After “laying the roots” during the Canada–Italy Forum on AI, Italy and Canada are now charting the routes for future collaboration. On March 17–18, 2026, the University of Milano-Bicocca will host Roots & Routes – The Italy–Canada Biodiversity Exchange: Science, Education & Innovation Strategies, an initiative promoted by the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC).
The event represents a strategic step toward consolidating and implementing the priorities that emerged from the bilateral dialogue between the two countries, with the objective of transforming institutional and academic relationships into concrete cooperation programs in biodiversity, environmental genomics, deep-tech innovation, and advanced education.
“This meeting is strategic for bringing NBFC research to an international dimension, testing innovative tools and scalable solutions. It shows that the investment of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) generates value not only for Italy but also globally.” Massimo Labra, Director of the National Biodiversity Future Center .” Massimo Labra, Director of the National Biodiversity Future Center
“The Canada–Italy Forum on AI connects the most advanced innovation ecosystems of both countries. NBFC seized this opportunity with strategic vision, and the Milan event demonstrates that its network can turn complex international cooperation into concrete results.” Ruggiera Sarcina, Director – Italy, Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada
Three Strategic Pillars
The program is structured around three core pillars:
1. Education
Sessions dedicated to cooperation among doctoral programs will include presentations by the University of Milano-Bicocca’s Doctoral School and Italy’s National Biodiversity PhD Program (NBFC). Topics will include joint PhD pathways and co-supervision agreements, student exchange mechanisms (including the Mitacs program at McGill University), shared online courses with transferable credits, and the development of Letters of Intent as a first step toward formal Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). The session will also explore the creation of a dedicated PhD window within the Canada–Italy Forum on AI, with the participation of INRS, the University of Guelph, and McGill University.
2. Science
Alignment of scientific priorities and the strengthening of synergies between research ecosystems, with a particular focus on biodiversity, environmental DNA (eDNA), and models of international research collaboration.
3. Innovation & Impact
From lab to market: exploring technology transfer models, talent and investment attraction, deep-tech startup development, and the building of public–private partnerships, with participation from organizations such as Genome Canada and Ocean Tech.
Bridging Ecosystems
The roundtable “Bridging Ecosystems in Practice” will bring together institutional representatives, universities, investment agencies, and innovation leaders from both countries to define operational roadmaps and structured collaboration tools.
The second day will feature a restricted session dedicated to defining a joint roadmap, followed by laboratory visits, underscoring the initiative’s pragmatic and implementation-oriented approach.
From Science Diplomacy to Structured Cooperation
Roots & Routes is part of a broader strategy of scientific and industrial diplomacy between Italy and Canada, strengthening NBFC’s role as a European hub for biodiversity and an international platform connecting research, education, and industry.
The initiative aims to generate joint PhD programs and co-supervision agreements, shared online training with transferable academic credits, bilateral research projects, industrial partnerships, and shared technology transfer instruments.
With Roots & Routes, Italy and Canada further consolidate a strategic, impact-driven alliance—transforming academic cooperation into tangible value for their territories.
