them strengthen their strategic position in the Upper Adriatic region.
On behalf of the University of Rijeka, Rector Prof. Goran Hauser, MD, PhD; Vice-Rector for Strategic Projects Prof. Goran Vukelić, PhD; and Vice-Rector for Digitalisation and Development Prof. Marin Karuza, PhD, attended the meeting. They were welcomed by UNITS representatives: Rector Prof. Donata Vianelli, PhD, Vice-Rector for Research Prof. Paolo Fornasiero, PhD, Vice-Rector for Relations with Companies and the Local Community Prof. Guido Bortoluzzi, PhD, and the Rector’s Delegate for Technology Transfer and Relations with Research Institutions Prof. Erik Vesselli, PhD.
Among the first initiatives identified to give concrete form to the agreement is the organization of Joint Research Day Seminars, initially focusing on three areas: Naval Engineering, Blue Economy and Physics. The two universities will explore potential collaborations in other strategic fields in the future. The collaboration may also be extended to administrative and student communities through staff meetings, student entrepreneurship programmes, technology transfer initiatives and Erasmus Traineeship opportunities.
The meeting builds on a relationship that began in 2001 and has led over the years to nearly one hundred joint scientific publications, as well as joint participation in NAHV – North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley, the major European project dedicated to developing the renewable hydrogen economy in the Upper Adriatic region, which originated from a UNITS initiative.