The challenge to climate change and the ecological transition of Southern Italy find a new, solid scientific basis in the ZEPHYRUS project, the initiative that marks the natural evolution and strengthening of the Tech4You innovation ecosystem. With a decision that certifies its excellence, the Ministry of University and Research has in fact approved the financing of the project as part of the Expression of Interest for the support of strategic supply chains and networking between research subjects (Directorial Decree no. 307 of 18 March 2025). This recognition guarantees the operational continuity of Tech4You: the strategic alliance between the University of Calabria, the Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, the Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria, the University of Basilicata and the National Research Council (CNR), together with a vast public-private partnership, not only continues its path, but takes on the role of leading entity of a national network of excellence, coordinating a scientific synergy that combines the skills of Southern Italy with the MUSA ecosystems of Lombardy and ECOSISTER of Emilia-Romagna.
The overall value of the investment amounts to 18,487,925.34 euros, with a total subsidy granted by the MUR amounting to 13,434,235.74 euros from PNRR resources dedicated to strengthening strategic supply chains.
These resources will allow us to give substance to the research results along two parallel tracks. The first, dedicated to strengthening strategic supply chains (action 1.1.2), provides a total value of 8,987,924.78 euros, intended to raise the technological maturity of the solutions studied by the researchers. The second pillar, aimed at validating and networking innovation hubs (action 1.1.3b), has a total value of 9,500,000.56 euros, fundamental for permanently connecting the university world to the market and facilitating technological transfer towards businesses through the development of prototypes and pilot plants validated in real contexts.
The effectiveness of the operation lies in the ability to generate concrete impacts for the territories of Calabria and Basilicata, translating frontier research into application solutions for strategic sectors: from energy to sustainable construction, from the marine environment to urban regeneration, up to risk management and digital transition in agriculture, through the integration of Key Enabling Technologies, to guarantee food sustainability and enable circular economy models oriented towards reducing waste and valorising by-products.
Thanks to the integration of enabling technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, IoT, blockchain, XR, advanced materials and Digital Twin, ZEPHYRUS aims to strengthen the competitiveness of local SMEs in European and global value chains. Over sixty percent of the activities will be located in the South, transforming the area into a cutting-edge laboratory where, through living labs, advanced training courses and participatory models, scientific research meets the needs of citizens and businesses.
ZEPHYRUS is thus configured as the synthesis of an unprecedented academic and scientific alliance, a transversal development engine capable of transforming every area of knowledge into a lever of progress.
In this path, the excellence of Southern research becomes a system to guide the country’s transition towards a resilient, digital and fair growth model, in full cohesion with the objectives of the Next Generation EU and the 2030 Agenda. The action is above all consistent with the Pact for the Future: the solemn declaration, adopted unanimously by the member countries of the United Nations in September 2024 to relaunch multilateralism and face global challenges. This programmatic framework integrates the Global Digital Pact and the Declaration on Future Generations, fundamental pillars for a shared vision of global progress.