Transfer of knowledge from science to industry in the energy sector: the case of CNR Institute ITAE

The issue of environmental sustainability cuts across a wide range of scientific and popular studies. Thus, it can be approached from many points of view, each suitable to shape an idea that in some ways, is already part of the cultural heritage of our century. Environmental sustainability includes not only issues on environmental degradation but also ethics, economics, and the most advanced technology and scientific research, bringing together experience of study and increasingly turbulent activities, contemplating cross cutting issues such as the violation of human dignity and human freedom, poverty, economic decline and the recognition of rights and equal opportunities. This paper is organized in three parts. First, the position recently expressed by Confindustria and the content of Horizon 2020 in terms of sustainability are pointed out as references for development in the near future. In the second and third parts, the CNR-ITAE (Institute of Advanced Technologies for Energy “Nicola Giordano” in Messina, a research structure of the National Council of Research) is presented, showing how the aims of its research, scope and methodological choices have always adhered to the guidelines of Confindustria and Horizon 2020, as examples for the industrial world of virtuous behaviour regarding environmental issues. This analysis has highlighted a virtuous connecting link between the world of research and the world of industry in the energy sector. It has been seen how the energy sector is characterized by the strong impact of innovation regarding scientific, technological, social and economic spheres. This versatility is a feature that has, as its main consequence, temporal references in the medium and long term.