The “Consorzio per l’alta ricerca navale” (herein after referred as RINAVE) is a non-profit consortium, established in May 2006 as the first step towards the creation of DITENAVE, the Technological Marine Cluster of the region Friuli Venezia Giulia. The main objectives of the Consortium are (1) to stimulate and to organise cooperation among the shipbuilding industry, research centres and universities, exploiting existing knowledge, competencies and technical equipment and (2) to promote, carry out and manage common research projects in the fields of architecture and engineering relevant for the marine cluster. RINAVE is a perfect example of a “triple helix organisation” as its shareholders are the 3 regional universities (notably University of Trieste, University of Udine, ISAS International School of Advanced Studies), Area Science Park (the Italian leading science and technology park) and Fincantieri Cantieri Navali S.p.A. (the shipbuilding industry group active world-wide). RINAVE has a Scientific Council where all its shareholders are duly represented. The Scientific Council collects and selects research proposals both from universities and companies. The industry interests are well represented by Fincantieri, while the innovation needs of the nautical sector are collected by Area Science Park, who runs a specific Centre of Competence dedicated to it.

RINAVE will represent the scientific and research community in the region FVG dealing with maritime research and studies, focusing in specific on shipbuilding concerns. The information gathering in the first project phase will be leaded by RINAVE who will in particular gather the required information from research institutions and universities and will have the overall supervision of the sufficient and comparable data collection in all regions. Besides, the consortium RINAVE will take care of the technology offer gathering in the region for the work to be done in the regional Liaison Office, and will be actively involved in the development of the joint Action Plan for setting up future research collaboration, and in the dissemination.

RINAVE has, also if established in recent times, already a strong record of important research projects. In 2006, the consortium incepted 4 research projects for a total amount of 1 Mio. Euro. These projects are carried out by the Universities of Trieste and Udine under the overall monitoring activities performed by RINAVE. In 2007, RINAVE has selected further 5 research proposals in different fields, which are now under evaluation by the Italian Ministry for University and Research. The projects have been identified according to the research themes for the transport sector of the 7th FP and to the interest shown by the regional enterprises. In order to achieve a larger proposal submission both from research and industry, the Scientific Council of RINAVE has approved an annual work programme which includes the collection of project ideas from both sides, the cross evaluation of the project ideas, the setting up of the project by university-industry teams and the final submission of the projects for the approval of the Board.