MERGING TECHNICAL COMPETENCES AND HUMAN RESOURCES WITH THE AIM AT CONTRIBUTING TO TRANSFORM THE ADRIATIC AREA IN A STABLE HUB FOR A SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT

The Vision of Europe as knowledge-based society is<br>funded on availability and application of knowledge in all<br>segments of European life. Universities, as key provider of<br>knowledge, and industry, as its largest consumer, are two<br>pillows of this vision. Academic Institutions has a double role<br>in provisioning of knowledge: "research" for creation of new<br>knowledge and "education" as dissemination of current<br>knowledge. In this investigation, a four-year cross-border<br>collaboration is described, including strategy, mechanisms<br>and tools adopted for supporting a wider cooperation between<br>universities and industry. Background, challenges and<br>concepts of long-term sustainability are also presented.<br>Furthermore, a general overview of technical outcomes and<br>advances, provided by a research and development joint<br>action, thanks to this international cooperation, is illustrated.<br>A deeper description regarding these technical investigations<br>is proposed in the following articles of this Special Issue on<br>"Wood: an Ancient Material for a Modern Quality".