Program 2026
The GeoAdriatico international symposium will feature debates, lectures and workshops, in compliance with the regulations on the prevention of Covid-19 transmission and those relating to the risk of the virus spreading.
11
JUNE
Thursday 11
Panel discussion opening ceremony
Blue Economy Plan: a dialogue between the blue economy, innovation and IMEC
Welcome remarks
Massimiliano Fedriga, President, Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia
Elisabetta de Giorgi, Delegate for International Relations, University of Trieste
Marcelo Knobel, Executive Director, TWAS
Andrea Romanino, Director, SISSA (International School for Advanced Studies)
Keynote address
Paola Del Negro, Director General, National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics – OGS
Speakers
Marco Consalvo, President, Port System Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea
Vincenzo Garofolo, Commissioner, Port System Authority of the Central Adriatic Sea
Pierpaolo Ribuffo, Head of the Department for Sea Policies, Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Francesco Maria Talò, Special Envoy for IMEC, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Moderator
Roberto Vitale, President, GeoAdriatico
Venue
Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia (Reception Hall)
Time
09.30 – 10.45
Panel discussion opening ceremony
Ocean 2030: geostrategic routes, sustainability and new underwater frontiers
Keynote address
Franco Dal Mas, Secretary General, Central European Initiative
Speakers
Carmelo Barbarello, IMEC Coordinator, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Francesco Benevolo, President, Port System Authority of the Central-Northern Adriatic Sea
Massimo Campailla, Lecturer in Navigation and Transport Law, University of Trieste
Dario Giacomin, Vice President, Underwater Product Development, Fincantieri
Panel discussion
International crises: key trends in the current geopolitical landscape
Welcome remarks
Antonio Paoletti, President, Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce
Roberto Musneci, President, Italian Chamber of Commerce for Romania
Alessia Rosolen, Councillor, Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia
Keynote address
Giorgio Marrapodi, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations
Speakers
Alessandro Lombardi, Head of Projects, CEI (Central European Initiative)
Stefano Pilotto, Lecturer in International Relations, MIB School of Management
Moderator
Roberto Vitale, President, GeoAdriatico
Venue
Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce (Sala Maggiore)
Time
15.00 – 16.15
Panel discussion
Geopolitics, scientific diplomacy and cybersecurity between the Adriatic and the Black Sea
Keynote address
Giuseppe Mancini, Vice President, Intelligence & International, Leonardo Spa
Speakers
Francesco Caputo, HR Director, Prysmian Romania
Antonio Gurrieri, CEO, Alpe Adria Spa
Gianluca Meomartini, Vice President of Sales, Bitdefender
Claudio Taboga, General Manager, Vard Shipyards Romania-Fincantieri
Maria Teresa Tombini, Senior Advisor, Group International Public Affairs, Generali
Moderator
Pasquale Silvestro, Vice President, Italian Chamber of Commerce for Romania
Venue
Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce (Sala Maggiore)
Time
16.15 – 17.15
Panel discussion
Italy–Romania: opportunities, services and partnerships
Speakers
Gabriele Bellon, Director General, BCC Venezia Giulia
Daniel Burcea, Director, Italy Branch, Banca Transilvania
Nicola Polato, Head of the Northeast Office, SIMEST
Paul Vatamanu, CEO, Vatamanu Coperture
Moderator
Roberto Falato, Partner, Crowe Finxepert Boscolo
Venue
Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce (Sala Maggiore)
Time
17.35 – 18.35
B2B sessions and networking
Venue
Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce (Sala Maggiore)
Time
18.35 – 19.35
12
JUNE
Friday 12
Panel discussion
Cooperation, defence and scientific research: the Arctic’s central role today
Speakers
Manuel Bensi – oceanographer at the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS)
Carlo Di Somma, Chair, Joint Steering Committee for the Arctic, Sub-Arctic and Antarctic Environment, Ministry of Defence
Fausto Ferraccioli, Director, Geophysics Section, National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics – OGS
Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager, Merchant Ships Division, Fincantieri
Giuliana Panieri, Director, Institute of Polar Sciences, CNR (National Research Council)
Max Paoli, UNESCO-TWAS Project Manager
Fabrizio Orengo, Director, Hydrographic Institute of the Italian Navy
Moderator
Stefano Polii, columnist, ANSA news agency
Venue
International Centre for Theoretical Physics ICTP (Joseph-Louis Lagrange Lecture Hall)
Time
9.00 – 12.00
Panel discussion
EU enlargement in the Balkans: a strategic tool for stability and security
Welcome remarks
Maria Tripodi, Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Keynote address
Franco Dal Mas, Secretary General, CEI (Central European Initiative)
Speakers
Anila Bitri Lani, Ambassador of Albania to Italy
Francesco Deana, Lecturer in European Union Law, University of Udine
Mauro D’Ubaldi, Deputy Secretary General of Defence
Luca Gori, Ambassador of Italy to Serbia
Andreina Marsella, Ambassador of Italy to Montenegro
Moderator
Roberto Vitale, President, GeoAdriatico
Venue
MIB Trieste School of Management (Salone d’Onore)
Time
9.30 – 10.45
Panel discussion
EUSAIR Macroregion: European strategy for Mediterranean competitiveness
Speakers
Marco Alberti, Ambassador of Italy to Albania
Elisabetta Dovier, Programme Manager, CEI (Central European Initiative)
Tatjana Rojc, Member of the EU Policies Committee, Senate of the Republic
Andrea Tracogna, Dean, MIB Trieste School of Management / Lecturer, University of Trieste
Venue
MIB Trieste School of Management (Salone d’Onore)
Time
10.45-12
Panel discussion
Europe and Africa: space sovereignty in the age of invisible conflicts
Speakers
Carlo Baccigalupi, Lecturer in Cosmology, SISSA (International School for Advanced Studies)
Valter Bonvicini, Director, INFN Trieste Section (National Institute for Nuclear Physics)
Guido Bortoluzzi, Lecturer in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship, University of Trieste
Federico Battera, Lecturer in History and Institutions of Africa, University of Trieste
Massimo Comparini, Director, Space Division, Leonardo Spa
Beatrice Manassero, Space and Scientific Cooperation Office, MAECI
Fabrizio Rovatti, Project Manager, Area Science Park
Andrea Vacchi, Lecturer in Physics, University of Udine
Moderator
Anna Gregorio Michelazzi, Lecturer in Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Trieste
Venue
Chamber of Commerce (Sala Desiata)
Time
16.00 – 18.00
13
JUNE
Saturday 13
Lectio magistralis/Working group
The United Nations’ Blue Planet: science, digitalisation and transport
Welcome remarks
Marco Consalvo, President, Port System Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea
Keynote address
Ghribi Mounir, Director, Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence Sustainable Blue Economy (Tunisia)
Speakers
Rodolfo Taccani, Lecturer in Energy Systems, University of Trieste
Steve Taylor, Coordinator, North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley Project, United Kingdom
OGS Master’s students
Douniazad Abbani (Algeria)
Olalekan Paul Babatunde Akande (Nigeria)
Wasiu Ayinde (Nigeria)
Mohamed Belaabed (Morocco)
Hiba Bendacha (Algeria)
Ambra Cozzi (Italy)
Katia El Kabbout (Lebanon)
Mehdi Hany Mohammed El Younsi (Tunisia)
Hassan Elsayed (Egypt)
Sally Elshalaqamy (Egypt)
Renato Ferfoglia (Italy)
Hajar Idmoussi (Morocco)
Taha el Bachir Khial (Algeria)
Marwa Melki (Tunisia)
Roberta Milo (Italy)
Chiara Mondaini (Italy)
Maria Mulè (Italy)
Patrizia Patti (Malta)
Etta Prosper Eti (Cameroon)
Ante Sladoljev (Croatia)
Moderator
Maria Chiara Billi, Secretary General, Cinzia Vitale Initiative for Culture
Venue
Port System Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea (Sala Rossa)
Time
9.30 – 12.00
Panel discussion
Trieste: a new Euro-Adriatic Ionian hub for consular diplomacy
Keynote address
Paolo Trichilo, Ambassador of Italy to Croatia
Speakers
Marco Ferruzzi Balbi, Consul of the Republic of Poland
Massimiliano Fabian, Consul of the Republic of Cameroon
Agnese Ghersi, Consul of the Republic of France
Lucia Montesanti, Lecturer in Sociology of Political Phenomena, Magna Graecia University
Adina Lovin, Consul General of the Republic of Romania
Sabrina Strolego, Consul of the Republic of Austria
Moderator
Roberto Vitale, President, GeoAdriatico
Venue
Central European Initiative (Reception Hall)
Time
10.00 – 12.30
14
JUNE
Sunday 14
Exhibition tour
She is drawn to a sphinx. Maximilian of Habsburg and the Egyptian collections
Venue
Miramare Castle Stables
Time
10.00 – 12.00 reserved for symposium speakers
Accomodation
The DoubleTree by Hilton Trieste is housed in a historic early 20th-century building listed by the Superintendency of Fine Arts and spans four floors, offering a classic setting.
The charming entrance leads to the lobby, situated opposite the imposing marble fountain depicting Mercury with three lions drinking, creating a play of shapes, lights and contrasts that enhance and emphasise the high-quality aesthetics.
DoubleTree by Hilton Trieste
Via the panoramic lifts and the historic grand staircase, you can access the floors housing the historic bookshop, the Novecento Restaurant Trieste – a name that reflects both the origins of the historic building and the era when Trieste was the cultural heart of Central Europe – and the Berlam Coffee Tea & Cocktail, whose name pays homage to the family of Trieste architects who designed the building.
The hotel comprises 125 elegant rooms of various types: 34 Guest Rooms (including 10 Accessible Rooms), 66 Deluxe Rooms, 15 Junior Suites, 9 Suites and, finally, 1 Presidential Suite. Some of the rooms retain historical features and details such as fireplaces and stained-glass windows, which were restored during the building’s renovation to their former charm and splendour.
All rooms feature a spacious shower cubicle, comfortable Sweet Dreams® beds, a desk, free WiFi and a minibar. The unique design and stylish details are combined with technological amenities such as 40-inch LCD TVs, and thoughtful touches such as espresso machines, to ensure a pleasant and relaxing stay without compromising on comfort.
Rounding off the services on offer is the wellness and fitness area: the exclusive Wellness Area, a modern oasis of wellbeing set within the splendid surroundings of the historic building, a relaxing retreat for body and soul, as well as the modern Fitness Centre, equipped with state-of-the-art machines.