The Upper Adriatic is a key setting for research ‘by design and planning’ on land-sea interactions and climate change adaptation. Addressing these topics from an interdisciplinary perspective is the goal of the Interconnected Nord-Est Innovation Ecosystem (iNEST) project, coordinated by the Università di Trieste and co-funded by Italy’s National Plan for Recovery and Resilience. iNEST offers an opportunity to explore two areas of focus. On one hand, its approaches and outcomes seek to reframe spatial planning tools and processes within the context of climate transition. On the other hand, Innovation Ecosystems challenge the role of universities in applied research, where technology transfer, knowledge cross-fertilisation, and the development of innovative entrepreneurial fields are integrated.
