Chpt. 0000
Introduction
Some stories are born from silence, others from the choice to stay.
It was not a matter of lacking alternatives, but the will to build something there, in a place rich in history and meaning. In Palermo, among architectures that tell centuries of transformations, a space dedicated to scientific research took shape — independent and open, created to look ahead without losing its connection to its own context.
A former factory in the heart of the city was transformed into a center for knowledge and experimentation; today it hosts scholars and researchers from various disciplines, united by a common goal: conducting research freely and across fields, with an ethical and future-oriented approach.
This is where the story of the Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (I.E.ME.S.T.) begins — a research hub distinguished by vision, method, and the ability to build connections between territories, skills, and generations.
It is this approach that inspired us to tell its story.
This is HOW, issue three.
Chpt. 0001
The origins of I.E.ME.S.T., independent research taking shape in Palermo
In the Italian scientific landscape, I.E.ME.S.T. was born from a clear vision: to build an independent, multidisciplinary, and non-profit research center capable of connecting Southern Italy and the Mediterranean to the global networks of innovation.
At the heart of this project are clear values, such as scientific independence, international openness, and local impact.
A model that does not merely produce knowledge but aims to generate development, by training talents and promoting new opportunities for the economic and social system.
The initiative took shape under the leadership of Bartolomeo Sammartino, a key figure in the Italian scientific and cultural scene, capable of transforming an ambitious vision into a concrete platform for growth and connection.
Recognition as a Research Organization by the MIUR marked the first step in a path of expansion, which quickly translated into academic, scientific, and industrial partnerships at both national and international levels.
The choice of headquarters tells the same philosophy: I.E.ME.S.T. restored to the city a 19th-century former factory, abandoned for decades, transforming it into a modern infrastructure; a building tied to the city's productive history, redeveloped into a modern structure dedicated to the production of knowledge.
An urban regeneration project that also becomes a symbol of social innovation. With the inauguration of the headquarters in Via Michele Miraglia, a new way of investing in knowledge and enhancing the territory is established, building bridges between past and future, between local roots and global horizons.
"A new point of reference for science opens its doors in Palermo," wrote local media.
A statement that today translates into an even broader challenge: to generate value through research, innovation, and the courage to look far ahead.
Chpt. 0002
Independence, multidisciplinarity, and meritocracy at the service of progress
Since its foundation, I.E.ME.S.T. has made independence, transversal skills, and meritocracy its pillars. It is a private institute that reinvests every resource into research activities, and this autonomy, combined with the decision to operate without commercial purposes, allows it to work with freedom, rapid decision-making, and a clear vision of the objectives to be achieved.
Despite the challenges linked to its nature and its non-profit legal status, I.E.ME.S.T. has developed a solid organizational model, capable of sustaining itself through competitive calls and funded projects.
This approach has enabled the institute to establish itself as a credible and responsive entity, with a streamlined decision-making chain. In a landscape where response speed is often crucial, being able to turn an idea into an active project quickly is fundamental.
Multidisciplinarity is one of the distinctive elements of this reality, promoting the meeting of different fields of knowledge to tackle the complex challenges of today.
The coexistence of multiple disciplines reflects the desire to recover a classical and unified vision of knowledge, where every field contributes to broadening the understanding of the world.
Biomedicine, engineering, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and the humanities intertwine in an integrated approach capable of overcoming specialized barriers.
The goal is to create a collective intellectual heritage, where knowledge is continuously renewed through dialogue and interaction among different areas.
Within this logic of openness and integration of knowledge lies the selection process for new affiliates.
Relevance to the research areas remains central, but it is always evaluated with openness, recognizing that true intelligence can generate value even from unexpected perspectives.
Joining I.E.ME.S.T. follows a clear and selective path: after a preliminary interview, candidates may initially be admitted on an honorary basis, with the goal of consolidating their role through the achievement of concrete results.
A choice that recognizes individual merit as the only true criterion for growth and affirmation.
It is a method built over time, born from a simple but powerful idea: giving space to those who have the skills and the will to build, regardless of the path they have taken up to that moment.
Sicily, like many territories, needs answers, and I.E.ME.S.T. chooses to offer them by involving people who have not found shortcuts, but who know how to seize opportunities and respond with commitment and quality.
Meritocracy, in this context, is an operational mechanism that allows the Institute to maintain its identity and sustainability. Those who become part of this network know they must prove themselves, but also find an environment capable of valuing their contribution.
A system that rewards those who choose to be active participants and that encourages each researcher to grow their ideas in a concrete way.
This approach proves capable of generating genuine stimuli, reigniting motivation even in those who have already had significant experiences elsewhere. Such is the case of the Eng. Licata who, after years of activity, found within I.E.ME.S.T. the enthusiasm for research and the feeling of contributing to something great.
The Institute, with its structure and openness, is therefore a space where even established professionals can start anew with fresh perspectives and goals.
Chpt. 0003
From science to the territory: a bridge between knowledge and application
I.E.ME.S.T. operates daily on multiple levels, combining scientific research, technological development, and collaboration with the productive world.
On the research front, the Institute carries out projects in both scientific and industrial fields, ranging from basic research to experimental development.
The results are concrete: hundreds of publications in international journals and partnerships with universities and research centers.
Among the most significant projects is the one conducted in 2018 in collaboration with the Università di Milano-Bicocca, which led to the discovery of new antibiotic compounds effective against resistant bacteria.
Alongside pure research, I.E.ME.S.T. invests in applied innovation, developing solutions designed to meet concrete needs in various sectors. From renewable energy production to advanced diagnostics, and new forms of digital interaction, each project reflects the Institute’s transversal approach.
A striking example is the immersive room with interactive walls, internally designed through advanced software: an environment that combines technological research, educational experimentation, and new learning methods.
A distinctive feature of the Institute is its ability to act as a bridge between the academic world and businesses. The focus is on providing companies — especially SMEs — with concrete, operational, and immediately applicable know-how; in a country like Italy, where SMEs make up the vast majority of the economic fabric, transferring advanced skills to them means creating real value.
It is in this direction that I.E.ME.S.T. moves, with a network of over 250 partner companies active in the agri-food, healthcare, sustainable construction, and digital technology sectors.
A recent example is the Salone dell’ecocostruzione, organized in October 2023 right at the Institute’s headquarters. The event brought together startups, companies, and researchers to discuss bio-construction techniques and low environmental impact materials.
A similar initiative is also underway in the agri-food sector, where I.E.ME.S.T. supports companies in developing more sustainable production models through experiments conducted within its Department of Agricultural Sciences.
These activities testify to the Institute’s open approach, establishing it as an entity in constant contact with the territory, capable of addressing challenges and developing practical solutions with a direct impact on production chains, business processes, and environmental sustainability.
Alongside research and support for innovation, there is a continuous commitment to education and scientific outreach.
The Palermo headquarters regularly hosts conferences, seminars, and workshops dedicated to current topics — from post-pandemic sports medicine to regenerative agriculture. These events involve researchers, professionals, students, and citizens, aiming to share knowledge in an accessible and useful way.
The collaboration with schools and universities further strengthens this focus, promoting scientific culture among young people through guided tours and training internships.
For the Institute, bringing science closer to people, involving young generations, and creating opportunities for practical learning is much more than an ancillary activity: it is a founding part of its mission.
Chpt. 0004
I.E.ME.S.T., where science knows no borders
International openness is one of the main pillars of I.E.ME.S.T.’s development. In just over ten years, the Institute has built a network of collaborations with universities, research institutions, and scientific organizations both in Italy and abroad, participating in projects capable of crossing regional borders and positioning itself in strategic research fields.
One of the most significant experiences began in 2016 with NASA, within the 3D-CUBRO Space project, dedicated to studying the effects of microgravity on the human respiratory system.
This is a central topic for long-duration space missions, such as those planned for Mars. The project, developed by a team of researchers affiliated with I.E.ME.S.T. in collaboration with the University of Palermo, was selected and funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) as well.
The experimentation unfolds in three phases: an Earth-based phase conducted in laboratories in Palermo, an in-orbit phase aboard the International Space Station (ISS), and a final post-return analysis phase. The consortium also includes Leiden University (Netherlands), the University of Southampton (United Kingdom), and the University of Galveston (Texas, USA).
However, central coordination was entrusted precisely to the Palermo headquarters, which for months hosted teams of biologists, doctors, and aerospace engineers for the development of the necessary protocols and technologies.
The goal of the project is to understand and prevent damage to astronauts’ respiratory systems, often prone to unexplained illnesses in the absence of infectious agents. The expected results concern both the space sector and terrestrial applications in medical and environmental fields.
The collaboration with NASA represents an important milestone, but it is not an isolated case. I.E.ME.S.T. participates in numerous projects funded by the European Commission and collaborates with leading partners, including the University of Cambridge and several research centers in the Mediterranean and the Middle East.
These collaborations not only fuel scientific production but also bring expertise, investments, and international networks to Palermo. In this way, the city and Southern Italy enter global research circuits, with projects starting here and finding applications worldwide.
Chpt. 0005
Conclusion
Building an independent research space in a complex context like Southern Italy meant, from the very beginning, facing structural obstacles such as the lack of stable funding, the distance from major academic hubs, and skepticism toward models outside traditional circuits.
All this required a patient effort to build credibility, based on results and the consistency with which they were pursued.
I.E.ME.S.T. chose an open, multidisciplinary approach, capable of welcoming different skills and integrating them into a system.
An approach that requires organization, vision, and the ability to coordinate diverse groups but that over time has proven capable of generating real value, with projects born precisely from the meeting of different knowledge and methods.
One of the most significant challenges was also related to retaining talent within the territory. To convince young researchers to stay or return, it was necessary to create real opportunities for growth.
I.E.ME.S.T. chose to do so by focusing on international projects, high-profile collaborations, and a dynamic structure where each individual could contribute concretely.
At the same time, the Institute has played an important role in facilitating the acceptance of change. In a context where many entrepreneurs have operated within consolidated frameworks for decades, innovation is often seen as a cost rather than an investment. A key part of I.E.ME.S.T.'s work is precisely to guide these entities toward a new culture of innovation, helping them to recognize its value and tangible benefits, including through knowledge transfer.
In this logic, the decision to make many of the technologies and research results developed available in an open-source format fits perfectly. It is not about giving up intellectual property but about putting knowledge at the service of collective growth, enhancing discoveries through sharing and the possibility of concrete application by others.
In the coming years, I.E.ME.S.T. aims to consolidate its position as a reference center for research and innovation: on one hand, by continuing to build networks with centers of excellence in Europe and around the world; on the other, by strengthening its local impact through projects related to sustainable energy, scientific tourism, advanced technical training, and the enhancement of local skills.
The Institute therefore aims to develop new models of collaboration with regional institutions to jointly guide innovation strategies and to open up even more to young professionals, offering them opportunities and fostering growth paths that are also personal.
Today, I.E.ME.S.T. continues to grow as an independent structure rooted in its territory, capable of dialoguing with the academic and industrial worlds without sacrificing its autonomy. A laboratory where research is put at the service of people, the economy, and knowledge, with the ambition to contribute to a more open, prepared, and change-ready society.
