Innovation: Public research and biotechnology – New issue of ENEA scientific journal

In the editorial opening the latest issue of the ENEA scientific journal *EAI – Energy, Environment and Innovation titled *Public Research and Biotechnology: ENEA’s Role at the Intersection of Innovation and Sustainability”, available online starting today, ENEA President Francesca Mariotti highlighted that “Biotechnology represents a frontier scientific field but, above all, an actual enabling technological infrastructure capable of generating value across the entire production chain, fostering both sustainability and competitiveness”.

“Biotechnology is a cross-cutting sector that impacts areas fundamental to the growth and well-being of our societies—ranging from health and agriculture to food and industry, as well as environmental and marine applications, pointed out Adolfo Urso, Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy. His contribution appears in the “Scenarios” section, which also features insights from the CNR President Andrea Lenzi on public research as a guarantor of the equilibrium between innovation and safety; Lawrence Banks, Director-General of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), on the relationship between ethics and research; CREA President Andrea Rocchi on biotechnology in agriculture.

Specifically, the magazine explores how the principles of biology and technology can be harnessed to develop innovative solutions, and how ENEA is committed to maximizing resource value, reducing waste and transforming waste products into new opportunities for economic and industrial growth—fully aligned with sustainability goals.

The introduction by Claudia Brunori, Director of the ENEA Sustainability Department, focuses on the role of biotechnology in the current context and provides an overview of the four key areas of application: agrifood ('green-yellow') biotechnology, biomedical and pharmaceutical ('red') biotechnology, industrial and environmental ('white and grey') biotechnology and marine ('blue') biotechnology.

This issue also features interviews with key figures in the sector like Catia Bastioli, CEO and Chairwoman of the Novamont Group; Maria Cristina Di Domizio, Cluster Manager of the CL.A.N.; Giorgio Ricci Maccarini, President of Cluster BIG; Fabrizio Greco, President of Assobiotec-Federchimica; Antonino Biundo, President of the Italian Biotechnologists Association.

Finally, the "Focus" section highlights initiatives by ENEA researchers in the following areas: food safety and quality; "extraterrestrial" agriculture; biomaterials derived from agri-food supply chain waste; wastewater treatment; plant-based pharmaceuticals; innovative biomarkers for human health; marine and computational biotechnology and biotechnology for energy applications; biorestoration and environmental remediation.