COASTS, SEAS, OCEAN AND POLAR SCIENCES: ITALIAN MINISTRY OF UNIVERSITY AND RESEARCH’S INITIATIVES AND ACTIONS HIGHLIGHTED DURING THE ITALY-CHINA SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION WEEK, in The value of science and technology in addressing the great challenges of our time

Last November, the 13th edition of the China-Italy Science, Technology and Innovation Week involved two thematic Sessions focused on two essential topics for the Italian scientific community: “coasts, seas and ocean” and “polar sciences”. The thematic sessions were held in Venice, at Ca’ Foscari University, both to celebrate the seven-hundredth anniversary of Marco Polo’s death and to underline the historical role of Venice in research and exploration of the seas. These sessions underlined the commitment of the Ministry of University and Research of the Italian Republic (MUR) to promoting research and innovation in the essential scientific areas mentioned above. This article intends to show MUR’s commitment by highlighting the documents on which MUR’s actions are based and showcasing the initiatives undertaken. As far as research in the field of coasts, seas, and ocean, Italy coordinates, along with Norway, the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP); supports the objectives of the Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” promoted by the European Union; and participates in the implementation of different multilateral initiatives at the G7, G20 and United Nations levels. When it comes to polar research, following the 2018 Budget Law (Law No. 205 of December 27, 2017, points 1170 to 1177), Italy has established the Arctic Research Program (PRA) and the Scientific Committee for the Arctic (CSA); in 2023, Italy participated in the One Planet-Polar Summit, held in Paris, and approved the Ambition on Melting Ice (AMI), On Sea-level Rise and Mountain Water Resources Declaration; between 2025 and 2026, Italy will host the Arctic Circle Rome Forum, together with a meeting of the Polar Dialogue, which will follow the 2025 Antarctic Treaty Consultative meeting in Milan. Although marked by distinct moments, this continuous process is characterized by different ongoing interactions and synergies, where the cooperation between Italy and partner countries, such as China, plays a remarkable role. During the opening ceremony of the above-mentioned thematic sessions, held in Venice at the Science Campus of Ca Foscari University on November 28, 2024, Dr. Michele Mazzola expounded the relevant initiatives reported below in this article.