The closing event of the CO-SMART project was held at the Heritage Hub in Mirafiori, Turin, bringing together researchers, universities, businesses, and institutional representatives to discuss the development of innovative and sustainable automotive materials derived from industrial waste and food scraps.
Discarded fishing nets, recycled carbon fibers, and used vegetable oils: from these waste materials, lightweight and high-performance automotive components have been developed, along with polyurethane foam panels with thermoregulating properties, antibacterial fabrics for vehicle interiors, and biolubricants as alternatives to mineral-based products. All prototypes have been validated both technically and environmentally.
The event, titled “Research and Industry for the Mobility of the Future”, marked the final stage of three years of work within Spoke 11 – Innovative Materials and Lightweighting of the National Center for Sustainable Mobility (MOST), funded by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) – Mission 4 “Education and Research.” The project was coordinated by the University of Pisa, with the participation of the University of Bologna, the Polytechnic University of Bari, and the Marche Polytechnic University.
“CO-SMART has shown that public research can generate concrete and sustainable solutions through collaboration between universities, research centers, and businesses,” said Professor Maurizia Seggiani, the project coordinator. “We turned waste into high value-added resources, proving that it is possible to reduce environmental impact without compromising performance and safety”.
Throughout the morning, presentations were given by academic and industrial partners, including CRF–Stellantis, A2A E-Mobility, Gruppo Hera, CNR, and Sapienza University of Rome. The Minister for Universities and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, sent a message of greetings: “CO-SMART is tangible proof of what we can continue to do—better and for the long term. You have shown that sustainability is not a theoretical exercise, but an advanced industrial practice. When public research moves forward at full speed, it brings businesses, local communities, and people along with it. To ensure continuity for these projects, 300 million euros are already available. Because merit matters. Research is not a one-off project—it’s an ecosystem that must be made stable. Today, thanks to you as well, we know that Italy is moving forward. And it has no intention of stopping”.
The Regional Minister for Economic Development of Piedmont, Andrea Tronzano, also took part in the event. “Piedmont is the leading Italian region for private investment in research, and we are working to strengthen the public role as well, in synergy with universities and businesses,” said Councillor Tronzano. “Public-private collaboration is essential, especially in a context where raw materials are scarce. We must focus on secondary resources, on recycling, and on the ability to innovate starting from waste”.
In the afternoon, a roundtable discussion on the future of sustainable mobility brought together voices from research and industry. The day concluded with a guided tour of the Heritage Hub, offering an immersive journey through the history of Italian automotive innovation.
The CO-SMART project, part of Flagship Line A of the MOST program, will formally conclude on December 31, 2025, but—as the project’s promoters emphasize—it marks a starting point for new collaborations.
“CO-SMART has also been a laboratory of ideas, training, and partnerships,” concluded Professor Seggiani. “Over these three years, we have built a solid network, acquired cutting-edge equipment, and paved the way for new research avenues toward truly sustainable mobility”.
The MOST program involves 24 Italian universities, the National Research Council (CNR), 24 major companies, and over 1,200 researchers, with a total investment of approximately 380 million euros.
More information is available at www.cosmartmobility.it
