THE EUROSCIENCE OPEN FORUM 2020 IN TRIESTE, ITALY

October 05, 2020

The city of Trieste recently hosted the 2020 edition of the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF), a biennial, pan-European, general science conference dedicated to scientific research and innovation, organized through seminars, meetings and debates around the latest advancements and discoveries in the sciences, humanities and social sciences.

The event, previously scheduled for July 2020 and then postponed due to the health emergency, took place in Trieste from 2 to 6 September 2020 with an innovative hybrid format gathered top-quality scientific discussion that achieved resounding success among on-site and online participants.

Trieste is internationally renowned for the high concentration of scientific institutions. The city hosts overall more than 30 national and international centres and companies working in research and higher education, 5.000 permanent foreign scientists and some 13000 students and researchers.

For the first time in its history, with the 2020 edition, ESOF aimed at reaching beyond the national borders of its host country, relying on the city of Trieste, strategically positioned as the gateway between Central and Eastern Europe, to strengthen relations among scientists, entrepreneurs, policymakers and citizens of this multi-national area, thus making a crucial step towards a truly open and inclusive Europe.

ESOF 2020 was successfully in the global spotlight: online visitors came from 52 countries across 5 continents.

The event counted approximately 2.500 people registered; among these, more than 1.000 participated in person and 1.400 people connected remotely every day. On average each initiative was attended online by around 300 people, and the event saw 4.300 overall virtual visits.

During the conference, there was a particular focus on Science Diplomacy, with about 10 sessions dedicated to the topic and different projects; among them “Building Bridges”, “Scientific Diplomacy for Freedom”, and the issue of refugee scientists, with outstanding presentations by American economist Jeffrey Sachs, CERN Director Fabiola Gianotti, and Ghanya Al-Naqeb, from Yemen, who shared her personal experience as a refugee scientist.

WTC Trieste was Partner of the opening event “BIG BANG DATA”, focused also on Artificial Intelligence solutions applied to different branches of the economy.

This confirms that Trieste and the Mediterranean region are, quite rightly, fertile ground for merging different cultures, institutions and people moving towards a common future.

More News

WTC Trieste at UNIDO General Conference in Riyadh

December 18, 2025 - On November 24, Cristina Sbaizero, CEO of World Trade Center Trieste, participated in the 21st Session of the UNIDO General Conference in Riyadh. She represented the WTCA as a liaison to UNIDO, supporting the continued strengthening of the partnership between the two organizations. Ms. Sbaizero was invited as a speaker in the panel “Accelerating Blue Industry: Scaling Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Solutions Across Blue Sectors.” The session gathered high-level representatives from governments, international institutions, and the private sector to discuss new strategies for the sustainable growth of blue industries. During the speech, Ms. Sbaizero, together with Ms. Diana Battaggia, Head of UNIDO ITPO Italy, announced the launch of “UNIDO-WTCA Global Call 2026 on the Blue Economy,” a new joint initiative between UNIDO and the World Trade Centers Association. The program seeks to identify innovative, ready-to-implement solutions that contribute to sustainable development in the Blue Economy, offering support for scale-up and connecting them with partners and investors through the WTC network. Cristina Sbaizero’s role within the WTCA, including her recent reelection to the Board, highlights WTC Trieste’s continued involvement in the Association’s international activities. The UNIDO–WTCA Global Call 2026 on the Blue Economy will be officially presented to the WTCA network at the WTCA Global Business Forum in Philadelphia, marking the next step in engaging World Trade Centers worldwide in the initiative. Read More

WTC Trieste joins Migration Forum 2025 in Naples

November 5, 2025 - World Trade Center Trieste took part in the Migration Forum 2025, held in Naples on October 15th within the framework of the MED Dialogues. The event, co-hosted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ISPI, and IOM with the support of the European Training Foundation, gathered policymakers, private sector representatives, and international experts to explore innovative approaches to migration governance. Invited by IOM, WTC Trieste contributed to the panel “Engaging the Private Sector in Migration Governance.” Cristina Sbaizero, WTC Trieste CEO, shared insights from the YMED Blue Economy Project implemented in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, while Leonardo Monniello, Head of Member Services and Project Manager, joined the delegation. The discussion highlighted the crucial role of private sector engagement in fostering regular migration pathways, skills development, and training opportunities for migrants. As emphasized throughout the Forum, migration should not be viewed solely as a challenge, but as an opportunity for innovation, economic growth, and social inclusion. Read More