Eurac Research is a private research center headquartered in

Bolzano Bolzano ( or ; german: Bozen, (formerly ); bar, Bozn; lld, Balsan or ) is the capital city of the province of South Tyrol in northern Italy. With a population of 108,245, Bolzano is also by far the largest city in South Tyrol and the third ...

South Tyrol it, Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano – Alto Adige lld, Provinzia Autonoma de Balsan/Bulsan – Südtirol , settlement_type = Autonomous province , image_skyline = , image_alt ...

. The center has eleven institutes and five centers. Eurac Research has more than 800 partners spread across 56 countries. Eurac Research collaborates with international organizations such as the Alpine and Carpathian Conventions,

UNEP The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system. It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the United Nations Conference on ...

and

UNIDO The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) (French: Organisation des Nations unies pour le développement industriel; French/Spanish acronym: ONUDI) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that assists countries in ...

in the context of sustainable development and energy technology, and also hosts the headquarters of the Permanent Secretariat of the

Alpine Convention The Alpine Convention is an international territorial treaty for the sustainable development of the Alps. The objective of the treaty is to protect the natural environment of the Alps while promoting its development. This Framework Convention inv ...

at its headquarters in Bolzano. Core funding is provided by the autonomous province of South Tyrol, with additional financing coming from membership fees and European project funds.

Institutes and Center

* Institute for Minority Rights * Institute for Public Management * Institute for Comparative Federalism * Institute for Applied Linguistics * Institute for Alpine Environment * Institute for Earth Observation * Institute for Regional Development * Institute for Renewable Energy * Institute for Biomedicine * Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine * Institute for Mummy Studies * Center for Advanced Studies * Center for Sensing Solutions * Center for Mountain Safegard Research * Center for Autonomy * terraXcube

Research infrastructure

The Ancient DNA Laboratory is used by the Institute for Mummies and the Iceman for molecular analyses of ancient human remains. Researchers study Ötzi the iceman and other mummies from around the world to understand their genomics and study ancient pathogens. The Biomedicine Laboratory of the Center for Biomedicine facilitates epidemiological and biomedical studies. The building contains traditional biomolecular equipment and is also home to a next-generation DNA sequencer. The Solar Technology and Building Envelope Laboratory is located in the industrial area of Bolzano. The laboratory of the Institute for Renewable Energy is a performance testing site for photovoltaic modules, solar thermal systems, as well as traditional and innovative building components that integrate these solar energy systems. Tests are carried out as part of research projects or at the request of companies that produce or market the products. The Satellite Receiving Station is the satellite receiving station of the Institute for Remote Sensing is located on the Horn of Ritten (2,360 meters above sea level). The station receives real-time optical data from three satellites: NASA's Terra, Aqua and Suomi NPP. The institute converts the data into maps in order to observe environmental phenomenon in the region.

Headquarters

Since 2002, Eurac Research has its headquarters in a building known locally as the "ex–GIL", which is situated near the downtown core of Bolzano at the confluence of the

Talfer The Talfer (; it, Talvera) is a river located in South Tyrol, Italy. It flows into the Eisack in Bolzano Bolzano ( or ; german: Bozen, (formerly ); bar, Bozn; lld, Balsan or ) is the capital city of the province of South Tyrol in norther ...

and

Eisack The Eisack (german: Eisack, ; it, Isarco ; Latin: ''Isarus'' or ''Isarcus'') is a river in Northern Italy, the second largest river in South Tyrol. Its source is near the Brenner Pass, at an altitude of about 1990 m above sea level. The river draw ...

rivers. The complex was built in the 1930s on a project by the architects Gino Mansutti and Gino Miozzo to house the

Gioventù italiana del littorio The ''Gioventù Italiana del Littorio'' (GIL) (English: Italian Youth of the Lictor) was the consolidated youth movement of the National Fascist Party of Italy that was established in 1937, to replace the ''Opera Nazionale Balilla'' (ONB). It was ...

(GIL) (English: Italian Youth of the Lictor), a youth movement of the

Italian Fascist Party The National Fascist Party ( it, Partito Nazionale Fascista, PNF) was a political party in Italy, created by Benito Mussolini as the political expression of Italian Fascism and as a reorganization of the previous Italian Fasces of Combat. The p ...

. Following the war and the fall of Mussolini, the building was renamed the "ex-GIL" and over the years has housed a cinema, a supermarket and shop, eventually falling into decline. In the early 1990s a decision was made to renovate the property to accommodate the newly established research center. In 1995, Graz architect Klaus Kada won an international competition for the building's redesign. Kada maintained the heritage of the building by supplementing it with new glassed-in structures; the renovation of the facade brought back its original Pompeian red color. The building uses renewable energy and has absorption chillers for air conditioning.Michela Toni: ''Südtirol Architektur – Die Eigenheiten eines Gebietes am Beispiel von Gebäuden mit KlimaHaus-Standard''. EdicomEdizioni, Monfalcone 2013, pp. 226–9.

History

Eurac Research was administratively founded in 1992, but actually started working in 1993. In its early years, twelve employees carried out research in language and law, alpine environment, minorities, and autonomy. The first major project was a feasibility study for the foundation of a new university in Bozen, completed in 1997. Over the years, the scope of research expanded to include management and corporate culture, genetic medicine, and renewable energy. In 2009 the Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine was opened, followed by the Center for Biomedicine in 2011.Stephanie Risse-Lobis: ''Eurac – ein Haus für die Europäische Akademie Bozen.'' 2003.

References

External links